PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jackie Murphy (ranked 6104 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josef Stalim (ranked 6091 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.

Murphy
vs
Stalim

211 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jackie Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josef Stalim!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stalim moves into the clinch successfully.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murphy really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

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

Murphy manages to break the clinch.

Stalim clinches.
Stalim throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Murphy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stalim creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Murphy is trying to force a seperation but Stalim has the dominant position.
Stalim tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Stalim tightens his grip and picks Murphy up, before dumping him to the ground. Murphy manages to land in guard.
Stalim must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Murphy pulls Stalim in close to his closed guard and prevents Stalim from doing any damage or advancing position.
Stalim wanted to stand there but Murphy had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy is looking for a triangle but Stalim pushes his legs off easily.
Murphy pulls Stalim in to control the position.
Murphy looking to control.

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

Murphy closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Stalim is looking to get back to his feet here but Murphy is keeping cool and he's managed to take Stalim's back.
Stalim wants to get back to his feet.
Stalim trying to control the position but Murphy manages to sink in the hooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy cracks Stalim with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Stalim from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Stalim trying to control the action but Murphy just sinks the hooks in.
Stalim trying to get back to his feet but Murphy is in full control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murphy gets his hands free as Stalim looks to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stalim manages to stand up with Murphy still on his back. Eventually Murphy drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.

Murphy tries to keep at a distance but Stalim has taken the fight into the clinch.
Murphy blocks an elbow strike.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Stalim lands a nice elbow.
Stalim lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Murphy tries to pull guard but Stalim won't allow it.
Murphy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Murphy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Murphy gets control of Stalim's arms and successfully pulls guard. Murphy will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Stalim won't allow Murphy to sweep him here.

Stalim stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stalim clinches.
Stalim lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Stalim 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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stalim avoids it.
Stalim can't find room to land a body shot as Murphy controls the action.
Stalim using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Murphy has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Murphy drags the fight down to the ground.
Murphy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stalim trying to stand up but can't free himself from Murphy's guard.
Murphy is adopting a defensive guard.
Stalim wants to get up but he can't break Murphy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stalim has closed the distance and engaged Murphy in a clinch.

Stalim gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Murphy looking for submissions off his back.
Jackie Murphy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stalim is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Murphy trying to hold on to Stalim's head to control him but Stalim postures up.
Stalim tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Murphy trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stalim tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy wants to control but Stalim is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stalim gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Murphy jumps into guard, dragging Stalim to the mat.
Murphy has a closed guard, preventing Stalim from standing up.
Murphy is trying to keep Stalim in close.

Stalim stands up from Murphy's guard - Stalim perhaps looking for a knockout.

Stalim gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stalim is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Murphy is defending well for now.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stalim gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Murphy takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Jackie Murphy has been cut.

Murphy has picked Stalim up - he's going for a ride! Murphy dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Stalim kicks off Murphy and gets to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stalim clinches with his opponent.

Murphy is fighting off a takedown attempt but Stalim is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Murphy to the mat. Murphy regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Stalim decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Murphy, up you get!

Stalim forces Murphy back against the cage and clinches.
Murphy drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stalim gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stalim.
Stalim lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalim lands a nice elbow.
Murphy takes a knee to the side of the body.
Stalim prevents Murphy from breaking the clinch.
Murphy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Stalim is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Murphy can't fight it off and eventually Stalim manages to take the fight to the floor. Murphy looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stalim has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Murphy trying to keep a closed guard but Stalim is proving a slippery customer.

Murphy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stalim doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stalim manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stalim wants to get up but he can't break Murphy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Murphy will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Stalim stands and steps away. Murphy gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Stalim has Murphy up against the cage in a clinch.
Murphy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stalim walks away with a smile on his face. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stalim stuffs the takedown attempt from Murphy. Murphy gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackie Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stalim closes the distance and clinches.
Murphy is trying to push Stalim away but Stalim has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stalim tries to land knees in the clinch but Murphy avoids the damage to the body.
Stalim unloads a knee to the mid-section. Murphy lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stalim has managed to clinch.

Stalim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stalim gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Stalim breaks the clinch.

Stalim closes the distance and clinches.
Murphy tries for a takedown but Stalim manages to get underhooks.

Stalim has picked Murphy up - he's going for a ride! Stalim dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Murphy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stalim is working away from the top position though.
Stalim wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Murphy uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Murphy throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Murphy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Murphy wants to stand and escape but Stalim is having none of it.

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

Stalim decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Murphy, up you get!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stalim moves into the clinch.
Stalim tries to land a knee to the head but Murphy blocks with his arms.
Stalim tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Murphy avoids it.
Stalim throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Stalim pulls guard.
Stalim is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Murphy scoring with punches to the head and body.
Murphy is standing up over Stalim. Stalim looks to escape but Murphy dives into side control.
Stalim struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Stalim down.
Stalim looks to move to half guard but instead Murphy has passed into mount! Damn!
Stalim wants to hold on but Murphy pushes him away.
Murphy looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The referee warns Stalim that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Stalim is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stalim tries to lock up and control but Murphy gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalim is wriggling around trying to escape.
Murphy landing shots from mount.
Stalim keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Murphy unloading with bombs!
Murphy prevents Stalim from getting the reversal.
Stalim tries to hold on but Murphy pushes him away.
Murphy landing strikes from the mount and Stalim is in trouble!
Murphy looking to finish Stalim with some ground and pound. This is bad for Stalim!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalim in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Stalim in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Stalim is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Murphy with shots to the head and body - Stalim looks very uncomfortable down there.
Stalim is bucking up trying to escape but Murphy cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Murphy wants to finish this one by submission but Stalim is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Murphy.
Stalim is bucking up trying to escape but Murphy cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Murphy dominating with strikes here.
Murphy putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Jackie Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josef Stalim is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stalim wants to hold on but Murphy pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jackie Murphy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stalim 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josef Stalim!