PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Liam Murphy (ranked 2308 p4p, 2979 weight class) and Sunil Ganga (ranked 270 p4p, 329 weight class). Murphy comes to the cage accompanied by I'm Shipping Up To Boston- Dropkick Murphy's. Liam Murphy could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Sunil Ganga's chin.

Murphy
vs
Ganga

172 cm
30
165
11 - 12 - 0

168 cm
30
161
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Experienced

Excellent grappler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Voodoo Nutrition
Groove Gear

Pound Town INC

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 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liam Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sunil Ganga!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Murphy darts in trying to clinch
and Ganga counters with an inside leg kick.
Ganga shoots in for a takedown but Murphy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Murphy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Murphy successfully pulls guard.
Murphy 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.

Murphy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murphy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Murphy is controlling Ganga's posture.
Ganga preventing the sweep.
Ganga controls from within his opponent's guard.

Ganga got a little sloppy there for a moment and Murphy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ganga has managed to get both his arms back between Murphy's legs - danger averted.
Murphy is controlling Ganga's posture.
Murphy has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

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.
Ganga throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murphy can't keep his opponent in guard - Ganga advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ganga missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Murphy wants to sweep but Ganga has passed to side control!
Ganga controlling the position.
Murphy gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ganga is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Murphy can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Ganga throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Murphy working to try and regain half guard.
Ganga avoids the attempt from Murphy to control.
Murphy keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ganga wants to control the pace but Murphy is squirming around nicely.
Ganga landing shots from mount.
Ganga throwing strikes but Murphy recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Ganga passes into side control, despite Murphy's attempt to control the position.
Ganga controls the position from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ganga misses with the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sunil Ganga dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ganga keeps the fight on the outside.
Despite the aggression on Ganga's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ganga throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Murphy closes the distance but Ganga moves to the side
and Ganga counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Murphy moves in looking to clinch but Ganga pushes him off.
Murphy tries to clinch there but Ganga circles away.

Ganga drives through and clinches with Murphy against the cage.
Ganga misses with some punches.
Ganga wants to break free but Murphy has control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ganga misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murphy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murphy can't find room to land a body shot as Ganga controls the action.
Ganga tries to pull guard but Murphy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Murphy jumps into guard, dragging Ganga to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ganga has picked Murphy up and slammed him! Murphy can't keep hold of the triangle and Ganga manages to pass to side control!
Ganga trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Murphy struggling a bit here.
Murphy is looking to regain half guard here but Ganga keeps moving and retains side control.
Ganga working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murphy is trying to improve his position.
Ganga just content to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Murphy is looking to regain half guard here but Ganga keeps moving and retains side control.

Ganga is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Murphy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ganga works to advance to full mount. Murphy defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Ganga trying to control but Murphy is having none of it.
Sunil Ganga has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ganga is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Murphy can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is looking to get to half guard.
Murphy gets back to half guard.
Ganga trying to control the action but Murphy is working from the bottom.
Ganga wants to pass the guard but Murphy is defending well.
Ganga missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Murphy is staying active underneath Ganga, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four 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.
Ganga is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Murphy looking for a kimura from the bottom but Ganga passes into side control!
Murphy tries to bench press Ganga off him but Ganga keeps the position.
Ganga gets to mount! Murphy was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Murphy working to try and regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murphy is working hard here to advance position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sunil Ganga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Ganga gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ganga blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Murphy.
Murphy lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ganga as Murphy tries to tie him up.
Murphy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Murphy tries to pull guard but Ganga holds him up against the cage and eventually Murphy drops back down to his feet.
Murphy has a couple of punches blocked by Ganga.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy tries to throw a body punch but Ganga avoids it by throwing Murphy back against the cage.
Murphy misses with some punches.
Murphy prevents the takedown attempt.
Murphy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Murphy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Murphy decides to pull guard.
Ganga trying to stand up but can't free himself from Murphy's guard.

Murphy looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ganga passes into side control.

Ganga stands up.
Ganga tries for a takedown but Murphy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Murphy gets a clinch.

Murphy pulls Ganga into guard.
Ganga wants to get up but he can't break Murphy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ganga works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ganga prevents Murphy from improving his position.

Ganga decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Ganga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ganga fails with a takedown attempt.
Murphy doesn't manage to clinch there - Ganga circles away.

Murphy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ganga, pushing him back against the cage.
Murphy gets underhooks to prevent Ganga's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ganga blocks a body shot from Murphy.
Murphy lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Murphy fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ganga tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Murphy smiles and moves away.
Murphy tries to clinch there but Ganga circles away.
Ganga shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Murphy as he avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Liam Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murphy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Ganga manages to pull guard.
Murphy is looking to pass into half guard but Ganga pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Ganga is in guard.

Murphy keeping moving, preventing Ganga from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ganga forces his way into half guard.
Murphy trying to control here.
Ganga trying to mount his opponent but Murphy defends it.

Ganga escapes and gets back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ganga closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Murphy quickly recovers to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murphy tries to get to full guard but Ganga has control of the leg.
Sunil Ganga is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ganga is trying to control the action in half guard but Murphy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sunil Ganga.
I've got Ganga 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sunil Ganga!
A very excited looking Sunil Ganga made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.