PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ian Murdock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Murdock
vs
James

174 cm
22
149 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
152 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ian Murdock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frank James!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Wagner Zegers and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James misses with the combination.
Frank James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Murdock.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Murdock.
Murdock misses with a low kick.
James moves out of range as Murdock strikes.
James misses with a jab, cross combination.
Murdock throws a right hand that James ducks under and follows up with a left that James also avoids with ease.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice shot lands for James.
Murdock loads up on a big right hand but James slips the punch.
James blocks a leg kick.
James tries to work over Murdock's front leg with a kick but Murdock checks it.
Murdock wants to slow James down by chopping away at his legs.
Murdock throws a hook to the side of James's head but James sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big left from James misses.
James's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Murdock connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! James scrambles back to his feet.
Murdock misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
James throws a right hand that Murdock ducks under and follows up with a left that Murdock also avoids with ease.
Murdock lands a leg kick that knocks James off balance momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murdock swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Murdock turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murdock throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as James stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. Murdock follows into mount!

James is rocked!

It looks like Frank James has been cut.
James is looking to get to half guard.
James is still in real trouble! Can Murdock finish him?
James looks gassed!
James manages to regain half guard. Good work.
James seems to have recovered his senses.
Murdock throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Murdock is thwarting James's attempts to control the position.
Murdock sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. James defending well though.
Murdock thows a huge punch but James dodges it nicely.
Murdock tries to stand but his hand is stuck under James.
James is trying to stand up here but Murdock is controlling him well.
Murdock wants to stand up but James is controlling the position.
Murdock throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Murdock is trying to work for a kimura but James is defending well.
Murdock trying to control from half guard but James is working away.
Murdock is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

James is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Murdock pulls his head out easily.

James is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Murdock pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Murdock wants to stand but James has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Murdock knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.
James missing with punches from the bottom.
Murdock tries to stand and escape but James is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James punching from the bottom.
It looks like Murdock is going to stand back up.

James looking for submissions off his back.
Murdock wants to get back to his feet.
James regains full guard. Nicely done.
Murdock has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Murdock would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
James is trying to control the position from the bottom.

James looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Murdock pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.

Murdock stands up from James's guard - Murdock perhaps looking for a knockout.
Murdock chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murdock finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Murdock wants to land a leg kick but James is out of range.
Murdock feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to James's calf.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian Murdock dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frank James's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

James misses with a combination
and Murdock counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Frank James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murdock uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
Murdock throws a solid leg kick but James takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Murdock.
James misses with an uppercut.
James checks the leg kick.
Murdock tries to score with a low kick but James moves his leg out of the way.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Murdock does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murdock lands a leg kick that knocks James off balance momentarily.
Murdock slips a straight right by James.
Murdock moves out of range of the strikes.
Murdock scores with a decent looking hook.
Murdock walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Murdock misses with a head kick.
Murdock throws a low kick but it's checked well by James.
Murdock misses with a leg kick.
James is breathing heavily.
Murdock defending well as James loads up on a big left hand.
Murdock swings widly with a right hand
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Murdock sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James shoots in for a takedown but Murdock shows good takedown defense.
Murdock throws a nice inside leg kick.
A big left from Murdock misses.
Murdock scoring well with a low kick there.
James avoids the head kick by Murdock.
Murdock shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Murdock pivots, looking for a leg kick but James is out of range and Murdock settles back down.
James throws a series of punches but Murdock moves out of range.
Murdock thumps James with a low kick.
A good leg kick by Murdock.
Murdock looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
James avoids the head kick by Murdock.
A jab from Murdock does it's job there.
Ian Murdock is winning the standup battle so far.
Murdock connects with a solid leg kick.
James avoids the body shot from Murdock.
A chopping leg kick lands by Murdock.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Murdock throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Murdock.
Murdock throws a front kick aimed at James's knee but James avoids it well.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Murdock, right into the meat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Murdock.
Murdock throws a low kick but James avoids it.
James feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Murdocks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Murdock lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Murdock throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Murdock throws a low kick but James moves out of range easily.
James is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Murdock.
Murdock connects with a solid leg kick.
James scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Murdock misses with a low kick.
James's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Murdock connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! James scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdock connects with a leg kick. James looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Murdock shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
James displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ian Murdock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James ducks under a wild hook from Murdock.
Nice takedown defense from Murdock. No joy for James on that attempt.
Ian Murdock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank James.
Murdock chopping away at his opponent's legs.
James throws out a loose jab but Murdock uses good head movement to avoid it.
James moves out of range as Murdock strikes.
Murdock scores with a jab to the head.
Murdock fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt James.
James moves out of range of the leg kick from Murdock.
Murdock moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Murdock scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Murdock.
Murdock misses with a straight left.
Murdock misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock throws a head kick that misses.
James stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
James with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Murdock lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
James throws a left and a right that both miss
and Murdock counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. James is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Murdock is looking to score with low kicks.
James misses with a two punch combination.
James with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Murdock to score with a decent uppercut.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Murdock tries to land a leg kick but James saw it coming and moves away.
James checks a leg kick.
Murdock buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
James jabs at Murdock's body.
James scores with a jab to the head.
Murdock lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian Murdock dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Frank James's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Murdock is on the wrong end of a nice combination from James.
James lands with a nice combination. Murdock backs away looking to recover.
James looks to land a combination. Murdock sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Murdock goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Murdock throws a jab but it's blocked by James.
No joy there for Murdock, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Murdock scoring well with a low kick there.
James scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Murdock misses with a head kick.
Murdock moves out of range of the strikes.
James's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Murdock throws a leg kick but James checks it.
James misses with a two punch combination.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Murdock.
James is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A good leg kick by Murdock.
Murdock throws a quick head kick that skims the top of James's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock throws a poor cross that misses
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
James takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Murdock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
James throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Murdock on the side of the head.
Murdock throws a quick head kick that skims the top of James's head.
James connects with the punch.
James on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Murdock, right into the meat.
James throws a chopping leg kick but Murdock manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
James paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Murdock connects with the punch.
Murdock feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to James's calf.
James avoids the head kick by Murdock.
Murdock misses with a body shot
and James counters with a two punch combo.
Murdock slaps away a takedown attempt from James, before circling back to the center of the mat.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Murdock tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Murdock to the ground. Murdock escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
That kick from Murdock tenderised James's leg. James is trying to keep his angry face on.
Murdock throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Murdock throws a leg kick
and James counters with a left to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as James blocks the leg kick.
A nice combination there by James.
Murdock misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
James scores with a jab to the head.
Murdock displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from James.
Ian Murdock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank James.
Murdock tried to score with a low kick but James checks it.
Murdock showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
James avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Murdock lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Murdock.
Horrible takedown by James or perhaps it was just good defense by Murdock which made him look bad.
James takes a kick to the side of the head.
James cracks Murdock with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
James misses with a hook. Murdock ducked under it nicely.
Murdock smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Murdock throws a jab but it's blocked by James.
Murdock looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The fighters circling - Murdock throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
James throws a lazy right hand but Murdock sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Murdock lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Murdock lands a leg kick that knocks James off balance momentarily.
Murdock throws a nice inside leg kick.
Murdock lands a head kick. James smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
James throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Murdock stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Murdock fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt James.
Murdock lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ian Murdock is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and James has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

James shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Murdock manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
James wants to control from the top but Murdock keeps moving.
Frank James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Murdock wants to get back to his feet but James is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ian Murdock showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Murdock, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ian Murdock!