PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Deigos (ranked 2000 p4p, 2968 weight class) and Manus Murphy (ranked 288 p4p, 387 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Deigos
vs
Murphy

196 cm
30
217
15 - 5 - 0

195 cm
31
207
16 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Fast

Sakura Style

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 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Deigos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manus Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy misses with a wild combination.
An attempted straight right counter from Deigos misses the target.

Murphy dives in and scores a takedown into Deigos's guard.

Deigos has his feet on Murphy's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Murphy connects with a solid leg kick.
Murphy displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Alex Deigos has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Murphy gets a clinch.
Murphy swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deigos has a couple of punches blocked by Murphy.
Murphy using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Deigos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A head punch on the inside from Murphy fails to land.

Murphy gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Deigos is looking to escape.
Murphy tries to pass the half guard into mount. Deigos knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Deigos is looking to escape.

Murphy is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Deigos has managed to free his arm - good work.
Murphy wants to pass to mount but Deigos is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Murphy is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Murphy is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Murphy drops back, looking for a kneebar! Deigos looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Deigos looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Deigos!

Murphy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Deigos wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Deigos decides to stand back up.

Murphy shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Deigos napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Deigos throws Murphy to one side and escapes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Murphy drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Deigos manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Deigos tries to keep at a distance but Murphy has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Deigos scores with a shoulder strike.
Deigos misses with some punches.
Deigos throws a head punch that misses.
Deigos throws a punch but it's blocked by Murphy.
Murphy lands a nice knee to the body.
Murphy is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Deigos is defending well for now.
Murphy swings wildly with an uppercut but Deigos uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy pushes Deigos back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Deigos's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A shot in the inside from Murphy.
Murphy blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Deigos.
Murphy blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Deigos swings wildly with an uppercut but Murphy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murphy blocking some punches.

Murphy ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Murphy no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Murphy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Murphy is looking for a triangle here but Deigos uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Deigos stands up and beckons Murphy to his feet.
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.
The cut man is working on Alex Deigos's cut.
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.

Murphy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch on the inside from Deigos fails to land.

Murphy ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Murphy no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

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

Deigos avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Murphy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Deigos doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Deigos manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy wants to hit a sweep here but Deigos passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Murphy there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Murphy is looking to get back to full guard here but Deigos has managed to pass to side control instead.

Deigos decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Murphy misses with a two punch combination.
Murphy throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
An attempted straight right counter from Deigos misses the target.
Murphy throws a right and a left that Deigos avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deigos avoids a punch combination nicely.

Murphy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Deigos!
Murphy is trying to move to mount but Deigos reverses beautifully and ends up in Murphy's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Deigos gets to his feet - Murphy follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deigos dodges the punch combination from Murphy.
Murphy fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Murphy gets the takedown into side control.

Deigos sneaks out the side door and pushes Murphy away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
A right-left combo lands from Murphy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murphy throws a poor cross that misses
and Deigos counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Murphy throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Deigos was covering up waiting for the punch and Murphy finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Deigos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Murphy passes Deigos's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Murphy is working for a submission of some sort.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Manus Murphy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alex Deigos's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Murphy is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Deigos's half guard.

Murphy seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Deigos has recovered full guard.
Alex Deigos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Deigos is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deigos wants to stand but Murphy is controlling the position.
Murphy tries to free his leg and advance position but Deigos is retaining full guard.

Deigos is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Murphy presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws a knee to the head but misses.
Murphy blocks an uppercut.

Murphy gets control of Deigos's arms and successfully pulls guard. Murphy will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Murphy is working an open guard so Deigos takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Murphy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Manus Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murphy misses with a wild combination.
Deigos was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Murphy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Deigos swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Some wild striking there from Murphy.
It looked like Deigos wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Murphy scores with a push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deigos slips a jab and a cross from Murphy.
A little feinted left hand from Deigos on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Murphy has managed to clinch.

Murphy has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Deigos uses from the top position.
Murphy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Deigos is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Murphy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Deigos defends it easily.

Murphy throws his legs up looking for a submission but Deigos uses it to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to improve position but can't.

Deigos decides to stand up, so the ref orders Murphy to his feet.
Murphy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Murphy throws a series of punches but Deigos avoids them all with ease.
A little feinted left hand from Deigos on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Murphy takes the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Deigos.
Murphy lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

And that's the end of the fight!
Manus 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manus Murphy!
Manus Murphy made sure to mention his sponsor, Sakura Style in his post fight interview.