PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Liam Murphy (ranked 803 p4p, 969 weight class) and Eric Ries (ranked 111 p4p, 133 weight class). Murphy comes into the arena with I'm Shipping Up To Boston- Dropkick Murphy's blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Murphy
vs
Ries

172 cm
28
165
9 - 8 - 0

169 cm
28
160
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Liam Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eric Ries!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Ries as Murphy shoots in.
Murphy on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ries. Ries obviously looking to wear him down.
Murphy takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Murphy fails with an attempt to clinch.

Murphy closes the distance and clinches.
Ries blocks an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Ries.
Ries can't find room to land a body shot as Murphy controls the action.
Murphy tries to throw a body punch but Ries avoids it by throwing Murphy back against the cage.
Murphy is trying to pull guard but Ries turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short left from Ries.
Ries digs a right hand underneath Murphy's ribcage. Murphy let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Murphy tries to work over Ries's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ries blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ries lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murphy misses with the head strike.
Ries blocks an uppercut.

Ries breaks the clinch.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.

Murphy clinches up against the cage.
Ries scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ries blocks an uppercut.
Murphy fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Murphy misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ries tries to work over Murphy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ries lands a shot to the body.
We've been informed that Ries has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Murphy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Murphy tries to throw a body punch but Ries avoids it by throwing Murphy back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Ries scores with a nice short uppercut.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ries feints and then cracks Murphy's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Murphy down.
Ries throws a shot from downtown. Murphy moves away and avoids it.
Murphy is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Ries.
Ries throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Murphy.
Murphy appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
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 gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ries is leaning against Murphy and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ries lands a left hand.

Ries pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murphy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ries manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ries avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ries misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murphy.
Murphy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ries.
Murphy drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ries sprawls and moves away.
Murphy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ries counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy shoots for a takedown but Ries saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Murphy moves out of range as Ries strikes.
Ries lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ries.
Murphy fails to land the takedown.
Ries throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ries swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murphy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Murphy wants to clinch up but Ries keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy dives in for a single leg takedown but Ries sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Ries manages to break the clinch.
Murphy blocks a jab.
Murphy wants to clinch up but Ries keeps it at a distance.
Ries throws out a counter right but Murphy avoids it with no problem.
Ries throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Murphy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Ries.
Murphy blocks a head kick by Ries.
Murphy wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Ries connects with a crisp jab.
Nice straight punches there by Ries. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ries.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murphy moves to clinch but Ries breaks away
and Ries counters with a nice low kick that buckles Murphy's knee momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Ries dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Murphy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Ries swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murphy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ries is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Murphy with a body shot.
A big left from Ries misses.
Ries has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Murphy doesn't manage to clinch there - Ries circles away.
Murphy shoots and misses
and Ries counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murphy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy shoots in for a takedown but Ries shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Murphy darts in trying to clinch
and Ries counters with a good low kick that Murphy was not able to check.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ries paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murphy is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A head kick by Ries misses

and Murphy counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Murphy is thwarting Ries's attempts to control the position.

Murphy is trying to work for a kimura but Ries is defending well.
Murphy wants to free his trapped foot but Ries is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ries looks like he's trying to stand up.
Murphy frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ries is squirming around, avoiding Murphy's attempts to control the action.

Ries defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Murphy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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.

Murphy goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ries is on top in guard.

Murphy is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Ries has his hands clasped together but Murphy extends and breaks Ries's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Murphy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Liam Murphy!
An out of breath and clearly excited Liam Murphy thanked Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).