PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Murdock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sludge Guts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Murdock
vs
Guts

195 cm
20
280 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

215 cm
21
298 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frankie Murdock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sludge Guts!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Roberts and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Guts moves into the clinch successfully.
Guts prevents Murdock from breaking the clinch.
Murdock pushes Guts back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Murdock misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Guts.
Guts misses with a knee strike.
Murdock managing to block the knees to the body from Guts.

Guts has picked Murdock up - he's going for a ride! Guts dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Guts missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Guts is keen to just control but Murdock is a slippery customer.
Guts stalling.

Murdock looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Guts pushes past his half guard into mount!

Guts goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Murdock turns into him and now he's in Guts's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guts pulls Murdock in close to prevent any damage.

Murdock stands up and waves to Guts to follow him.
Some wild striking there from Guts.

Guts clinches with his opponent.

Guts has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Murdock is trying to keep an underhook but Guts manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Guts seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Murdock does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock is trying to control but Guts passes into side control!
Murdock manages to get back to half guard.
Guts blocks the strikes from Murdock.
Murdock is staying active underneath Guts, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Guts prevents Murdock from standing back up.
Guts is looking to take a break and control but Murdock is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Guts looks gassed!
Guts trying to mount his opponent but Murdock defends it.
Murdock is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Murdock or perhaps it was just good defense by Guts which made him look bad.
Frankie Murdock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Guts pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Murdock tries for a takedown but Guts sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Guts has taken the fight to the clinch.

Guts manages to break the clinch.
Guts throws a head kick that misses.
Guts stuns Murdock with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Guts shoots in looking for a takedown. Murdock tries to sprawl out of it but Guts keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Murdock manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Murdock tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Guts counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Guts trying to control the pace.
Guts trying to mount his opponent but Murdock defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock trying to control from the bottom.
Murdock tries to roll over but Guts keeps him under control.
Guts is keen to just control but Murdock is a slippery customer.
Murdock tries to get to full guard but Guts has control of the leg.

Murdock is defending against the submission attempts here by Guts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sludge Guts dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Murdock clinches but Guts breaks the clinch

and Guts counters by moving into the clinch.
Guts is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Guts connects with a nasty looking knee right to Murdock's face.
Guts fails to pull guard.
Guts misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Murdock.
Murdock tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guts tries to pull guard but Murdock won't allow it.
Guts leaning against his opponent.
Murdock misses with some punches.

Guts breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Murdock throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Murdock tries to clinch but Guts moves away

and Guts counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murdock kicks off Guts and gets to his feet.
Murdock fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Guts looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Murdock is fending him off so far but Guts persists. Nope, Murdock circles away and we're back to standing.
Frankie Murdock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sludge Guts.
Murdock misses with a double jab

and Guts counters by moving into the clinch.
Guts fails to pull guard.
Guts blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Guts manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Murdock trying to control the position from guard on top but Guts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Guts is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Guts taking a breather.

Guts jumps into guard, dragging Murdock to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock chips away with some ground and pound.
Murdock wants to pass the guard but Guts is keeping the position.
Guts controls Murdock momentarily but Murdock frees himself.
Guts wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Murdock would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Murdock distracts Guts with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Murdock wants to control from the top but Guts keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdock sitting in guard here, content to control.
Murdock stopping the sweep attempt from Guts.
Murdock chips away with some ground and pound.
Murdock slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Murdock working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Murdock looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock prevents Guts from escaping the position.
Guts wants to control but Murdock postures up.
Guts is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Murdock's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Murdock is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Guts defends it well.
Guts is looking for a sweep. Murdock is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Murdock trying to control the action but Guts is working from the bottom.
Guts gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sludge Guts showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Guts darts in and clinches Murdock up against the cage.
Murdock swings wildly with an uppercut but Guts uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murdock avoiding damage.

Guts lands a takedown into guard.
Murdock looking to control.
Guts wants to pass the guard but Murdock is keeping the position.
Guts trying to control the position from guard on top but Murdock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murdock bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Guts's guard.
Murdock might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guts is trying to keep Murdock in close.
Guts takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Murdock wants to control from the top but Guts keeps moving.
Murdock wanted to stand there but Guts had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Guts controls Murdock momentarily but Murdock frees himself.
Murdock with a flurry of punches that miss.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Guts on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Murdock clinches but Guts breaks the clinch

and Guts counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Guts.
Murdock is looking to stand back up but Guts counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Murdock.

Guts decides to stand back up.
Guts misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Murdock tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Guts makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Murdock really felt that one!

Guts shoots in and bounces Murdock off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Guts stands up over Murdock, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guts working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Murdock manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Guts manages to get himself to full guard.
Murdock stopping the sweep attempt from Guts.
Murdock throws a big right hand that misses.
Sludge Guts has got the better of the ground game so far.
Guts is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Murdock is controlling him.
Murdock trying to control the position from guard on top but Guts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Murdock won't allow Guts to sweep him here.
Guts not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Guts wants to stand but Murdock is controlling the position.
Frankie Murdock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Murdock tries to clinch up

and Guts counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Guts is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Murdock as the two fighters clinch.
Murdock looking to slow down the pace here.
Guts wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
with the fighters clinched against the cage, Murdock creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sludge Guts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Guts winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sludge Guts!