PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Murphy (ranked 4929 p4p, 5106 weight class) and Ace Aqua (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.

Murphy
vs
Aqua

190 cm
19
205
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
209
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ace Aqua!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy fails to land the takedown.
A little jabbing left from Aqua on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Murphy shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Aqua napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Murphy decides to stand up, so the ref orders Aqua to his feet.

Murphy shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Aqua's guard.

Aqua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aqua is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Murphy defends well.
Murphy pushing down on Aqua's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Aqua really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Murphy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aqua is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murphy performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Murphy works his way into side control.

Murphy tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Murphy has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Murphy is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Aqua knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aqua is looking to reverse the position.
Aqua wants to control but Murphy postures up.
Aqua trying to remain calm as Murphy controls from the top position.
Aqua is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murphy remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Aqua is trying to work for a sweep but Murphy has mounted him!
Murphy controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Murphy with shots to the head and body - Aqua looks very uncomfortable down there.
Murphy controlling the pace for now.
Aqua is trying to escape the mount.
Aqua wants to control but Murphy is having none of it.

Murphy has control of Aqua's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Aqua regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Murphy lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy manages to capitalize on a mistake by Aqua to take his back!
Aqua is in bad spot here.
Murphy is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Murphy gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Murphy gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Murphy apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Murphy walks into a left hand.

Murphy clinches.
A short uppercut from Aqua.

Murphy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ace Aqua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murphy takes one on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murphy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aqua swivels and escapes.
Aqua looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Murphy drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Murphy is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Murphy dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Aqua lands a lovely overhand right.
Murphy is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Murphy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Aqua sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Murphy somewhat.
Aqua looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Murphy has closed the distance and engaged Aqua in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aqua lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Murphy backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy fails to pull guard.
Aqua tries to throw a body punch but Murphy avoids it by throwing Aqua back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Aqua.

Murphy breaks the clinch.

Murphy drives through and clinches with Aqua against the cage.
Murphy blocking some punches.

Murphy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Aqua gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Murphy to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Murphy showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aqua has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Murphy is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Aqua.
Aqua is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Murphy is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Murphy looking to control and managing it successfully.
Murphy seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Aqua for as long as he can get away with.
Aqua takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Murphy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aqua can do to turn this around?
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!
Murphy takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Alex Murphy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aqua is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Aqua's face.
Aqua sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Aqua trying to get back to full guard but Murphy takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Aqua can't escape the position.
Murphy content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy raining down hammerfists from mount.
Aqua is working to get back to half guard.
Aqua tries to improve his position but instead Murphy has taken his back!
Murphy controls the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Murphy dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get 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.

Nice uppercut lands for Aqua. That snapped Murphy's head back.

Murphy is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Aqua's half guard.
Murphy is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Murphy keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murphy wants to work for an arm triangle but Aqua is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aqua is looking for a sweep. Murphy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Murphy has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Aqua really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Murphy controlling his opponent.

Murphy has hold of Aqua's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Aqua manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Murphy looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Aqua can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Aqua is trying to escape the mount.

Murphy is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Aqua is surviving well by controlling Murphy's body position as best he can.
Aqua manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aqua wants to get back to full guard but Murphy has mounted him!
Murphy controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aqua is in all sorts of trouble here.
Aqua takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Aqua can't escape the position.
Aqua looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Murphy just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Aqua is trying to remain composed but Murphy is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Murphy controlling well, preventing Aqua from escaping the position.
Murphy controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Aqua right now.

Murphy working for the choke.
Murphy has the hooks in. Aqua is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Murphy landing with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy lands strikes to the head.
What can Aqua do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Ace Aqua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alex Murphy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Murphy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Murphy, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Murphy!