PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Butch Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cedric Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Steel
vs
Murphy

176 cm
28
192 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

190 cm
35
215 lbs
31 - 20 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Butch Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Cedric Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy slips under a jab.
Steel's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Murphy connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Steel scrambles back to his feet.
Steel moves out of range as Murphy strikes.
Steel looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Murphy scores with a jab.
Murphy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Steel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Murphy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Steel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Steel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Murphy.
Steel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Steel throws a jab when Murphy was well out of range.
Murphy was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Steel connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Murphy's hands.
Steel misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice jab there from Steel.
Steel looks to land a combination but Murphy avoids it well.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Murphy! But no joy.
Murphy avoids the body shot from Steel.

Steel clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Steel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Murphy fails to land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Steel.
Murphy lands a right hand.
Murphy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Steel blocks a body shot from Murphy.
Murphy throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel.
A short left from Steel.
Murphy prevents a body shot from Steel.
Steel misses with a punch to the body.
Steel taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Murphy tries to throw a body punch but Steel avoids it by throwing Murphy back against the cage.
Steel has Murphy pushed against the cage.
Murphy misses with a punch on the inside.
Steel is leaning against Murphy and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short right from Steel.
Steel throws a head punch that misses.
Murphy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel taking a breather.
Murphy is trying to break the clinch but Steel is controlling him.
Steel scores with a shot to the side of Murphy's head.
Murphy misses with a body punch.
Steel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steel pressing his opponent against the cage.
Steel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steel lands an uppercut.

It looks like Cedric Murphy has been cut.

Murphy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Murphy swings widly with a right hand
and Steel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Murphy dodges the punch combination from Steel.
Murphy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steel.
Murphy walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murphy.
Murphy slips a straight right by Steel.
Steel cracks Murphy with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Steel paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Steel throws a nice looking combination but Murphy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Murphy connects with a body shot that sends Steel's belly button to the back.
Steel throws a lazy head kick
letting Murphy counter with a right hand.
Murphy throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Murphy misses with a body punch
and Steel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Steel scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Steel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A jab from Murphy misses.
Steel just misses with a punch to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Steel checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Steel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Murphy scores with a jab. Steel acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Murphy clobbers Steel with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
Steel tries a body shot but Murphy blocks it.
Steel blocking some punches.
Steel working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Steel misses with a punch on the inside.
Steel lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Murphy.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
Murphy misses with a hook from the clinch.
Murphy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steel has Murphy pushed against the cage.
Murphy misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Steel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cedric Murphy's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Steel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Murphy blocks the leg kick.
Murphy misses with a looping right.
Steel slips a straight right by Murphy.
Steel misses with a low kick.
Steel with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Steel throws a body shot but no joy.
Murphy feints a counter leg kick.
Butch Steel is winning the standup battle so far.
Steel uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Steel throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Murphy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A jab from Steel finds it's way through Murphy's defenses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Murphy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steel.
Steel swings for the body but Murphy moves out of range.
Murphy takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Murphy connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Murphy sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Murphy takes the fight into the clinch.
Murphy has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Murphy throws a punch but it's blocked by Steel.
Murphy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Steel looking to slow down the pace here.
Steel lands a nice uppercut.
Murphy lands a body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steel.
Murphy swings wildly with an uppercut but Steel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steel taking a breather.
Murphy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Murphy's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Steel lands with a light punch inside.
Murphy misses with some punches.
Murphy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Steel's elbow.
Butch Steel has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Steel has Murphy pressed against the cage, preventing Murphy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A right hand to the body from Steel.
Murphy throws a head punch that misses.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murphy connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
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!
Steel takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Steel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steel slips a jab from Murphy.
Steel throws a hook but Murphy blocks it.
Murphy connects with the punch.
Steel throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Murphy on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Murphy connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Steel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murphy moves away.
Steel loads up on a big right hand but Murphy slips the punch.
Steel connects with a body shot.
Steel throws a hook but Murphy avoids it easily.
Steel just misses with a punch to the body.
Steel throws a big shot that misses.
Steel has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Steel there as he acknowledges the shot.
Steel walks into a stiff left hand from Murphy.
A good leg kick by Steel.
Steel wants to clinch.
Murphy flicks out a counter leg kick but Steel steps away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Steel scores with the left hand. Murphy knows he should have avoided that one.
Steel connects with a solid leg kick.
Steel has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murphy throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Steel fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Murphy looks to score with a jab to the body but Steel is just out of range.
Murphy thows a leg kick but Steel checks it
and Steel counters with a nice uppercut.
Murphy wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Steel rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Murphy counters with a stiff right hand.
Murphy cracks Steel with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Steel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murphy.
Murphy tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cedric Murphy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Cedric Murphy's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Murphy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Steel misses the shot to the body.
Murphy lands with an uppercut that bounces Steel off the cage and back into range.
Steel throws an off balance right hand
and Murphy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Murphy takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Murphy misses with a straight left.
Murphy misses with a looping left.

Steel clinches up against the cage.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Steel here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Murphy as Steel tries to tie him up.
Murphy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Steel's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stalling in the clinch from Steel.
A short right from Murphy on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Steel throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Steel throws a head punch that misses.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Steel connects with an inside leg kick.
Murphy lands a nice shot to the body.
Steel avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Steel is looking to counter punch.
Steel throws a low kick, looking for Murphy's leg but Murphy calmly moves out of range.
Murphy throws a body punch but Steel moves out of range.
Steel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Murphy swings for the body but Steel moves out of range.
Murphy is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Murphy displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Steel throws out the jab.
Murphy blocks a jab.
Steel misses with a body shot
and Murphy counters with a stiff right hand.
Murphy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steel moves away.
It looked like Steel was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Murphy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Steel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Steel throws a hook but Murphy avoids it easily.
Murphy scores with a jab to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steel throws a jab but it's blocked by Murphy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Murphy! But no joy.
Murphy dodges the punch combination from Steel.
Steel is looking to clinch.
Steel blocks the body kick.
Murphy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Steel.
Murphy takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Steel misses with a jab to the body
and Murphy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Murphy throws a looping overhand right but Steel ducks down to avoid it.
Steel avoids the body shot from Murphy.
Steel tries to close the distance and clinch but Murphy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murphy throws a body punch but Steel moves out of range.
Murphy avoids the body shot from Steel.
Murphy throws a nice inside leg kick.
Murphy takes one to the chin there.
Steel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Murphy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Steel throws a head kick that Murphy semi-blocks.
Steel blocks a jab.
Murphy connects with an inside leg kick.
Steel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Murphy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice cross by Steel.
A big left from Steel misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Steel. That snapped Murphy's head back.
Steel lands a nice shot that snaps Murphy's head back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murphy throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Steel looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Murphy misses with a looping left.
Murphy takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Steel looks to land a left hand but Murphy moved out of range nicely.

Murphy pushes Steel up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Murphy.
Murphy takes a shot to the head.
Murphy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Steel tries to throw a body punch but Murphy avoids it by throwing Steel back against the cage.
Murphy blocks a body shot from Steel.
Steel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Steel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Butch Steel.
Well Steel 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Butch Steel!
Butch Steel spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
Cedric Murphy spoke after the fight, saying 'fuck off... i am the best. next time i will kick his head off..'.