PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steven Stout (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stout
vs
Murphy

175 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steven Stout!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Murphy!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy throws a head kick that Stout semi-blocks.
Murphy shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Stout eats them both and turns towards Murphy to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Murphy shoots in for a double leg but Stout sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Murphy is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stout sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Stout changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Murphy tries to avoid it but Stout manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Murphy to the ground. Murphy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stout on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Stout gets a takedown into half guard.

Stout decides to stand up.

Murphy drives through and clinches with Stout against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Stout tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Murphy decides to pull guard.
Stout wants to stand but Murphy has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Murphy wants to stand and escape but Stout is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Stout really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Murphy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stout knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Murphy on the ground.
Murphy looks gassed!
Stout wanted to stand there but Murphy had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Stout. No joy for Murphy on that attempt.
Steven Stout has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Murphy.
Stout doesn't manage to clinch there - Murphy circles away.
Stout tries to clinch but Murphy moves away
and Murphy counters with a good low kick that Stout was not able to check.
Stout looks for a takedown but Murphy sprawls well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stout.
Stout fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Murphy dives in and grabs Stout's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stout pushes down on Murphy's head and hops out.

Stout gets tackled into the cage by Murphy. Murphy maintains the clinch.
Murphy is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stout is trying to pull guard but Murphy turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Murphy lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Murphy drives through and clinches with Stout against the cage.
Murphy stalling.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stout.
Murphy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stout avoids it really well and circles away.
Murphy throws a head kick that half lands.
Murphy changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stout tries to avoid it but Murphy manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stout to the ground. Stout escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stout shoots in but no luck this time.

Murphy takes the fight into the clinch.
Stout is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Murphy to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stout fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Murphy displaying some good clinch control by pressing Stout up against the cage.

Murphy ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Murphy no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Murphy lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stout!
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murphy controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Murphy dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stout misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stout shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Murphy as he avoids it easily.

Murphy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Stout manages to get underhooks.
Murphy is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stout is defending well.
Murphy changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stout fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Steven Stout has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Murphy.
Stout is looking to clinch.
Steven Stout seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stout fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stout fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stout moves to clinch but Murphy breaks away
and Murphy counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stout stuffs the takedown.
Murphy circles away from the clinch attempt.

Murphy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Murphy tries to score a body lock takedown but Stout shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Murphy is trying to break free.
Stout is trying to pull guard but Murphy turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Murphy gets control of Stout's arms and successfully pulls guard. Murphy will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Murphy uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Stout looks to clinch

and Murphy counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stout tries to pull guard but Murphy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Murphy leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stout goes for a takedown in the clinch but Murphy prevents it.
Murphy tries to score a body lock takedown but Stout shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stout is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Murphy is defending well.
Stout is trying to pull guard but Murphy has him pressed against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Murphy pulls Stout into guard.
Stout wants to stand but Murphy has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stout trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Murphy manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Stout on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stout tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stout wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Murphy.
Murphy controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy misses with a head shot.
Stout holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Murphy tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Murphy controlling from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murphy punching from mount but Stout doing a good job of avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Murphy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Murphy clinches.

Murphy pulls guard effortlessly.
Alex Murphy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murphy is adopting a defensive guard.
Murphy looking to control.

Stout has gone for a leg lock! Murphy slips out almost immediately though and dives into Stout's guard.
Stout keeping moving, preventing Murphy from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alex Murphy hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Murphy has managed to clinch.
Murphy softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Come on Murphy - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Murphy lands an elbow that stopped Stout in his tracks for a moment.
Alex Murphy seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Stout tries for a takedown but Murphy manages to get underhooks.
Stout tries to pull guard but Murphy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A body shot lands from Murphy.

Murphy jumps guard and drags Stout to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Murphy is on top in guard.

Stout is working an open guard so Murphy takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Murphy rushes Stout and presses him up against the cage.
Stout fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Stout. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stout is trying to push Murphy away but Murphy has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Murphy slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy has Stout pressed against the cage, preventing Stout from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stout can't get the takedown.

Murphy ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Murphy no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Murphy looking for a guillotine here but Stout defends easily.
Stout wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.
Stout is looking to stand up but Murphy won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Murphy seems keen to control Stout's posture.

Murphy pushes Stout off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Murphy gets tackled into the cage by Stout. Stout maintains the clinch.
Stout has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Murphy avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Steven Stout has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Murphy breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murphy keeps the fight on the outside.
Stout fails with a takedown attempt.
Alex Murphy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Murphy rushes Stout and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Murphy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Murphy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Murphy!