PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Murkula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Augustus Błaszczykowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murkula comes to the cage accompanied by Forever Angel. The crowd seem to be enjoying Błaszczykowski's choice of entrance music: 2Pac – Scared Straight . Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Murkula
vs
Błaszczykowski

184 cm
30
188 lbs
24 - 5 - 1

185 cm
32
185 lbs
20 - 3 - 2

Great wrestler
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Modern Wear Apparel
KnockOut

Perkele!
KnockOut

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 24 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taisto Murkula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Augustus Błaszczykowski!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Błaszczykowski tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Murkula is able to avoid easily.
Błaszczykowski takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Murkula lands a jab to Błaszczykowski's midsection.
Błaszczykowski misses with a shot to the body
and Murkula counters with a nice body shot.
Murkula lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Błaszczykowski at a distance.

Murkula looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Murkula wants to pass the guard but Błaszczykowski is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murkula forces his way into half guard.
Murkula prevents Błaszczykowski from standing back up.
Murkula throws a strike but Błaszczykowski avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murkula postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Błaszczykowski is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Murkula, into his guard.

Murkula working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Błaszczykowski doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Błaszczykowski manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Murkula looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Błaszczykowski passes into half guard.
Błaszczykowski seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula is looking to improve his position.
Błaszczykowski seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Murkula makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Murkula.
Murkula trying to keep a closed guard but Błaszczykowski is proving a slippery customer.
Murkula wants to sweep here but Błaszczykowski controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Błaszczykowski advances to half guard.
Murkula is positioning himself well to prevent Błaszczykowski advancing to mount.
Błaszczykowski prevents Murkula from improving his position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Murkula has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Błaszczykowski is working away from the top position though.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Błaszczykowski looks to score with a jab to the body but Murkula is just out of range.
Murkula connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Błaszczykowski's hands.
Błaszczykowski misses with a body shot.
Murkula throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Błaszczykowski was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Błaszczykowski takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nice uppercut lands for Murkula. That snapped Błaszczykowski's head back.
Murkula feints a jab promting Błaszczykowski to slip. Murkula then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Błaszczykowski slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Murkula thuds a left hand into Błaszczykowski's body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Murkula, right into the meat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murkula keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Błaszczykowski thows a left - swing and a miss!
Murkula checks a low kick from Błaszczykowski.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Murkula dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A slapping leg kick lands for Murkula.
Murkula is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Błaszczykowski can do to turn this around?
Murkula moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Murkula takes one to the side of the head.
Nice straight punches there by Błaszczykowski. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Błaszczykowski.
Błaszczykowski sizes up Murkula with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Błaszczykowski takes a swing at Murkula's ribcage but misses.
Murkula half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Błaszczykowski misses with a wild body shot.
Błaszczykowski turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Błaszczykowski throws a leg kick
and Murkula connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Murkula.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murkula trying to control the action but Błaszczykowski is working from the bottom.
Błaszczykowski tries to bench press Murkula off him but Murkula keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula has knee on belly momentarily but Błaszczykowski bucks him off and regains half guard.
Murkula prevents Błaszczykowski from improving his position.
Murkula takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Błaszczykowski is controlling Murkula's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Murkula tries to pass the half guard into mount. Błaszczykowski knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Murkula thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Murkula looks to land a strike but Błaszczykowski avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Murkula throws an elbow that misses. Błaszczykowski uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Murkula's guard. Nice move by Błaszczykowski!

Błaszczykowski tries to stand but Murkula is controlling from the bottom.
Murkula is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Murkula looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murkula is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Murkula can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Błaszczykowski controls the pace.
Błaszczykowski tries to stand but Murkula is controlling from the bottom.
Błaszczykowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Murkula is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Murkula blocks the body kick.
Błaszczykowski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murkula manages to avoid it.
Błaszczykowski's coach down at was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Błaszczykowski's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Murkula scores with a takedown into Błaszczykowski's guard.
Błaszczykowski has his hands on Murkula's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula with a flurry of punches that miss.
Błaszczykowski keeping moving, preventing Murkula from controlling successfully.
Błaszczykowski keeping full guard, as Murkula tries to pass.
Błaszczykowski pulls Murkula in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murkula is pushing down on Błaszczykowski's leg trying to pass to half guard. Błaszczykowski is fighting to maintain full guard but Murkula has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Taisto Murkula will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Błaszczykowski swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Błaszczykowski misses with a hook. Murkula ducked under it nicely.
Murkula has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Murkula there as he acknowledges the shot.
Błaszczykowski throws a hook but Murkula avoids it easily.
That kick from Błaszczykowski tenderised Murkula's leg. Murkula is trying to keep his angry face on.
Błaszczykowski throws an overhand right that lands on Murkula's shoulder, as Murkula tries to avoid the shot.
Murkula lands with a kick to the temple. Błaszczykowski shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Błaszczykowski misses with a body shot

and Murkula counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Błaszczykowski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Murkula.
Murkula is working Błaszczykowski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Murkula won't allow Błaszczykowski to get back to his feet.
Murkula wants to pass the guard but Błaszczykowski is keeping the position.
Murkula trying to control the position from guard on top but Błaszczykowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Błaszczykowski is keeping the position for now.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Błaszczykowski working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Murkula pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Błaszczykowski looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Błaszczykowski has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Murkula.
A jab from Błaszczykowski finds it's way through Murkula's defenses.
Murkula swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murkula misses with a shot to the body
and Błaszczykowski counters with a straight right hand.
Błaszczykowski swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Murkula looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Błaszczykowski moves out of range of the leg kick from Murkula.
Augustus Błaszczykowski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Błaszczykowski sizes up Murkula with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nice uppercut lands for Murkula. That snapped Błaszczykowski's head back.
Murkula moves out of range as Błaszczykowski throws a body kick.
A jab from Błaszczykowski misses.
Błaszczykowski throws a body kick that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Murkula on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Taisto Murkula is winning the standup battle so far.
Błaszczykowski throws a leg kick but Murkula checks it.
Murkula on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A good leg kick by Murkula.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab from Błaszczykowski misses.

Murkula drives through with a takedown into guard.
Murkula throws a big right hand that misses.
Murkula postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Murkula working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taisto Murkula overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Błaszczykowski working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula postures up in Błaszczykowski's guard and throws a big left but Błaszczykowski blocks it.
Murkula throwing strikes but missing.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Błaszczykowski is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Murkula is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Błaszczykowski throws a series of punches but Murkula moves out of range.
Good work by Murkula as he checks the leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Błaszczykowski. Murkula does a little dance to reset his feet.
Błaszczykowski darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Murkula decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Błaszczykowski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Błaszczykowski is not content to let Murkula control the position.
Murkula tries to pass to full mount but Błaszczykowski defends it.
Murkula wants to take a breather but Błaszczykowski is having none of it.
Murkula is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Murkula there.
Murkula 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.

Murkula is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Błaszczykowski defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taisto Murkula showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Murkula, 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taisto Murkula!
A relieved looking Taisto Murkula thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.