PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Murtag (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erasmo Trout (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Erasmo Trout is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Murtag
vs
Trout

170 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

210 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alex Murtag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erasmo Trout!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good work by Trout as he checks the leg kick.
Trout lands with a shot to the body.

Trout takes the fight into the clinch.
Murtag connects with a nasty looking knee right to Trout's face.
Trout tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Trout is working for takedown but Murtag is calmly controlling the position for now.

Trout escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Trout is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Murtag wants to slow Trout down by chopping away at his legs.
Murtag misses with a wild combination.
Murtag throws a leg kick that misses.
A leg kick checked by Trout.
Murtag circles away from the clinch attempt.
Trout tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck for Trout with that takedown attempt.
Murtag circles away from the clinch attempt.

Trout moves into the clinch.
Trout scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trout gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Murtag's coaches at Cozad MMA Helsinki have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Trout tries to pass the half guard into mount. Murtag knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Murtag wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Trout perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Murtag wants to get back to his feet.
Trout is looking to take a break and control but Murtag is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Erasmo Trout.
Trout shoots in for a takedown but Murtag shows good takedown defense.
Alex Murtag has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erasmo Trout.
Murtag throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Trout closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Trout wants to pass to mount but Murtag is defending the position.
Murtag might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Trout performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murtag is not content to let Trout control the position.

Trout is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Murtag has managed to free his arm - good work.

Murtag pushes Trout off and gets back to his feet.
Murtag misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murtag throws a head kick that misses.

Trout forces Murtag back against the cage and clinches.
Trout trying to stall but Murtag improves his position.

Trout breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Trout has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Murtag is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Trout fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Murtag closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murtag throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Trout blocks it with crossed arms.

Trout has clasped his hands together around Murtag's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Trout cracks Murtag with a big right hand but Murtag just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Trout scoring with punches from side control.
Murtag avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Trout.
Murtag tries to escape but Trout is in control.
Murtag is not content to let Trout control the position.
Murtag is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Trout has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Murtag is breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Trout in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Trout wants to control but Murtag is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trout tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Trout prevents Murtag from escaping the position.

Trout is trying to get an arm triangle but Murtag is defending well.
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!
Murtag tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Trout controlling the position well here. Murtag rolled but Trout kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Murtag is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erasmo Trout dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Murtag tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Trout is able to avoid easily.
Alex Murtag is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murtag tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Trout fails in his attempt to clinch.

Trout clinches with his opponent.
Murtag misses with a knee to the head.
Murtag misses with a knee to the head.
Murtag throws a knee to the head but misses.

Trout has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Murtag regains guard immediately.
Murtag is looking to stand up but Trout isn't so interested in that idea.
Trout advances to half guard.
Trout trying to pass the guard but Murtag defending well.
Murtag pushes Trout off looking to stand but Trout dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trout has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Murtag is squirming around, avoiding Trout's attempts to control the action.
Erasmo Trout has got the better of the ground game so far.

Trout looking to secure an arm triangle but Murtag defends it well.
Trout is landing with some decent strikes but Murtag is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Murtag trying desperately to get to his feet.
The referee warns Murtag that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Murtag squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Trout controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trout is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Murtag can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Trout sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Trout is working for a guillotine from mount but Murtag frees his head quite easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Trout trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Murtag in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Trout trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Trout looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Trout get's back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Trout manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Murtag stops Trout from standing up.
Murtag trying to stand up but can't free himself from Trout's guard.

Trout has his foot on Murtag's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Murtag works his way back into a safe position though.

Trout has his foot on Murtag's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Murtag works his way back into a safe position though.
Trout looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Murtag tries to stand but Trout is controlling from the bottom.
Trout is pulling down on Murtag's head. It's preventing any offense from Murtag, at least for the moment.

Trout is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Murtag is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murtag wants to stand but Trout is controlling his posture from full guard.
Murtag won't allow Trout to sweep him here.

Trout is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Murtag is aware though and is defending well.
Murtag has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Trout is proving hard to escape from.

Trout has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Murtag off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
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!
Trout avoids the head kick by Murtag.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Trout lands with an uppercut that bounces Murtag off the cage and back into range.
Murtag misses with a double jab
and Trout counters with a body kick that stops Murtag in his tracks momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erasmo Trout showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Trout fails with the takedown.
Trout shoots in but no luck this time.
Murtag throws a leg kick which misses Trout's front leg but catches the back leg as Trout tries to avoid it.
Murtag fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Trout has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Trout closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Murtag quickly recovers to half guard.
Murtag wants to get back to his feet.
Trout performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Murtag is trying to stand up here but Trout is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Trout decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Alex Murtag seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Trout closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murtag tries to land a knee to the head but Trout blocks with his arms.
Trout presses Murtag against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A bit of stalling here from Trout.

Trout turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Murtag is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Trout has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Murtag is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Trout stands up and beckons Murtag to his feet.

Trout rushes Murtag and presses him up against the cage.
A short right from Trout on the inside.
Murtag tries a knee to the head but Trout blocks it.

Trout jumps guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Trout looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Murtag wants to stand and escape but instead Trout has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trout tries to free his leg and advance position but Murtag is retaining full guard.
Trout sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Murtag's guard.

Trout is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Murtag doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Trout.
Trout is controlling the pace.
Trout is trying to control the action in half guard but Murtag is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Trout takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murtag tries to kick Trout off but Trout keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Trout wants to work for an arm triangle but Murtag is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Murtag is looking to escape.
Trout is pressing down on Murtag's thigh, looking to free his foot. Murtag is holding on for now.
Trout wants to take a breather but Murtag is having none of it.
Trout sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Murtag wants to get back to his feet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Trout trying to mount his opponent but Murtag defends it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Erasmo Trout.

Trout looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Murtag wants to stand but Trout is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trout slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Alex Murtag has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Trout has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Erasmo Trout hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Trout is defended easily by Murtag.
Erasmo Trout is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Alex Murtag has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erasmo Trout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Trout checks the leg kick nicely there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erasmo Trout comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Trout 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erasmo Trout!
Erasmo Trout spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.