PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Morgan Malig (ranked 1289 p4p, 2240 weight class) and Seamus Murphy (ranked 80 p4p, 141 weight class). Murphy has chosen Molly Malone- The Dubliners as his entrance music. The key to victory for Morgan Malig has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Malig
vs
Murphy

150 cm
27
142
6 - 3 - 0

150 cm
27
130
7 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Morgan Malig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Seamus Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malig looks to score with a jab to the body but Murphy is just out of range.
Murphy tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Malig lands a nice shot to the body.
Murphy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Malig.
Murphy drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Malig defends it well.
Malig just misses with a punch to the body.
Murphy feints the counter takedown.
Malig throws a jab but it's blocked by Murphy.
Malig throws a body shot but no joy.
And Murphy tries to counter it with a takedown but Malig pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Malig throws a body shot but no joy.
Murphy with the counter takedown but Malig avoids it easily.
Malig throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murphy drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Malig defends it well.
Malig misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lazy body kick from Malig

and Murphy counters with a nice double leg into side control. Malig won't be happy with that.
Murphy wants to stand but Malig has his arm trapped.
Malig wants to control but Murphy postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy wants to stand but Malig has his arm trapped.
Malig struggling a bit here.
Malig tries to buck Murphy off but Murphy is having none of it.
Murphy working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Murphy needs to keep his hands up - Malig had a free shot at his head there.
Nice cross by Malig.
Jab from Malig.
Malig lands with a right hand.
Malig swings widly with a right hand

so Murphy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Murphy postures up.
Murphy wanted to stand there but Malig had control of the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Malig holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malig escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Murphy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Malig controlling Murphy's posture.

Malig throws his legs up looking for a submission but Murphy uses it to pass to side control.
Murphy wants to stand but Malig has his arm trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Murphy working away.
Malig tries to bench press Murphy off him but Murphy keeps the position.
Malig sneaks back into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malig is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Seamus Murphy will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Malig lands a nice shot to the body.
Malig misses with a straight right.
Murphy drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Malig defends it well.
Malig throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Malig throws a sloppy body shot

and Murphy counters with a shoot takedown. Malig fights it but they end up in guard.
Malig trying to control the position.
Murphy wanted to stand there but Malig had control of the position.
Murphy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malig trying to keep a closed guard but Murphy is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malig working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murphy doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murphy manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Malig working a defensive guard but Murphy manages to pass into side control anyway.
Malig can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Malig isn't going anywhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Malig struggling a bit here.
Murphy wants to stand but Malig is controlling his arm.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Malig thows a leg kick but Murphy checks it

so Murphy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Malig has a closed guard, preventing Murphy from standing up.
Murphy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Malig has an active guard here but Murphy has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malig is positioning himself well to prevent Murphy advancing to mount.
Murphy tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Malig.

Malig looking for submissions off his back.
Murphy is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Malig misses the shot to the body.
Murphy with the counter takedown but Malig avoids it easily.
Malig misses with a body shot.
Morgan Malig is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murphy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Murphy feints the counter takedown.
Malig misses with a hook. Murphy ducked under it nicely.
Murphy drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Malig defends it well.
A slow jab from Malig misses its intended target.
Malig swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murphy drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Malig defends it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Malig misses with an uppercut.
Murphy with the counter takedown but Malig avoids it easily.
Morgan Malig seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murphy avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Seamus Murphy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Malig tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murphy was well out of range. Poor timing from Malig.
Murphy changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Murphy checks a low kick from Malig.
Murphy is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Malig looks to score with a jab to the body but Murphy is just out of range.
And Murphy tries to counter it with a takedown but Malig pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Malig misses with a body shot

and Murphy counters with a shoot takedown. Malig fights it but they end up in guard.
Malig pulls Murphy in close to his closed guard and prevents Murphy from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Malig's guard.
Malig wants to sweep but no luck.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Malig trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Malig throws a shot from downtown. Murphy moves away and avoids it.
Seamus Murphy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Malig scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Murphy doesn't seem bothered though.
A punch lands to the side of Murphy 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Morgan Malig has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malig misses with a wild body shot.
Malig is looking to wear down Murphy with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nice uppercut lands for Malig. That snapped Murphy's head back.
Malig tries a low kick but Murphy avoids it.
Good work by Murphy as he checks the leg kick.
Murphy is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Malig misses the body punch

and Murphy counters with a takedown into side control.
Malig is trying to get back to half guard.
Malig is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Murphy's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Murphy wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malig wants to control but Murphy is keeping busy.
Malig is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Nap or Tap, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Malig throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murphy with the counter takedown but Malig avoids it easily.
Malig tries a head kick but it misses.
Malig throws an off balance right hand

and Murphy counters with a single leg into guard. Malig didn't expect that.
Murphy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Malig's guard.

Malig had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Murphy defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Malig throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seamus Murphy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Murphy 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

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