PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ting Yan Wang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taisto Murkula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wang kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Minority - Green Day. The crowd seem to be enjoying Murkula's choice of entrance music: Forever Angel. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Yan Wang
vs
Murkula

185 cm
38
195 lbs
35 - 18 - 2

184 cm
29
192 lbs
19 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Modern Wear 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 35 - 18 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ting Yan Wang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taisto Murkula!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Andrew Berry and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murkula looks for the body kick but Wang saw that one coming.
Murkula has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Wang uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murkula.
Wang misses with a leg kick

and Murkula counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wang manages to get to full guard.
Wang looking for a sweep. Not yet Wang, not yet.
Wang preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Murkula trying to control the position from guard on top but Wang is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Wang escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Murkula gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wang keeping full guard, as Murkula tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula wants to control from the top but Wang keeps moving.
Murkula advances position into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murkula is looking to take a break and control but Wang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Wang's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Murkula connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Wang some visible discomfort.

That's two 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.
Murkula trying to control the action but Wang is working from the bottom.
Wang is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Wang is not content to let Murkula control the position.
Murkula scoring with punches and elbows.
Wang wants to control but Murkula postures up.
Murkula trying to control the position but Wang is working away.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Wang.
Murkula lands a head shot.
Both fighters circling a little - Wang finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Murkula throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A big left from Wang misses.
Murkula walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Wang checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A slapping leg kick lands for Murkula.
Wang checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Murkula looks to score with a jab to the body but Wang is just out of range.
Murkula has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Wang.
Murkula fails with an attempt to clinch.

Wang has closed the distance and engaged Murkula in a clinch.
Nice body punch from Murkula - that landed with a thud.
Wang throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Murkulas head.
A head punch on the inside from Murkula fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wang misses with a hook to the ribs.

Murkula escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wang seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Murkula dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Wang throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Murkula with the counter takedown but Wang avoids it easily.
Wang blocks a head kick by Murkula.
Murkula fails with a takedown attempt.
Wang is looking to counter the offense by Murkula and move into the clinch.
Murkula misses with a hook. Wang ducked under it nicely.
Wang scores with a jab to the body.
Murkula is looking to score with low kicks.
Wang throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Murkula.
Wang works Murkula's body with a nice hook.
Wang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Murkula on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Wang. Wang obviously looking to wear him down.
Wang throws a head kick that misses.
Wang looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Murkula throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Taisto Murkula will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Wang goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Murkula is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Good standup being displayed there by Wang as he connects with a hook.
Murkula jabs at Wang's body.
Wang misses with a hook. Murkula ducked under it nicely.
Murkula swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murkula lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A telegraphed right hand from Murkula misses the target.
Murkula tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wang paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murkula chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Murkula catches Wang with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Murkula moves out of range of the body kick from Wang.
Murkula ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wang moves away.
Wang avoids the head kick by Murkula.
Wang on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Murkula. Murkula obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wang throws a lazy uppercut

so Murkula counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Murkula won't allow Wang to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula won't allow Wang to get back to his feet.
Murkula trying to control but Wang is working from the bottom.
Murkula might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Wang haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Murkula has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Wang working for a triangle but Murkula defends it easily.

Wang throws his legs up looking for a submission but Murkula uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wang tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Murkula wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Murkula landing strikes.
Murkula in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Murkula content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Wang is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Wang is trying to control Murkula's posture but Murkula avoids it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Murkula wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Murkula working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Wang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Murkula throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murkula throws a jab but it's blocked by Wang.
Wang goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Murkula throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murkula thuds his right hand into Wang's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Murkula moves out of range as Wang throws a body kick.
Murkula throws a sloppy head kick and Wang moves out of range easily.
Murkula takes a swing at Wang's ribcage but misses.
Wang scores with a spinning back kick!
Wang misses with a body kick.
Murkula slips a jab from Wang.
Taisto Murkula seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Murkula misses with a jab to the body
and Wang counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Murkula thumps Wang with a low kick.
Murkula throws a leg kick but Wang checks it.
Wang scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murkula shoots in for a takedown but Wang shows good takedown defense.
Murkula keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Wang pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A combination from Wang does no damage.
Wang throws a low kick but Murkula moves out of range easily.
Wang tries to clinch up but Murkula circles away and keeps his distance.
Wang throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wang avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Murkula looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A quick step to the side and Wang tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wang throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Murkula showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Wang throws a front kick aimed at Murkula's knee but Murkula avoids it well.
Murkula connects with a nice looking jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Murkula misses the target.
Wang throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Murkula throws a leg kick but Wang moved away.
Wang tries a head kick but it misses.
Wang looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A punch lands to the side of Murkula 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Wang pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wang misses with a wild body shot.
Wang checks a leg kick nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Wang. Those never looked like landing.
Murkula throws a good cross that connects.
Murkula fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wang manages to avoid it.
Murkula tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wang was well out of range. Poor timing from Murkula.
Murkula throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Murkula looks to land a right hand but Wang moved out of range.
Wang defending well as Murkula loads up on a big left hand.
Wang throws a leg kick that misses.
Wang just misses with a punch to the body.
Murkula changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Wang avoids the body shot from Murkula.
Ting Yan Wang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wang lunges at Murkula with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Murkula's hand.
Wang lands a slapping body shot.
Wang doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Wang cracks Murkula with a good jab.
Murkula misses with a looping left.
Wang takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Wang works Murkula's body with a nice hook.
Murkula slips a straight right by Wang.
Nice jab there from Murkula.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Murkula.
Murkula cracks Wang with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Wang throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Murkula sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Murkula moves out of range as Wang strikes.
Murkula pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Wang chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Murkula can pounce on him.
Murkula lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A clash of legs there as Wang blocks the low kick.
Wang connects with a solid leg kick.

Wang gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Murkula pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wang is keeping the position for now.
Wang working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang looking to control but Murkula passes into half guard.
Murkula stalling away here and it's allowed Wang to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wang is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Murkula postures up.
Wang keeping moving, preventing Murkula from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Wang pulls Murkula in close to his closed guard and prevents Murkula from doing any damage or advancing position.
Murkula wants to control from the top but Wang keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Murkula throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Murkula.
A solid leg kick lands there for Murkula.
Wang looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Murkula is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ting Yan Wang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wang connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taisto Murkula comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Murkula winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taisto Murkula!
A less than humble Taisto Murkula misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.