PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ernest Muller (ranked 5200 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryson Murdock (ranked 5185 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.

Muller
vs
Murdock

150 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ernest Muller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bryson Murdock!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muller shoots in but no luck this time.
Muller shoots for a takedown but Murdock saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Muller shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ernest Muller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Muller avoids the body shot from Murdock.
Murdock throws a head kick that misses.
Muller changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Murdock closes the distance and clinches.
Muller tries to pull guard but Murdock holds him up against the cage and eventually Muller drops back down to his feet.
Muller jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Murdock walks away with a smile on his face. Muller gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Murdock shoots in and drives through. Muller sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muller fails to land the takedown.
Murdock lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Murdock tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Muller swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock shoots for a double leg takedown but Muller sprawls well. He's pushed Murdock's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Muller doesn't manage to clinch there - Murdock circles away.
Muller shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Murdock but Murdock pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Murdock gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Muller counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Muller pressing his opponent against the cage.
Muller jumps guard but Murdock turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Muller tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Murdock just stands there and leans against the cage.

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

Muller clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Muller gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Muller jumps guard but Murdock stands there with Muller around his waist. Muller gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Muller - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Murdock jumps into guard, dragging Muller to the mat.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Muller throws a big elbow that misses.
Muller in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Muller postures up.

Murdock had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Muller defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdock trying to keep a closed guard but Muller is proving a slippery customer.
Murdock is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Murdock bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Muller's guard.

Murdock throws a big right hand that misses.

Muller is working an open guard so Murdock takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock fails with the takedown.
Murdock darts in looking for a takedown but Muller gets double underhooks and turns Murdock into the cage.
Murdock pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Muller throws a body punch but Murdock moves out of range.
Muller shoots in for a takedown but Murdock shows good takedown defense.
Murdock only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Murdock dives in for a single leg takedown but Muller sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Murdock misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Murdock looks winded!

Muller has closed the distance and engaged Murdock in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Muller tries for a takedown. No joy.
Murdock blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bryson Murdock will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Murdock shoots in for a double leg but Muller sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Muller takes a swing at Murdock's ribcage but misses.
Muller gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Murdock counters with a nice body shot.
Muller fails in his attempt to clinch.

Muller rushes Murdock and presses him up against the cage.
Murdock tries to pull guard but Muller forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Muller manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Murdock has Muller pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Muller manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ernest Muller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryson Murdock.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murdock tries to pull guard but Muller holds him up against the cage and eventually Murdock drops back down to his feet.
Murdock wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Muller breaks the clinch.
Murdock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Muller displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Murdock.
A leg kick checked by Muller.
Muller shoots in but no luck this time.
Murdock misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Murdock pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Muller back to the cage. Murdock follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Murdock takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bryson Murdock seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Murdock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Muller throws a big counter combination but Murdock scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Murdock is breathing heavily.
Muller tries to score with a low kick but Murdock moves his leg out of the way.
Murdock tries to bum rush Muller with a series of wild strikes but Muller uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muller changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Murdock tries to avoid it but Muller manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Murdock to the ground. Murdock escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Muller tries to clinch up but Murdock circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice sprawl there from Murdock as Muller shoots in.

Murdock darts in and clinches Muller up against the cage.
Murdock gets underhooks to prevent Muller's takedown attempt.
Muller can't get the takedown.
Murdock tries to pull guard but Muller won't allow it.
Murdock being controlled against the cage.
Muller is trying to pull guard but Murdock turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Murdock blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muller fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A head punch on the inside from Murdock fails to land.
Muller is trying to drag Murdock to the mat but Murdock just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Murdock content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Muller tries for a takedown but Murdock manages to get underhooks.

Murdock jumps guard.
Murdock has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Murdock keeping full guard, as Muller tries to pass.
Murdock trying to keep a closed guard but Muller is proving a slippery customer.
Muller has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock keeping moving, preventing Muller from controlling successfully.
Muller content to stall in guard here.
Muller trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murdock preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Muller content to stall in guard here.
Murdock keeping moving, preventing Muller from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryson Murdock showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Murdock tries to score a power double leg takedown but Muller sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Murdock somewhat.

Muller moves into the clinch successfully.
Murdock is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Muller is defending well.
Murdock lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Murdock is looking to break free of the clinch but Muller has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Muller breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Muller with that takedown attempt.

Murdock has Muller up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murdock successfully pulls guard.
Murdock is pulling down on Muller's head to control his posture.
Muller seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Murdock is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Murdock looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muller is not content to let Murdock control the position.
Muller knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Murdock on the ground.
Muller is looking to get back to full guard here but Murdock has managed to pass to side control instead.
Muller tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Muller parries the strikes from Murdock easily there. Murdock is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Muller to escape.

Murdock decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Muller throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Murdock's waist but Murdock gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Muller off to one side.

Muller forces Murdock back against the cage and clinches.
Muller prevents the takedown attempt.
Ernest Muller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryson Murdock.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdock is looking to break free of the clinch but Muller has double underhooks.
Murdock can't break the clinch.
Muller wants a takedown but no success here.
Muller jumps guard but Murdock stands there with Muller around his waist. Muller gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Murdock is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Muller to keep the fight standing.
Murdock gets underhooks to prevent Muller's takedown attempt.
Muller fails to pull guard.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Muller is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Murdock gets underhooks to prevent Muller's takedown attempt.
Muller stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Murdock jumps guard but Muller turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Muller tries to pull guard but Murdock holds him up against the cage and eventually Muller drops back down to his feet.
Murdock drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Muller pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Muller tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Murdock smiles and moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murdock fails with a takedown attempt.
Ernest Muller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bryson Murdock is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Murdock takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Muller throws a head kick that misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Murdock misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryson Murdock comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Murdock winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Bryson Murdock!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Bryson Murdock!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Bryson Murdock!

Bryson Murdock wins by unanimous decision!