PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leopoldo Griffith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jim Murphy has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Griffith
vs
Murphy

199 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Leopoldo Griffith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jim Murphy!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy shoots in and drives through. Griffith sprawls well.
Murphy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Murphy has Griffith up against the cage in a clinch.
Murphy is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Murphy's coach down at Quick Fingers BEST BANG FOR BUCK Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Murphy's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Leopoldo Griffith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Murphy.

Murphy decides to pull guard.
Griffith is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Griffith postures up in Murphy's guard and throws a big left but Murphy blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Griffith throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffith content to stall in guard here.
Murphy working a defensive guard here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Murphy has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Griffith has passed into side control.
Griffith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Murphy wants to control but Griffith postures up.

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.
Griffith trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Griffith staying calm.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Griffith wants to clinch up but Murphy keeps it at a distance.
Jim Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murphy throws a left and a right that both miss

and Griffith counters by clinching up.
Griffith can't break the clinch.
Griffith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A head punch on the inside from Griffith fails to land.
Griffith working aggressively here.
Griffith is trying to force a seperation but Murphy has the dominant position.

Murphy manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Murphy is defended easily by Griffith.
Griffith feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Murphy checks a leg kick.
Murphy is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Griffith closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Murphy did well to prevent Griffith getting side control.
Murphy tries to kick Griffith off in order to stand up. Griffith Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
The referee asks Griffith politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Griffith prefers to stall for the moment though.
Murphy struggling a bit here.
Griffith staying calm.
Murphy is pushing Griffith's head away, looking to escape. Griffith manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to control but Griffith postures up.
Griffith controlling the position from side mount.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Murphy is looking for a sweep.
Murphy looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Murphy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Murphy should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Griffith fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Murphy scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Murphy.
Griffith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice takedown defense from Griffith. No joy for Murphy on that attempt.

Griffith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Griffith lands in his opponent's guard.
Griffith sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffith slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Murphy.
Griffith perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Griffith tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Murphy trying to control from the bottom.

Griffith gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Griffith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Griffith tries to land a front kick but Murphy steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but Griffith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Griffith throws a series of punches but Murphy avoids them all with ease.
Murphy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Griffith defends well and Murphy ends up having to push Griffith into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Leopoldo Griffith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Murphy.
Murphy is breathing heavily.
Griffith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Murphy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Griffith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Murphy's waist but Murphy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Griffith off to one side.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Murphy, right into the meat.
Murphy dives in for a single leg takedown but Griffith sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Griffith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Murphy is fending him off so far but Griffith persists. Nope, Murphy circles away and we're back to standing.
Leopoldo Griffith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Griffith fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Murphy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Griffith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?
Murphy tries for a takedown but Griffith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Murphy is trying hard to land a takedown here. Griffith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Griffith seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Griffith looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Murphy!
Griffith content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Murphy is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffith working away.
Griffith happy to just control the position for now.
Griffith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Griffith trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leopoldo Griffith dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Griffith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Griffith is looking to take a break and control but Murphy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Murphy tries to improve position but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffith controlling the position.
Griffith is looking to take a break and control but Murphy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Griffith in side control, just content to control the action for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Griffith shoots for a takedown but Murphy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Griffith slaps away a takedown attempt from Murphy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Griffith seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Murphy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Murphy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Griffith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Murphy wants to clinch up but Griffith keeps it at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Murphy.
Leopoldo Griffith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Murphy.
Some wild striking there from Griffith.
Murphy changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy has his takedown stuffed
and Griffith counters with a series of strikes. Murphy will be more careful next time no doubt.
Griffith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Murphy defends it nicely.
Murphy lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Griffith. No joy for Murphy on that attempt.
Leopoldo Griffith is winning the standup battle so far.
Murphy is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Murphy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Griffith circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Griffith.
Griffith just content to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murphy is not content to let Griffith control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leopoldo Griffith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Griffith has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leopoldo Griffith!