PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Aregood (ranked 4272 p4p, 1597 weight class) and Mursk Apuro (ranked 446 p4p, 183 weight class). James Aregood has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Aregood
vs
Apuro

189 cm
30
197
7 - 7 - 0

179 cm
20
190
6 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Aregood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mursk Apuro!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Fedor Mirinova and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aregood throws a shot from downtown. Apuro moves away and avoids it.
Aregood moves forwards but Apuro connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Aregood takes a swing at Apuro's ribcage but misses.
Apuro goes for a double leg but Aregood avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Aregood continues to drive forward.
Apuro lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Aregood at a distance.
Apuro scores with a jab to the body.
Aregood swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Apuro counters with a straight right hand.
Aregood takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Apuro lands with a right hand.
Mursk Apuro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Apuro sizes up Aregood with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Apuro has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Aregood is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Aregood pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Apuro back to the cage. Aregood follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Mursk Apuro has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Apuro comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Apuro looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Apuro lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apuro takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Apuro looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Aregood has hold of Apuro's hands but Apuro slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Apuro stops Aregood from getting back to his feet.
Apuro controlling the action here.
Apuro trying to control from half guard but Aregood is working away.
Apuro sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aregood defending well though.
Apuro missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

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.
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. Apuro connects with a nice short shot to Aregood's temple.
Apuro wants to control but Aregood is keeping him busy.
Apuro working the head and body with strikes.
Apuro throwing shots but Aregood is blocking nicely.
Aregood is trying to stand back up but Apuro is controlling him
Apuro drops an elbow to the side of Aregood's head.
Apuro lands with a punch from half guard.
Aregood is not content to let Apuro control the position.
Apuro lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Apuro looks to land a strike but Aregood avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Apuro postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Apuro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Apuro working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aregood is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Apuro presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Apuro misses with some punches.
Apuro has a couple of punches blocked by Aregood.

Apuro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Apuro lands a nice shot to the body.
Apuro with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Apuro connects with a crisp jab.
Aregood is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Apuro lands with a straight right. Aregood didn't see that one coming.
Apuro fails with the takedown.
Aregood on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Apuro jabs Aregood right on the nose. Aregood blinks but takes it well.
Apuro thuds his right hand into Aregood's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Apuro misses with a takedown
and Aregood makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
James Aregood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mursk Apuro.
Aregood takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Apuro cracks Aregood with an open hand slap.
Donk. Apuro catches Aregood right on the button with a cross.
Apuro misses with a combination
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Aregood counters with a right hand to the body.
Apuro scores with a jab to the head.
Aregood throws an off balance right hand
letting Apuro counter with a right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mursk Apuro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mursk Apuro's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Apuro stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Apuro connects with a nice looking jab.
Apuro loads up on a big right hand but Aregood slips the punch.
Aregood swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Apuro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Apuro scores with a jab to the body.
Aregood has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Aregood there as he acknowledges the shot.
Aregood defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Apuro.
Apuro lands a jab.
Apuro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Apuro lands a right hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aregood slips a jab from Apuro.
Apuro listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Apuro lands a nice shot that snaps Aregood's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apuro jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Apuro punishes Aregood's body with a nice straight punch.
Apuro lands a jab to the head.
Jab from Apuro.

Aregood is rocked!
Apuro's corner calls for a 1-2. Apuro obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Oh Aregood is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Decent striking displayed by Apuro there.
Apuro staying out of range there.
Aregood seems to have got his legs back now.
Aregood throws a left and a right that both miss

so Apuro counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Apuro postures up and lands a big shot to Aregood's brow.
Apuro lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Aregood is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apuro works over Aregood with some ground and pound from guard.
Apuro with a nice head shot there.
Apuro trying to control the position from guard on top but Aregood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Apuro connects with a couple of short punches.
Apuro chips away with some ground and pound.
Apuro with a nice head shot there.
Apuro has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Apuro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Apuro scoring with some ground and pound.
Apuro is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Apuro sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Aregood has momentary wrist control but Apuro slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aregood is looking to stand up but Apuro isn't so interested in that idea.
Apuro lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Apuro chips away with some ground and pound.
Apuro is in close to Aregood's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Apuro wants to control from the top but Aregood keeps moving.
Apuro keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aregood's head.
Apuro with a nice head shot there.
Aregood being controlled here, momentarily.
Apuro wants to control from the top but Aregood keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Apuro stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Apuro with a poor takedown
and Aregood counters with a stiff right hand.
A lazy left from Apuro finds it's target.
A jab from Aregood misses.
Aregood misses with a straight right.
Apuro catches Aregood with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A decent looking cross lands there for Apuro.
Apuro shoots in but Aregood avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mursk Apuro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mursk Apuro's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Apuro lands a nice shot to the body.
Aregood looks to land a right hand but Apuro moved out of range.
Apuro is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Apuro fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Apuro lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Apuro shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Aregood sprawls well. Aregood wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Apuro gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apuro lands with a nice body punch.
Aregood connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apuro scores with a crisp jab that stopped Aregood in his tracks.
Apuro takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Aregood takes one to the side of the head.
Apuro shoots in for a double leg but Aregood sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A left lands for Apuro.
Aregood avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Aregood takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Apuro misses with an uppercut
and Aregood counters with a left to the body.
Apuro lands the left hand.
Aregood moves away from the strike by Apuro.
It looked like Aregood wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Apuro misses with a lunging right hand
and Aregood cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Apuro closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Aregood quickly recovers to half guard.
Aregood is trying to escape back to his feet but Apuro uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Mursk Apuro has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apuro misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Apuro lands a nice forearm strike.
Aregood is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Apuro is controlling him well.
Apuro cracks Aregood with a big elbow.
Apuro lands a few punches from side control.
Aregood takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Apuro lands a few punches from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Apuro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aregood keeps working.
Apuro remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apuro is looking to take a break and control but Aregood is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aregood is working to avoid the ground and pound but Apuro connects with a decent elbow.
Apuro scores with a couple of short elbows.
Apuro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aregood keeps working.
Apuro is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Aregood being controlled for a moment.
Aregood on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Aregood tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Aregood is not content to let Apuro control the position.
Check out the look on Apuro's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
James Aregood has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aregood wants to get back to his feet but Apuro drags him back down.
Apuro landing a few strikes.
Apuro wants to control but Aregood is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mursk Apuro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Apuro has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mursk Apuro!
Mursk Apuro took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Sakura Style for their support in the buildup to the fight.