PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arjun Batar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shoto Murasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murasaki has chosen PRIDE FC Theme as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Batar
vs
Murasaki

200 cm
24
215 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

187 cm
23
205 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arjun Batar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shoto Murasaki!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Batar dives in and scores a takedown into Murasaki's guard.
Batar won't allow Murasaki to get back to his feet.
Batar trying to control but Murasaki is working from the bottom.

Batar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Batar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Batar is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Murasaki wants to stand up but Batar is controlling him.
Batar postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Batar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Batar is stalling in the full guard.
Batar won't allow Murasaki to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Batar wants to control from the top but Murasaki keeps moving.

Batar thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Batar stands up over Murasaki, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Batar is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Batar works over Murasaki with some ground and pound from guard.
Murasaki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Batar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Murasaki holds on and takes a little breather.
Batar 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.
Batar won't allow Murasaki to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batar wants to control from the top but Murasaki keeps moving.
Batar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murasaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Murasaki keeping full guard, as Batar tries to pass.
Batar won't allow Murasaki to get back to his feet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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

Murasaki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Murasaki can't break the clinch.
Batar drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Murasaki gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Murasaki has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Batar clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Batar trying to control the action but Murasaki just sinks the hooks in.
Batar is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Murasaki wants to stand up but Batar is stuck to his back.
Murasaki keeps control of the position easily here as Batar tries to buck him off.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Murasaki's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Murasaki is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

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.
Batar trying to control the action but Murasaki just sinks the hooks in.
Batar looking very determined here, making life difficult for Murasaki.
Murasaki controlling well, preventing Batar from escaping the position.
Batar rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Batar wants to control but Murasaki is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murasaki tries to stand and escape but Batar is controlling the position.
Murasaki tries to stand and escape but Batar actually recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Murasaki clinches with his opponent.

Batar is fighting off a takedown attempt but Murasaki is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Batar to the mat. Batar regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Batar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murasaki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murasaki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Murasaki trying to stand up but can't free himself from Batar's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murasaki stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Batar misses with a takedown attempt
and Murasaki counters with a nice uppercut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Batar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murasaki looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Murasaki lands a leg kick that knocks Batar off balance momentarily.
Batar fails with the takedown.
Batar backing away here, and Murasaki unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arjun Batar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Murasaki.
Batar misses with a takedown attempt - Murasaki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Batar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Murasaki pinned against the ropes. Murasaki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murasaki throws a head kick that misses

and Batar counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Murasaki!
Batar prevents Murasaki from escaping the position.

Batar looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Murasaki tries to buck Batar off but Batar is having none of it.
Murasaki defending against the ground and pound.

Batar thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Batar tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Batar landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murasaki is looking to reverse the position.

Batar looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Murasaki throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Murasaki looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A good leg kick by Murasaki.

Batar shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Murasaki is trying to defend but Batar finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Murasaki has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Batar is on him like a limpet, forcing Murasaki back against the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Batar wants to take the fight to the mat but Murasaki manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Batar is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Murasaki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Batar wants to take the fight to the mat but Murasaki manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Batar gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Murasaki regains guard.

Murasaki kicks Batar off and gets to his feet.
Batar takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Arjun Batar has been cut.
Murasaki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Batar on the side of the head.

Murasaki darts in and clinches Batar up against the ropes.
Batar has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Murasaki avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shoto Murasaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Arjun Batar's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A slapping body kick lands there for Murasaki.

Batar shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Murasaki napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Murasaki struggling a bit here.

Batar swings around for an armbar but Murasaki sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Batar's guard.
Murasaki trying to stand up but can't free himself from Batar's guard.

Murasaki stands and steps away. Batar gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Batar misses with a takedown attempt - Murasaki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murasaki scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murasaki fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Batar, pushing him back against the ropes.
Batar has Murasaki pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Murasaki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Batar wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arjun Batar. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Murasaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Batar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Murasaki avoids it really well and circles away.
Murasaki has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Batar goes for a takedown attempt but Murasaki pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Batar scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Murasaki pushes Batar off looking to stand but Batar dives back in and keeps control.
Murasaki is trying to maintain the position but Batar is very close to passing his half guard.

Batar wants to work for an arm triangle but Murasaki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Batar stops Murasaki from getting back to his feet.
Batar will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Batar tries to pass the half guard into mount. Murasaki knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Murasaki wants to get back to full guard.
Murasaki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batar throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Batar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murasaki keeps working.

Batar is looking for a kimura here.
Batar is trying to control the action in half guard but Murasaki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Murasaki wants to improve his position but Batar is controlling well.

Batar seems to be working for a kimura but Murasaki defends the submission attempt.

That's four 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.
Murasaki is looking to escape.
Batar winds up and cracks Murasaki with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Batar is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Arjun Batar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Murasaki gets back to full guard.

Batar drops back looking for a leg! Murasaki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Murasaki manages to kick Batar off! Batar jumps back into Murasaki's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murasaki wants to stand and escape but Batar is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shoto Murasaki.
I think Murasaki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Shoto Murasaki!
Shoto Murasaki looked relieved post fight as he said the following; '*Jumps on the cage* My striking has always been unrivaled, and I was able to show that tonight. '.