PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shape Shifter (ranked 1300 p4p, 1462 weight class) and Manus Murphy (ranked 174 p4p, 194 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Shifter
vs
Murphy

191 cm
24
215
7 - 5 - 0

195 cm
24
207
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Vegan Gains

Vegan Gains

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Shape Shifter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manus Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shifter tries to sprawl but Murphy drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Murphy is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shifter defends it well.
Murphy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shifter keeps working.

Shifter actively working from the bottom here.

Shifter is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Murphy pulls his head out easily.
Shifter is looking for a sweep. Murphy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy wants to take a breather but Shifter is having none of it.
Murphy wants to pass to mount but Shifter is defending the position.
Shifter has a hand on Murphy's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Murphy takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Murphy takes Shifter's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shifter is trying to break free.
Shifter is keeping busy.

Murphy is persistently looking for the submission but Shifter is defending it well.

Murphy is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Shifter tries to escape the position.
Shifter turns into Murphy and is now in his guard.
Shifter advances position into side control!
Murphy tries to buck Shifter off but Shifter is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shifter creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Murphy sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

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

Shifter is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Murphy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Shifter looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Murphy is avoiding damage well.
Murphy is trying to control Shifter's posture but Shifter avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shifter is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Murphy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Shifter is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Murphy has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Murphy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Shifter wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Murphy, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy keeps Shifter under control for a moment.

Shifter tries for a kimura but Murphy is defending well.
Murphy is looking to regain half guard here but Shifter keeps moving and retains side control.

Shifter is trying to get an arm triangle but Murphy is defending well.
Murphy is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shifter off and has taken his back!
Shifter tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Shifter is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Shifter is squirming around, avoiding Murphy's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murphy is trying to take his opponent's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shifter really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Murphy trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shifter regains half guard.

Shifter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Shifter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shifter is refusing to be controlled, as Murphy sits in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Manus Murphy 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.

Shifter gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Murphy to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Manus Murphy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murphy tries to free his leg and advance position but Shifter is retaining full guard.
Shifter wants to improve his position but instead Murphy has moved into half guard.
Murphy seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Shifter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shifter moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Murphy trying to control the position from guard on top but Shifter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shifter has his foot on Murphy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Murphy works his way back into a safe position though.
Murphy looking to pass the guard.

Shifter throws his legs up looking for a submission but Murphy uses it to pass to side control.
Shifter gets back to half guard.
Shifter won't allow Murphy to pass to mount.

Murphy moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Shifter.
Shifter tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Murphy wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shifter keeps working.
Shifter is trying to get back to half guard.
Shifter gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Shifter tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Murphy seems to be working for a kimura but Shifter defends the submission attempt.
Shifter is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Murphy's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Murphy's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shifter is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Murphy has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Shifter is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Murphy defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Shifter looking to break Murphy's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Murphy remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Shifter will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Murphy is really stuck here.

Murphy preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Shifter.
Murphy trying to control the hands but Shifter won't let him.
Shifter seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Murphy fending off the submission attempt from Shifter.

Shifter has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to escape the position.

Murphy defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Murphy rolls, trying to escape but Shifter keeps control of the position.

Shifter is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Murphy knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Murphy for a finish.
Shifter doesn't have the hooks in and Murphy manages to turn into his guard.
Murphy tries to free his leg and advance position but Shifter is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shifter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Murphy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shifter has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Murphy has managed to get both his arms back between Shifter's legs - danger averted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Shape Shifter will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Murphy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Shifter!

Murphy wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shifter, who protects the arm well.

Murphy is trying to get an arm triangle but Shifter is defending well.
Murphy blocks the strikes from Shifter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shifter regains half guard.
Shifter trying to get back to full guard but Murphy takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Shifter really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shifter sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Shifter throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Shifter is looking to get back to full guard here but Murphy has managed to pass to side control instead.
Shifter tries to buck Murphy off but Murphy is having none of it.
Shifter gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Murphy looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Shifter is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shifter actively working from the bottom here.
Murphy prevents Shifter from improving his position.
Shifter punching from the bottom.
Murphy trying to control the action but Shifter is working from the bottom.

Shifter looking for submissions off his back.
Murphy slows the pace down in half guard.
Shifter is looking for a sweep. Murphy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shifter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Shifter actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Murphy is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Shifter actively working from the bottom here.
Shifter gets back to full guard.

Shifter is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Murphy is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Murphy tries to free his leg and advance position but Shifter is retaining full guard.
Shifter striking off his back but it's not causing Murphy any problems.
Shifter can't keep his opponent in guard - Murphy advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Shifter is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Murphy pulls his head out easily.
Murphy trying to pass the guard but Shifter defending well.
Murphy works his way into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murphy tries to advance to mount but Shifter denies him.
Shifter is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manus Murphy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Murphy 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manus Murphy!
Manus Murphy managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Vegan Gains, into his post fight interview.