PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Randall Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Johnson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Psycho - 50 Cent. On his way into the cage it seems that Randall Johnson has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Randall Johnson seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Johnson
vs
Murphy

168 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
135 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Randall Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Murphy but Murphy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Johnson tries to clinch but Murphy is having none of it.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Murphy but Murphy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randall Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy tries a head kick but it misses.
Murphy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Murphy looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Murphy fails with a takedown attempt.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Johnson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Murphy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Murphy persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.

Murphy tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.

Murphy pulls guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Murphy is on top in guard.
Murphy passes Johnson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy stalling away here and it's allowed Johnson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Johnson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Murphy has passed into side control.
Johnson is trying to control Murphy's posture but Murphy avoids it.
Murphy tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Johnson keeps Murphy under control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.
Murphy wants to stand but Johnson has his arm trapped.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Murphy keeps moving and retains side control.
Johnson is not content to let Murphy control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Murphy sprawls well.
Johnson tries to clinch but Murphy is having none of it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Murphy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson rushes Murphy and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alex Murphy will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Murphy tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Murphy sprawls well.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Murphy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Murphy.
Murphy fails with a takedown attempt.
Randall Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Murphy.

Murphy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Johnson!
Johnson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Murphy isn't that keen on the idea.
Johnson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Johnson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johnson tries to get out of the position.
Murphy slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson gets back to full guard.
Murphy trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Murphy tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson 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.

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.
Johnson looks to throw the jab but Murphy is out of range.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Murphy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Murphy throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Murphy blocks nicely.
Murphy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Murphy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Randall Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Murphy. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
A decent looking cross lands there for Murphy.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Murphy shows good takedown defense.
Johnson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Murphy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johnson somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randall Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy tries a head kick but it misses.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Murphy which made him look bad.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Murphy pushes him off.
Murphy tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Murphy but Murphy pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Murphy tries to sprawl but Johnson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Murphy gets full guard.
Murphy will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murphy is keeping the position for now.
Murphy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Murphy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Murphy scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Murphy pinned against the cage. Murphy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Murphy.
Murphy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Both fighters circling a little - Murphy finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Murphy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.

Johnson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Murphy did well to prevent Johnson getting side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Johnson is keen to just control but Murphy is a slippery customer.
Murphy is trying to get back to full guard.
Johnson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Murphy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnson slows the pace down in half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randall Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Randall Johnson!
After winning the bout, Randall Johnson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.