PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sanitha Muralitharan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kelvin Shum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Muralitharan comes to the cage accompanied by The Sri Lankan National Anthem. Shum comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Exploited - Chaos Is My Life kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Kelvin Shum struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 206.6lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Muralitharan
vs
Shum

186 cm
24
205 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

190 cm
25
223 lbs
11 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Coffee Shop (SALE!: Q144 for 15$)

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sanitha Muralitharan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Kelvin Shum!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shum slips a jab and a cross from Muralitharan.

Shum moves into range and clinches up with Muralitharan.
Shum taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Shum.

Shum escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Shum darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shum thows a huge punch but Muralitharan dodges it nicely.
Muralitharan is looking to escape.
Shum wants to pass the guard but Muralitharan is defending well.
Shum not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shum slips a nice elbow through Muralitharan's hands, connecting with Muralitharan's forehead.
Muralitharan won't allow Shum to pass to mount.
Muralitharan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shum is working away from the top position though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shum connects with a nice short shot to Muralitharan's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shum with the ground and pound but Muralitharan uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Muralitharan wants to improve his position but instead Shum has moved into half guard.
Shum stalling away here and it's allowed Muralitharan to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Shum throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Muralitharan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Muralitharan pushes Shum off and scrambles back to his feet.
Muralitharan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Shum has a takedown stuffed.
Shum fails to land the takedown.
Shum looks gassed!
Muralitharan stuffs the takedown.
Sanitha Muralitharan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kelvin Shum.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muralitharan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shum keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice takedown defense from Shum. No joy for Muralitharan on that attempt.

Muralitharan moves into range and clinches up with Shum.
Shum jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Muralitharan walks away with a smile on his face. Shum gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Muralitharan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Muralitharan showed some decent athleticism there.
Shum wants to get back to full guard but Muralitharan has passed into side control.
Shum is squirming around, avoiding Muralitharan's attempts to control the action.
Shum is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muralitharan tries to control but Shum wriggling away.
Shum tries to lock up and control but Muralitharan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shum is trying to escape the mount but Muralitharan keeps good control and instead manages to take Shum's back.
Muralitharan controls the position.
Muralitharan controlling well, preventing Shum from escaping the position.
Shum is keeping busy.
Muralitharan controlling well, preventing Shum from escaping the position.
Muralitharan tries to get the hooks in deep but Shum pushed the leg off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Muralitharan working for a choke but Shum reverses nicely into Muralitharan 's guard.
Muralitharan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Muralitharan shoots for a takedown but Shum saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Muralitharan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shum moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shum tries for a takedown but Muralitharan circles away easily
and Muralitharan counters with a two punch combo.
Shum doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Muralitharan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shum shoots in but Muralitharan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Muralitharan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sanitha Muralitharan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Muralitharan tests Shum's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Shum shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Muralitharan but Muralitharan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shum shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Muralitharan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Shum shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Muralitharan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sanitha Muralitharan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kelvin Shum.
Shum is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Muralitharan.
Muralitharan looks to land a combination but Shum avoids it well.
A combination from Muralitharan does no damage.
Muralitharan misses with a wild combination.
Shum shoots and misses
and Muralitharan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Muralitharan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shum looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Muralitharan decides to stand back up. Muralitharan steps back and let's Shum get back to his feet.
Shum is breathing heavily.
Muralitharan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shum swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Muralitharan feints and as Shum raises his hands in defense, Muralitharan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shum wants to stand and escape but Muralitharan is having none of it.
Shum keeping moving, preventing Muralitharan from controlling successfully.
Shum looking for a sweep. Not yet Shum, not yet.
Muralitharan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Muralitharan controls the position.
Shum is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Muralitharan is controlling him well.
Shum is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Muralitharan decides to stand back up. Muralitharan steps back and let's Shum get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shum looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Shum shoots and misses
and Muralitharan counters with a straight right hand.
Good work by Shum as he checks the leg kick.
Muralitharan swinging wilding here.
Muralitharan tries for a takedown but Shum sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Muralitharan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Muralitharan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Muralitharan lands a two punch combo.
Shum misses with a takedown

and Muralitharan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Shum's guard now.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shum trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muralitharan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Muralitharan stopping the sweep attempt from Shum.
Shum looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Muralitharan puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Muralitharan decides to stand and escape the position.
Muralitharan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Shum shoots in looking for a takedown. Muralitharan tries to sprawl out of it but Shum keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Muralitharan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Muralitharan shoots for a takedown but Shum saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muralitharan catches Shum with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Muralitharan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Muralitharan works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Muralitharan shoots in for a takedown but Shum shows good takedown defense.
Shum doesn't manage to clinch there - Muralitharan circles away.
Muralitharan tries for a takedown but Shum sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Muralitharan shoots for a double leg takedown but Shum sprawls well. He's pushed Muralitharan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shum misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sanitha Muralitharan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Muralitharan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Shum counters with a single leg into guard. Muralitharan didn't expect that.
Shum postures up in Muralitharan's guard and throws a big left but Muralitharan blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sanitha Muralitharan dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Muralitharan shoots in for a double leg but Shum sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Muralitharan throws a series of strikes that have Shum backpedaling.
Shum slips a jab and a cross from Muralitharan.
Shum tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Muralitharan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Muralitharan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Muralitharan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shum circles away.
Muralitharan throws a right and a left that Shum avoids nicely.

Shum drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shum cracks Muralitharan with a big elbow.
Sanitha Muralitharan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Muralitharan managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Shum.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shum stands up.
Shum shoots and misses
and Muralitharan counters with a right hand to the body.
Shum tries for a takedown but Muralitharan circles away easily

and Muralitharan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Shum's guard now.
Muralitharan wants to control from the top but Shum keeps moving.
Shum is looking to stand up but Muralitharan isn't so interested in that idea.

Muralitharan gets to his feet - Shum follows without any prompting.
Shum moves in looking to clinch but Muralitharan pushes him off.
Shum has his takedown stuffed
and Muralitharan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sanitha Muralitharan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kelvin Shum.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muralitharan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shum swivels and escapes.
Shum moves forwards but Muralitharan connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Muralitharan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shum misses with a takedown
and Muralitharan counters with a left to the body.
Muralitharan with a poor takedown

and Shum counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Muralitharan has momentary wrist control but Shum slips an elbow through the middle.
Shum pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Muralitharan is keeping the position for now.
Muralitharan controlling Shum's posture.
Muralitharan trying to keep a closed guard but Shum is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muralitharan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shum lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Shum trying to control but Muralitharan is working from the bottom.
Muralitharan wants to stand up but Shum is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Muralitharan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Shum misses with a takedown attempt

and Muralitharan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Shum's guard.

Muralitharan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Shum uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Muralitharan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shum bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Muralitharan's head backwards.

Shum closes the distance and pushes Muralitharan back into the cage.
Shum misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kelvin Shum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shum is looking to break free of the clinch but Muralitharan has double underhooks.
Muralitharan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shum is working Muralitharan over against the cage.
Sanitha Muralitharan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shum throws a punch but it's blocked by Muralitharan.
Muralitharan is trying to break free.
Muralitharan is trying to break the clinch but Shum has him pressed against the cage.
Muralitharan is trying to break the clinch but Shum has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shum will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Muralitharan up against the cage.
Shum is trying to maintain a safe position but Muralitharan gets an underhook and turns Shum into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sanitha Muralitharan.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Muralitharan, 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sanitha Muralitharan!