PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erick Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Warner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Erick Murphy has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Murphy
vs
Warner

184 cm
25
163 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

185 cm
29
160 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Erick Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jay Warner!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy throws a series of punches but Warner avoids them all with ease.
Nice takedown defense from Murphy. No joy for Warner on that attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murphy. Warner does a little dance to reset his feet.
A punch lands to the side of Warner 's head but he takes it in his stride.

It looks like Jay Warner has been cut.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Warner.
Warner sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Murphy is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Warner fails to land a wild elbow strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Warner goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Murphy has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Warner but great work by Murphy.
Warner struggling a bit here.
Warner is looking to regain half guard here but Murphy keeps moving and retains side control.
Murphy throwing strikes but Warner manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy pushes Warner away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Warner gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Warner tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Warner is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Murphy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Warner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murphy keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Warner goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Murphy rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Warner's guard! Nice work there by Murphy!
Murphy throws an elbow that misses. Warner uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Murphy's guard. Nice move by Warner!
Warner advances to half guard.

Warner looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Warner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
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.
Warner not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Warner is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Murphy doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Warner.

Warner is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Murphy has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Warner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Murphy has hold of Warner's hands but Warner slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Warner slips a nice elbow through Murphy's hands, connecting with Murphy's forehead.

Warner is working for a submission of some sort.
Murphy pushes Warner off looking to stand but Warner dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Warner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jay Warner's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Warner uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Murphy.
Murphy fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Murphy does no damage.
Horrible takedown by Warner or perhaps it was just good defense by Murphy which made him look bad.
Warner tries a head kick but it misses.
Warner fails with a takedown attempt.
Erick Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murphy throws a lazy uppercut
and Warner counters with a two punch combo.
Murphy throws a big shot that misses.
Murphy throws a right and a left that both miss.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Warner.
Erick Murphy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Warner.
Murphy stuffs the takedown attempt from Warner. Warner gets slowly back to his feet.

Warner shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Murphy napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy scoring with punches and elbows.
Warner tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Murphy wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Murphy in side control lands a decent elbow.
Murphy is trying to ground and pound but Warner uses the momentary lack of control by Murphy to regain half guard.
Warner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Murphy.
Murphy thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Warner's head.
Warner regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Murphy's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Murphy wants to control from the top but Warner keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy is working Warner over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Warner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Murphy lands a couple of elbows.

Warner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Murphy defends it easily.
Murphy working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Warner's head.
Murphy throws an elbow that misses. Warner uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Murphy's guard. Nice move by Warner!
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Warner from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warner wants to pass the guard but Murphy is keeping the position.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Warner from controlling successfully.
Warner postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Warner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Warner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murphy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Warner drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Murphy manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Warner has Murphy in his guard.

Warner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Murphy defends well.
Jay Warner has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murphy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Warner has his foot on Murphy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Murphy works his way back into a safe position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murphy with a nice head shot there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Warner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Murphy defends it easily.
Murphy chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jay Warner will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jay Warner's cut.
That's time! Murphy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Murphy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Murphy wants it to stay on the feet.

Murphy drops Warner with a beautiful combination! Warner stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Murphy is looking for the KO!

Warner is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Warner is still on wobbly legs! Can Murphy finish him?
Murphy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Warner steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Murphy.
Warner seems to have recovered his senses.
Murphy jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Murphy takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Warner avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Murphy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Murphy fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Murphy throws a shot to the body.
Erick Murphy is winning the standup battle so far.
Warner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Warner tries to score a power double leg takedown but Murphy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Warner somewhat.
Erick Murphy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Warner.

Murphy feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Warner sprawling to the canvas! Warner rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Murphy finish him?!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warner slips under a jab from Murphy.
Murphy throws a hook but Warner avoids it easily.
Murphy looks to land a left hand but Warner moved out of range nicely.
Murphy has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Warner.

Warner looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Murphy!

Warner is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Murphy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Warner goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Murphy rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Warner's guard! Nice work there by Murphy!
Murphy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Murphy distracts Warner with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Murphy distracts Warner with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murphy throws an elbow that misses. Warner uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Murphy's guard. Nice move by Warner!
Warner working some strikes from top position.
Warner trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Warner passes Murphy's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Warner is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Warner is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Murphy sees it coming and defends easily.

Warner is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Murphy has managed to free his arm - good work.

Warner is working for a kimura but Murphy is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Warner prevents Murphy from standing back up.
Jay Warner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Warner is trying to control the action in half guard but Murphy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Murphy is defending against the submission attempts here by Warner.
Erick Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Murphy won't allow Warner to pass to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erick Murphy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Warner has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jay Warner!
A pretty intense looking Jay Warner took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.