PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Slick Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khabib Murmegov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Joe
vs
Murmegov

174 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Slick Joe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Khabib Murmegov!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murmegov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Murmegov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Joe trying to control the position.
Murmegov wants to stand but Joe has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Murmegov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Murmegov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe seems keen to control Murmegov's posture.
Murmegov wants to control from the top but Joe keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Joe tries to clinch but Murmegov moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Murmegov.

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.
Joe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murmegov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Joe tries for a takedown but Murmegov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Joe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murmegov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Murmegov forces Joe back against the cage and clinches.
Joe can't break the clinch.
Joe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Murmegov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slick Joe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joe wants to break the clinch but can't.

Murmegov manages to break the clinch.
Joe misses with a combination

and Murmegov counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murmegov working the ground and pound.
Murmegov controls the position from side control.
Murmegov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Joe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Murmegov tries to stand but Joe is controlling his head.
Joe is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Murmegov is looking to take a break and control but Joe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Joe looking for a sweep but Murmegov has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Murmegov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Joe looks a forlorn figure.
Murmegov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murmegov with shots to the head and body - Joe looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Murmegov dominated that round.
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.

Murmegov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Joe to the ground. Murmegov is now in Joe's guard.
Joe wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Murmegov manages to pass to side control.

Ground and pound from Murmegov.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Joe looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Murmegov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe wants to get back to full guard.
Murmegov trying to control the pace.
Murmegov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Joe is trying to maintain the position but Murmegov is very close to passing his half guard.
Murmegov is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Murmegov is looking for a kimura here.
Murmegov seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Murmegov is trying to control the action in half guard but Joe is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Joe tries to get to full guard but Murmegov has control of the leg.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Murmegov is looking to advance position but Joe won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe tries to clinch up.
Murmegov tries to counter by closing the distance.
Murmegov tests Joe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jab by Murmegov.
Joe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Murmegov sprawls well. Murmegov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Joe gets slowly back to his feet.

Murmegov rushes Joe and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Murmegov jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Murmegov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Murmegov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Joe is trying to keep Murmegov in close.

Joe looking for a guillotine here but Murmegov defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murmegov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Joe is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Murmegov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Murmegov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Joe pinned against the cage. Joe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Joe shoots in for a double leg but Murmegov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Murmegov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Murmegov slows the pace down in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joe is not content to let Murmegov control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murmegov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Murmegov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Murmegov is trying to control the action in half guard but Joe is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Murmegov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Joe, pushing him back against the cage.

Murmegov has clasped his hands together around Joe's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murmegov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Murmegov is looking to take a break and control but Joe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Murmegov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Joe down.
Murmegov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Murmegov is trying to move to mount but Joe reverses beautifully and ends up in Murmegov's guard.
Joe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Murmegov is trying to get back to his feet.
Joe working the ground and pound but Murmegov is defending the strikes.
Murmegov is not content to let Joe control the position.
Murmegov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Joe staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Joe connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Murmegov some visible discomfort.
What's Murmegov going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Murmegov struggling a bit here.

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 Slick Joe.
Well Murmegov 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khabib Murmegov!