PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Micheal Zak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Murphy
vs
Zak

176 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
144 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Murphy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Micheal Zak!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Murphy scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Murphy happy to just control the position for now.
Murphy seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Zak for as long as he can get away with.
Zak is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Murphy trying to control the pace.
Zak 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!
Murphy is keeping busy.
Zak punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy prevents Zak from getting a body triangle.
Zak wants to control the position but Murphy frees himself and scrambles - Zak manages to regain control in side control.

Zak thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Murphy is not content to let Zak control the position.

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.
Murphy managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zak.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Murphy scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Murphy controls the position.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Murphy is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Zak will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Murphy trying to control the position but Zak is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zak is being controlled here.

Murphy working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Zak is not content to let Murphy control the position.
Murphy working away.

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.
A lull in the action here.
Zak is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Murphy's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zak trying to hold on to Murphy's head to control him but Murphy postures up.
Zak looks gassed!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in half guard, Murphy seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zak looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Murphy just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Murphy closes the distance and clinches.
Zak gets underhooks to prevent Murphy's takedown attempt.
Murphy misses with a body punch.
Murphy prevents the takedown attempt.
Murphy is trying to force a seperation but Zak has the dominant position.
Nice body punch from Zak.
Zak wants a takedown but no success here.
Zak looking for a takedown.
John Murphy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Micheal Zak.
Zak is breathing heavily.
Murphy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zak is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zak tries a knee to the head but Murphy blocks it.
Zak changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Murphy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Zak tries for a takedown but Murphy circles away easily

and Murphy counters with a takedown into side control.
Murphy controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
You can see the frustration on Zak's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Murphy controlling from side mount.
Murphy's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy throws an elbow but Zak slips to the side and avoids it well.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Murphy just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Zak has his takedown stuffed

and Murphy counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murphy happy to just control the position for now.
Murphy tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Zak prevents Murphy from improving position.
The referee asks Murphy politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Murphy prefers to stall for the moment though.
Murphy tries to advance to mount but can't.
Murphy is staying tight to Zak's torso, preventing him from escaping.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Murphy dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Murphy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Zak!
Murphy tries to control but Zak wriggling away.
Murphy looking to control and managing it successfully.
Murphy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zak is looking to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zak tries to lock up and control but Murphy gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zak is wriggling around trying to escape.
Murphy tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Murphy thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Murphy controlling the position easily from mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Murphy just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Zak fails with the takedown

and Murphy counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Murphy has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Zak is trying to keep an underhook but Murphy manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Zak is looking for a sweep. Murphy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Murphy stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zak won't allow Murphy to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy content to control rather than advance.
John Murphy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Murphy tries to stand but can't do so whilst Zak controls his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zak is looking for a sweep. Murphy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Murphy is controlling the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Murphy just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Murphy moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
John Murphy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murphy doesn't manage to clinch there - Zak circles away.
Micheal Zak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zak fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Murphy is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Murphy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Murphy has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

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