PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shinzade Murakami (ranked 2700 p4p, 2768 weight class) and Jobber Joe (ranked 261 p4p, 268 weight class). Shinzade Murakami has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Murakami
vs
Joe

188 cm
32
155
10 - 8 - 0

174 cm
32
145
13 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shinzade Murakami!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jobber Joe!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murakami displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Joe throws out the jab.

Murakami instigates a clinch.
Joe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Murakami struggles to land a body shot inside as Joe controls his hands.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Joe.
Joe tries a body shot but Murakami blocks it.
A short uppercut from Murakami.
Murakami swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Joe lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Joe misses with a punch on the inside.
Murakami misses with a punch to the body.
A short uppercut from Murakami.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joe tries a body shot but Murakami blocks it.
Murakami tries to work over Joe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Murakami goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Joe misses with a hook from the clinch.
Joe is looking to break free of the clinch but Murakami has double underhooks.
Murakami tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe can't break the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Joe scores with a nice short uppercut.
Joe misses with the head strike.
Joe tries to circle away but Murakami has him pinned against the cage.
Murakami tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joe's elbow.
Joe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Joe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Murakami tries a body shot but Joe blocks it.
Murakami keeps control of Joe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Murakami pushes Joe back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Joe working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Joe fails to land.
Joe tries to break free but Murakami pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Murakami fails to land.
Murakami tries to throw a body punch but Joe avoids it by throwing Murakami back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murakami tries to throw a body punch but Joe avoids it by throwing Murakami back against the cage.
Murakami misses with a punch on the inside.
Murakami misses with a punch to the body.
A hook to the body from Murakami.
Joe tries to break the clinch but Murakami is controlling the position.
Murakami digs a right hand underneath Joe's ribcage. Joe let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short right from Murakami.
Joe struggles to land a body shot inside as Murakami controls his hands.
Joe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Joe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murakami lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Murakami tries to work over Joe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Joe wants to get back to striking at distance but Murakami won't allow it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murakami.
Murakami tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Murakami.
Murakami works on Joe's body with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe blocks a body shot from Murakami.
Murakami tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joe's elbow.
Joe is looking to break free of the clinch but Murakami has double underhooks.
Murakami lands a body shot.
Murakami goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Joe lands with a right to the head.
Murakami misses with some punches.
A frustrated look appears on Joe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Joe can't break the clinch.
Murakami really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Murakami lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch on the inside from Murakami fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Murakami.
Murakami looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Murakami scores with a nice hook to the head.
Murakami blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Joe.
Joe lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murakami lands with a left to the head.
Murakami doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Murakami.
Murakami tries to work over Joe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Joe wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Murakami has him pressed against the cage.
Murakami tries a body shot but Joe blocks it.
Murakami misses with a body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murakami tries to work over Joe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Joe misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murakami tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Joe is trying to force a seperation but Murakami has the dominant position.
Joe prevents a body shot from Murakami.
Joe blocks an uppercut.
Joe misses with a punch on the inside.
Murakami doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Joe pressing his opponent against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shinzade Murakami dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Joe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Murakami misses with a hook.
Joe misses with a looping left.
Joe tries to bum rush Murakami with a series of wild strikes but Murakami uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Murakami misses with a hook to the body
and Joe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Joe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Murakami misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Joe.
Murakami takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Joe closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Murakami to the mat! Murakami manages to get full guard.
Murakami is wriggling around but Joe manages to pass to half guard.

Joe takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Joe has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
My spies in LA Fitness inform me that Joe has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Joe.
Joe's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe is continuing to stall.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Joe stops Murakami from getting back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Joe misses with an uppercut.
Murakami misses with a combination
enabling Joe to counter with a crisp jab.
Joe connects with a looping right hand.

Murakami gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Murakami tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joe's elbow.
Joe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Joe prevents a body shot from Murakami.
Murakami scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe has had enough of the clinch but Murakami keeps him there for the moment.
A nice right hand lands inside from Joe.
Joe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Joe cracks Murakami with a nice body shot.
Joe can't find room to land a body shot as Murakami controls the action.
Murakami scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Joe taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Murakami struggles to land a body shot inside as Joe controls his hands.
Murakami tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murakami misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Joe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Murakami is working Joe over against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murakami has a couple of punches blocked by Joe.
Murakami tries to throw a body punch but Joe avoids it by throwing Murakami back against the cage.
Shinzade Murakami has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Joe.

Joe manages to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jobber Joe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Joe loads up on a big right hand but Murakami slips the punch.
Joe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Murakami.
Murakami tries to clinch up.
Murakami with a jab.
Murakami fails in his attempt to clinch.
Joe defending well as Murakami loads up on a big left hand.
Joe connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Murakami fails with an attempt to clinch.
Joe throws out a counter right but Murakami avoids it with no problem.

Joe gets a takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joe stalling.
Joe thows a huge punch but Murakami dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murakami blocking the ground and pound attempt from Joe.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Joe in particular looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Joe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Murakami is trying to stand back up but Joe is controlling him
Joe controlling the action here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Joe clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Murakami misses with the head strike.
Murakami struggles to land a body shot inside as Joe controls his hands.
Murakami lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Joe throws a head punch that misses.
Joe lands with a light punch inside.
Joe digs a right hand into Murakami's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Murakami's gas tank.
Joe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Joe prevents a body shot from Murakami.
Joe blocking some punches.
Murakami tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murakami doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Joe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murakami's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Joe fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe blocks a body shot from Murakami.
Joe tries to throw a body punch but Murakami avoids it by throwing Joe back against the cage.
Murakami tries to work over Joe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Joe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Joe slowing the pace effectively.
Joe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Joe lands a right hand that snaps the head of Murakami backwards.
A shot in the inside from Murakami.
Murakami struggles to land a body shot inside as Joe controls his hands.
Joe lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Murakami misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Joe tries to throw a body punch but Murakami avoids it by throwing Joe back against the cage.
Joe lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Murakami misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murakami tries to work over Joe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Joe misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Joe - that landed with a thud.
Joe blocks a body shot from Murakami.
Murakami doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Joe breaks the clinch.
Joe misses with an uppercut.
Murakami swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Joe counter with a right hand.
Joe takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murakami tries to clinch there but Joe circles away.
Joe might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Joe lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Murakami throws a shot from downtown. Joe moves away and avoids it.
Joe throws out a counter right but Murakami avoids it with no problem.
Murakami moves in looking to clinch but Joe pushes him off.
Murakami avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Good shot there by Joe.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jobber Joe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Joe has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jobber Joe!
Post fight, Jobber Joe took to the microphone: 'Highland Give me title shot,GIVe me chance at the Champ'.
The defeated Shinzade Murakami had this to say: 'Congrats to my opponent, but I’ll be back.'.