PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brian Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Ruden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murphy comes to the cage accompanied by Róisín Murphy - Primitive. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Murphy
vs
Ruden

188 cm
39
213 lbs
35 - 19 - 1

187 cm
32
215 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Ruden!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruden fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Murphy is out of range.
Ruden throws a hook but Murphy avoids it easily.
An inside leg kick from Murphy misses.
Ruden misses with a wild body shot.
Ruden works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A head kick misses from Murphy.
Ruden stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Murphy.
Murphy looks to throw the jab but Ruden is out of range.
Murphy lands a jab to the head.

It looks like Joe Ruden has been cut.
Murphy tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Murphy throws a head kick that half lands.
We've been informed that Ruden has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Ruden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murphy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ruden.
Ruden throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murphy cracks Ruden with a good jab.
Ruden shoots in for a takedown but Murphy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters circling a little - Murphy finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Brian Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruden lands with a cross.
A head kick misses from Ruden.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Ruden misses its intended target.
Ruden cracks Murphy with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Murphy throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ruden ducks right into an uppercut from Murphy.
Murphy lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ruden throws out a loose jab but Murphy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murphy avoids the head kick by Ruden.
Ruden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ruden steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Murphy.

Murphy lands a big head kick that sends Ruden tumbling to the mat! Murphy takes a step backwards and waves Ruden back to his feet - he wants the finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Murphy.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Murphy, right into the meat.
Murphy misses with a hook.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ruden lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Murphy has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Murphy and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ruden waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Murphy.
Ruden throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murphy lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ruden will feel that in the morning.
Murphy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ruden.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruden checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ruden tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ruden.
Ruden lands a jab to the nose.
Murphy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Murphy thumps Ruden with a low kick.
Murphy throws a sloppy head kick and Ruden moves out of range easily.
Ruden throws a nice inside leg kick.
Murphy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ruden.
Murphy cracks the inside of Ruden's front leg.
Ruden misses the jab.
Ruden wants to land a leg kick but Murphy is out of range.
Murphy scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Ruden scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ruden looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ruden stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruden thows a huge punch but Murphy dodges it nicely.
Murphy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ruden.
Ruden sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Murphy defending well though.
Ruden is keen to just control but Murphy is a slippery customer.
Ruden is looking to stall here but Murphy recovers full guard.
Ruden passes Murphy's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruden misses with a head shot. Murphy uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruden trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ruden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Ruden from controlling successfully.
Ruden trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ruden scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruden is looking to work some ground and pound but Murphy has wrist control.
Murphy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ruden tries to free his leg and advance position but Murphy is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Brian Murphy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joe Ruden's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A telegraphed right hand from Ruden misses the target.
As Ruden backs away, Murphy returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Ruden misses with a straight left.
Ruden misses with a wild body shot.
Murphy connects with an inside leg kick.
Murphy lands a jab to the head.

That has opened up Joe Ruden's cut even more.
Murphy blocks a jab.
Ruden's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Good shot there by Murphy.
Murphy lands with a slapping head kick.

Murphy drives through and clinches with Ruden against the cage.
Murphy scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Murphy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murphy misses with some punches.
Ruden prevents a body shot from Murphy.
Murphy misses with a punch on the inside.
Murphy struggles to land a body shot inside as Ruden controls his hands.
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!
Ruden tries to work over Murphy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ruden throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Murphys head.
A short uppercut from Ruden.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ruden with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Murphy cracks Ruden with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A head kick misses from Murphy.

Murphy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ruden, pushing him back against the cage.
Ruden doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Murphy misses with a body punch.
Murphy lands with a right to the head.
Murphy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murphy misses with the head strike.
Ruden blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ruden tries a body shot but Murphy blocks it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Murphy.
Murphy misses with the head strike.
Murphy misses with a punch to the body.
Murphy gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ruden.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy working aggressively here.
Murphy misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ruden moves out of range of the strikes.
Ruden tries to score with a low kick but Murphy moves his leg out of the way.
Ruden moves out of range of the body kick from Murphy.
Murphy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ruden can do to turn this around?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ruden gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

The cut above Joe Ruden's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Ruden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ruden lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ruden tries to land a leg kick but Murphy saw it coming and moves away.
Ruden throws a looping overhand right but Murphy ducks down to avoid it.
Ruden looks to throw the jab but Murphy is out of range.
Ruden throws a nice inside leg kick.
Murphy takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ruden.
Murphy throws a head kick but Ruden moves out of range.
Ruden takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Ruden shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Murphy napping and manages to drive through into side control!
An elbow from Ruden crashes against the mat.
Ruden has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Ruden punishing his opponent with strikes.
Murphy wants to hold on but Ruden pushes him away.
Ruden raining down shots from the mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ruden looking to ground and pound but Murphy is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ruden passes to full mount!
Ruden thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Ruden connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Ruden prevents Murphy from getting the reversal.
Ruden misses with a head shot.
Ruden looking to ground and pound but Murphy is blocking nicely.
Ruden with shots to the head and body - Murphy looks very uncomfortable down there.

Ruden looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Ruden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joe Ruden's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Murphy moves away from the strike by Ruden.
Ruden takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A low kick from Murphy is predictable there
and Ruden counters with a leg kick.
Ruden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murphy was well out of range. Poor timing from Ruden.
Murphy throws a head kick but Ruden moves out of range.
Ruden feints the counter takedown.
Murphy connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Murphy scores with a punch to the head.
Ruden missing with a left hand there. Murphy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ruden is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Murphy.
Decent striking displayed by Murphy there.
Ruden throws a hook but Murphy blocks it.
Ruden connects with the punch.
Murphy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ruden throws a leg kick but Murphy moved away.
Ruden cracks a nice hook into Murphy's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy throws a head kick but Ruden moves out of range.
Ruden lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Murphy slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruden thumps Murphy with a low kick.
Ruden lands a nice leg kick that just misses Murphy's sensitive parts.
Ruden scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ruden takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ruden comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Murphy walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ruden pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ruden throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Murphy stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Murphy fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ruden misses with an uppercut. Murphy saw that one coming.
Ruden just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromMurphy.
Ruden has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Murphy.
Ruden connects with a right hand. Murphy shakes it off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murphy tries a head kick but it misses.
Murphy takes a kick to the side of the head.
Murphy staying out of range there.
Ruden avoids the head kick by Murphy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws a sloppy head kick and Ruden moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ruden with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ruden lands a nice hook to Murphy's body. Murphy takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ruden swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Murphy.
A slow jab from Ruden misses its intended target.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Ruden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murphy has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Murphy throws a sloppy head kick
and Ruden counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Murphy thinking.
Brian Murphy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murphy tries to move into range but Ruden moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Ruden lands with a straight right. Murphy didn't see that one coming.
Ruden lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Joe Ruden seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Murphy scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ruden dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ruden blocks a head kick by Murphy.
Murphy tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruden throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ruden shoots in but Murphy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ruden moves out of range of the leg kick from Murphy.
Murphy misses with a hook. Ruden ducked under it nicely.
Ruden displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Murphy throws out the jab.
Ruden thuds a left hand into Murphy's body.
A swing and a miss from Ruden.
Ruden fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Murphy on the side of the head.
Murphy ducks right into an uppercut from Ruden.
Murphy scores with a head kick.
Murphy is looking to chop away at Ruden's legs.
Murphy pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Murphy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Murphy on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ruden.
Ruden avoids the head kick by Murphy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruden's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ruden duly obliges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy throws an overhand right that lands on Ruden's shoulder, as Ruden tries to avoid the shot.
Ruden lands with a cross.
Ruden throws a leg kick that is checked
and Murphy counters with a nice leg kick.
Murphy blocks a head kick by Ruden.
Murphy throws an off balance right hand

and Ruden counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ruden.
Ruden is looking to work some ground and pound but Murphy has wrist control.
Ruden is looking to work some ground and pound but Murphy has wrist control.
Murphy keeping moving, preventing Ruden from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruden throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ruden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Ruden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ruden 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Joe Ruden!
Joe Ruden seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Brian Murphy spoke after the fight, saying 'Can I still cut it?'.