PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jussi Murikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Opas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murikka comes to the cage accompanied by Rock'n'Rolla. Opas has chosen AC/DC - Thunderstruck as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Murikka
vs
Opas

170 cm
25
164 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

178 cm
24
165 lbs
12 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Nordic Nutrition (160 Recovery $99)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Murikka!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Don Opas!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Opas throws a head kick that misses

and Murikka decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Opas's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Murikka wants to control from the top but Opas keeps moving.
Murikka throws and elbow that misses. Opas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Murikka's guard. Nice move by Opas!
Murikka is trying to keep Opas in close.
Opas is looking to work some ground and pound but Murikka has wrist control.
Opas throwing strikes from guard but Murikka blocks nicely.
Murikka keeping moving, preventing Opas from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Opas avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Murikka has Opas pulled in close to control his posture.
Opas looking to sit in guard and control but Murikka gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Opas is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Murikka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Opas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Opas keeping moving, preventing Murikka from controlling successfully.
Murikka slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jussi Murikka just wasn't active enough.
Opas throws a leg kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murikka avoids the body shot from Opas.
Opas paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Murikka lands with a thumping leg kick.
A low kick from Murikka misses
and Murikka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Opas misses with a low kick.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Murikka scores with a leg kick.
Murikka lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Murikka checks a leg kick.
Murikka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Don Opas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fighters circle momentarily. Opas darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Murikka.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Murikka!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Opas takes a swing at Murikka's ribcage but misses.
Murikka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Opas.
Murikka wants to clinch up but Opas keeps it at a distance.
Opas gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Murikka counters with a slapping leg kick.
Opas connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Opas throws a leg kick
and Murikka counters with a three punch combo that has Opas backing up. Opas nods at Murikka to acknowledge the strikes.
Opas misses with a hook. Murikka ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murikka misses with a series of wild punches.
Opas throws a right hand that misses
and Murikka counters with a nice low kick that buckles Opas's knee momentarily.
Opas thows a leg kick but Murikka checks it
and Murikka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A slapping leg kick lands for Opas.
Murikka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Opas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
An inside leg kick from Murikka misses.
Opas scores with a sloppy right hand. Murikka should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murikka takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Opas throws a low kick but Murikka avoids it.
Murikka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Opas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Murikka tries to clinch but Opas is having none of it.
Opas throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Murikka.
Opas scores with a leg kick.
Opas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Opas is predictable there

and Murikka counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Opas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Murikka is one step ahead there.
Murikka looking to pass the guard.
Murikka 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.
Opas keeping full guard, as Murikka tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opas managing to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Murikka tries for a takedown but Opas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Murikka swinging wildly here.
Murikka throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Opas counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jussi Murikka dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Murikka throws a lazy head kick
and Opas counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Opas misses with a wild body shot.
Murikka checks a low kick from Opas.
Opas throws a head kick but Murikka moves out of range.
Murikka throws a chopping leg kick but Opas manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murikka misses with a takedown attempt - Opas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Good work by Murikka as he checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murikka misses with a low kick.
Opas scores with a three punch combo!
Murikka thows a leg kick but Opas checks it
and Opas counters with a left to the body.
Opas connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A low kick from Opas is predictable there

and Murikka counters by moving into the clinch.
Opas managing to block the knees to the body from Murikka.
Opas lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opas gets through Murikka's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Murikka dodges an elbow strike from Opas.
Nice body punch from Opas - that landed with a thud.
Opas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Murikka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Opas scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Murikka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Opas blocks an uppercut.
Opas creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Murikka's defenses.
Opas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Opas lands a hook that snaps the head of Murikka backwards.
Murikka blocks an elbow strike.
Murikka throws a punch but it's blocked by Opas.
Opas gets through Murikka's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Opas is pressed up against the cage. Murikka has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Opas down to the mat. Opas avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Murikka throws a leg kick but Opas sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Opas lands a leg kick that knocks Murikka off balance momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murikka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Opas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murikka manages to avoid it.
Murikka throws a head kick that misses
and Opas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Murikka is looking to clinch.
Murikka shoots and misses
and Opas counters with a nice leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jussi Murikka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Opas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Opas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four 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.
Opas throws a lazy uppercut
and Murikka makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Murikka drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Murikka swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Opas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Donk. Opas catches Murikka right on the button with a cross.
Opas lands a body shot.
Murikka fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Opas really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Opas misses with a jab to the body
and Murikka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Opas misses the jab.
Don Opas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Murikka misses.
Opas on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Opas changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murikka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Opas as he avoids it easily.
Opas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opas throws a head kick that misses

and Murikka moves into the clinch.
Murikka dodges an elbow strike from Opas.
Opas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Murikka avoids it.
Murikka effectively controlling the action here.
Opas lands a damaging elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Murikka.

It looks like Don Opas has been cut.
Murikka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Murikka avoids a wild elbow strike from Opas.
Nice elbow from Murikka.
Opas throws a knee to the head but misses.
Still in the clinch, Murikka scores with a nice short uppercut.
Opas avoiding damage.
Opas tries to land knees in the clinch but Murikka avoids the damage to the body.
Murikka slows down the pace here.
Opas misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opas throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Murikka blocks the elbow strike.
Murikka avoids a wild elbow strike from Opas.
With the fighters up against the cage, Opas throws an elbow but misses.
Opas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Opas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Murikka tries for a takedown. No joy.
Murikka throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Opas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Murikka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Murikka blocks an elbow strike.

Murikka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Opas throws a sloppy head kick
and Murikka counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Opas throws a sloppy head kick
and Murikka counters with a head kick.
Murikka swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opas throws a head kick but Murikka moves out of range.
Murikka shoots in for a double leg but Opas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jussi Murikka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murikka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Opas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Opas on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Murikka. Murikka obviously looking to wear him down.
Murikka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Murikka slips under a jab from Opas.

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.
Opas throws a right hand that misses

and Murikka counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Opas's guard now.
Murikka wants to control from the top but Opas keeps moving.
Murikka won't allow Opas to sweep him here.
Murikka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Opas is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Opas is looking to sweep but instead, Murikka has passed into half guard.
Opas taking some punishment here, with Murikka in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jussi Murikka had his way with Don Opas in that round.
The cut man is working on Don Opas's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Opas looks to land a combination but Murikka avoids it well.
Murikka tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Opas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Murikka lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Opas at a distance.
Opas on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Opas takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Opas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Murikka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Opas thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Murikka misses
and Murikka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Opas misses with a low kick.
Murikka scores with a body shot.
Opas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Murikka displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Opas throws out the jab.
Murikka takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two 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.
Opas cracks Murikka with a good jab.
Jussi Murikka is winning the standup battle so far.
Opas clobbers Murikka with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Murikka moves out of range as Opas throws a body kick.
Murikka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Opas.
Don Opas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Opas throws a jab but it's blocked by Murikka.
Murikka slips a jab from Opas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Murikka finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Murikka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Opas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Opas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Murikka misses with an attempted mid kick.
Opas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Opas lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Murikka throws a front kick aimed at Opas's knee but Opas avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opas cracks the inside of Murikka's front leg.
Opas lands a nice leg kick that just misses Murikka's sensitive parts.
Opas throws a right hand that misses
and Murikka counters with an outside leg kick.
Murikka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Opas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Opas misses with a body kick.
Jussi Murikka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Opas blocks the body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jussi Murikka showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Murikka has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 49:46
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 49:46
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jussi Murikka!
Jussi Murikka retains his lightweight title!