PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ed Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Checkos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Checkos's choice of entrance music: limp Bizkit - break Stuff. Ed Murphy has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Murphy
vs
Checkos

175 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ed Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Josh Checkos!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy closes the distance and clinches up with Checkos, looking for a takedown. Murphy pushes Checkos against the cage but Checkos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Checkos looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Some wild striking there from Murphy.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Checkos closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Murphy to the mat! Murphy manages to get full guard.
Murphy punching from the bottom.
Murphy working a defensive guard here.
Checkos tries to free his leg and advance position but Murphy is retaining full guard.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Checkos from controlling successfully.
Murphy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Checkos's guard.
Murphy trying to control but Checkos is working from the bottom.

Checkos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Murphy is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Checkos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Murphy wants to control from the top but Checkos keeps moving.
Checkos keeping full guard, as Murphy tries to pass.
Murphy trying to control but Checkos is working from the bottom.

Checkos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Checkos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Murphy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Checkos trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Murphy won't allow Checkos to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Checkos with a lazy takedown attempt

so Murphy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Murphy postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Checkos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Murphy's guard.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Checkos tries to pass.
Murphy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Checkos from controlling successfully.
Checkos wants to pass the guard but Murphy is keeping the position.
Checkos trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Checkos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Murphy is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Murphy has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Checkos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Murphy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Checkos looking for a guillotine here but Murphy defends easily.
Checkos wants to sweep here but Murphy controlling him for the moment.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Checkos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Checkos has a closed guard, preventing Murphy from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Murphy passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Murphy working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Murphy gets to mount! Checkos was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Checkos is desperately trying to improve his position but Murphy has a good base and remains in mount.
Murphy lands with some strikes.
Murphy lands a big shot there that rocks Checkos but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Checkos wants to hold on but Murphy pushes him away.
Murphy scoring with strikes but Checkos is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Murphy dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Checkos closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Murphy struggling a bit here.
Checkos tries to move into full mount but can't pass Murphy's legs.

Checkos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Murphy struggling a bit here.

Checkos tries for a kimura but Murphy is defending well.
Murphy gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Checkos is working for a kimura but Murphy is defending it quite comfortably.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Checkos 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Checkos looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Checkos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Murphy wants to control but Checkos is keeping busy.

Checkos wants to work for an arm triangle but Murphy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Murphy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Checkos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Murphy is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Murphy has escaped and now he's on top!

Checkos working for a triangle but Murphy defends it easily.
Checkos keeping moving, preventing Murphy from controlling successfully.
Checkos working a defensive guard here.
Murphy is looking to stand up but Checkos won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Checkos looking for a guillotine here but Murphy defends easily.
Checkos looking to control.
Checkos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Murphy is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Checkos darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Checkos wants to work for an arm triangle but Murphy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Murphy scores with a few weak punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to get back to full guard.
Checkos slows the pace down in half guard.
Murphy is in trouble now - Checkos has advanced to mount!
Checkos wants to control the pace but Murphy is squirming around nicely.
Murphy is working to get back to half guard.
Murphy tries to hold on but Checkos postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Checkos has control of Murphy's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Murphy regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Checkos has control of Murphy's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Murphy regains control of the situation pretty easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Checkos 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. And we move into the final round!

Checkos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Murphy counters with a left and a right that stings Checkos.
Murphy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Checkos counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Checkos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Josh Checkos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Checkos passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Checkos trying to control the position but Murphy is working away.
Murphy is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Murphy is trying to escape the position but Checkos is controlling the position.
Murphy is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Checkos's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Checkos works his way into full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Checkos stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Murphy has his takedown stuffed

and Checkos counters by clinching up.
Murphy tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ed Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy can't break the clinch.
Checkos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Murphy smiles and moves away.

Checkos feints and as Murphy raises his hands in defense, Checkos changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Checkos trying to move into half guard but instead Murphy has managed to sweep!
Murphy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Checkos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Checkos 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Checkos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Murphy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Checkos 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.
Checkos is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Murphy wants to improve his position but Checkos is controlling well.
Murphy is in trouble now - Checkos has advanced to mount!

Checkos working for a guillotine from mount but Murphy is in no mood to give up.
Murphy really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Checkos is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Murphy is just riding it out for now. Checkos eventually gives up the hold.

Checkos is trying to work for a kimura but Murphy is defending well.

Checkos is working for a submission of some sort.
Checkos drops an elbow to the side of Murphy's head.

That's four 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.
Murphy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Checkos.
Murphy trying to control but Checkos postures up.
Checkos stops Murphy from getting back to his feet.

Checkos seems to be looking for submissions.

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

Checkos drives through with a takedown into guard.
Murphy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Checkos is one step ahead there.
Checkos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murphy swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Checkos drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Murphy dives on top into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Checkos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Checkos 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Checkos!