PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mursk Apuro (ranked 2399 p4p, 3724 weight class) and Umar Khattab (ranked 276 p4p, 398 weight class). Mursk Apuro had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Apuro
vs
Khattab

179 cm
19
190
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
192
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Tap Out

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mursk Apuro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Umar Khattab!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Apuro closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Apuro lands in his opponent's guard.
Apuro lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Apuro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Apuro pushing down on Khattab's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Apuro working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Khattab keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Apuro slips a nice elbow through Khattab's hands, connecting with Khattab's forehead.
Apuro has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Apuro missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khattab avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Apuro.
Apuro missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Khattab really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Apuro. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Apuro lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Apuro there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apuro lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Apuro looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Apuro is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Khattab reverses the position - he's now on top in Apuro's guard.
Apuro on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Apuro tries to get out of the position.
Apuro manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Khattab manages to get himself to full guard.

Apuro throws a big elbow that misses.
Apuro postures up in Khattab's guard and throws a big left but Khattab blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khattab is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Khattab throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apuro postures up in Khattab's guard and throws a big left but Khattab blocks it.
Apuro throws a big elbow that misses.
Apuro throws a big right hand that misses.

Khattab working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Apuro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Apuro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Apuro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Khattab keeping moving, preventing Apuro from controlling successfully.
Apuro is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apuro wants to control from the top but Khattab keeps moving.
Apuro missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Khattab looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Apuro looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Apuro with a nice head shot there.
Apuro trying to control the position from guard on top but Khattab is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khattab working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Apuro.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Apuro trying to control but Khattab is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Apuro looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Apuro showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Khattab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apuro shoots for a takedown but Khattab saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Khattab misses with a jab, cross combination.
Apuro half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Apuro.
Apuro doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Khattab counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mursk Apuro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Apuro tries to score a body lock takedown but Khattab shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Apuro has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Khattab is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Apuro is trying to force a seperation but Khattab has the dominant position.
Apuro is looking to take this one to the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khattab is looking for a takedown.
Apuro looking for a takedown.
Apuro is looking for a takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mursk Apuro dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Apuro shoots in but no luck this time.

Apuro shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Apuro scoring with punches to the head and body.
Apuro trying to control but Khattab is working from the bottom.

Khattab is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Khattab is trying to control the position but Apuro postures up.
Apuro with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Khattab looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Khattab working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Apuro.

Apuro got a little sloppy there for a moment and Khattab has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Apuro has managed to get both his arms back between Khattab's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apuro wants to pass the guard but Khattab is keeping the position.
Apuro cracks Khattab with a solid left hand.
Apuro cracks Khattab with a solid left hand.
Apuro scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Apuro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Apuro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Khattab can do to turn this around?
Apuro looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mursk Apuro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Khattab working for a triangle but Apuro defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apuro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Khattab swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Apuro throws an elbow that misses. Khattab uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Apuro's guard. Nice move by Khattab!

Khattab is fighting to break Apuro's control of his arms but Apuro is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Khattab sitting in guard here, content to control.
Apuro pulls Khattab in to control the position.
Khattab trying to control but Apuro is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khattab pushing down on Apuro's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Apuro gets back to full guard.
Khattab with a flurry of punches that miss.
Khattab advances position into side control!
I wouldn't like to be where Apuro is right now.
Apuro struggling a bit here.
Khattab wants to stand but Apuro has his arm trapped.
Apuro tries to buck Khattab off but Khattab is having none of it.
Khattab trying to control the action but Apuro is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apuro wants to control but Khattab postures up.
Apuro manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Apuro moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Khattab trying to control the position from guard on top but Apuro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khattab tries to free his leg and advance position but Apuro is retaining full guard.
Apuro is pulling down on Khattab's head. It's preventing any offense from Khattab, at least for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

Apuro has knee on belly and moves into mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mursk Apuro 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!

Apuro will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Khattab steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Apuro.
Apuro seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Khattab throws a nice looking combination but Apuro bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Khattab fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Apuro manages to avoid it.
Apuro has a takedown stuffed.

Khattab tries to sprawl but Apuro drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Apuro working Khattab over with strikes.
Apuro is taking a breather. Khattab says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Khattab blocking the ground and pound attempt from Apuro.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Apuro lands a nice short elbow.
Khattab blocking the ground and pound attempt from Apuro.
Khattab is pressing down on Apuro's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apuro postures up.
Khattab wants to sweep but no luck.
Apuro wants to control from the top but Khattab keeps moving.
Apuro working some strikes from top position.
Apuro lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Apuro postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Khattab preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Apuro showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Apuro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Khattab swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apuro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Apuro is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Apuro has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Apuro scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Apuro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Khattab works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Apuro is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Apuro connects with a couple of short punches.
Apuro seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Apuro throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apuro cracks Khattab with a solid left hand.
Apuro wants to control from the top but Khattab keeps moving.
Apuro working some strikes from top position.
Apuro looking to sit in guard and control but Khattab gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Khattab won't allow Apuro to sweep him here.
Apuro is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Khattab stopping the sweep attempt from Apuro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khattab throwing strikes from guard but Apuro blocks nicely.
Khattab preventing the sweep.
Apuro pulls Khattab in to control the position.
Khattab works over Apuro with some ground and pound from guard.
Apuro seems keen to control Khattab's posture.
Apuro wants to sweep but no luck.
Khattab throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Apuro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Khattab pushing down on Apuro's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Khattab is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Apuro doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Khattab.
Khattab is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mursk Apuro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Apuro, 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mursk Apuro!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Mursk Apuro made sure he mentioned Sakura Style, along with how happy he was to win his fight.