PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Murkula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Anastasio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murkula comes to the cage accompanied by Forever Angel. Anthony Anastasio has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Taisto Murkula's chin.

Murkula
vs
Anastasio

184 cm
32
188 lbs
28 - 7 - 2

181 cm
31
190 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hellbent

Conquer
Mohito Fightwear

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 28 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taisto Murkula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Anastasio!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anastasio throws a body kick that misses.
Anastasio misses with a head kick.
Anastasio takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Anastasio throws a lazy uppercut

and Murkula counters with a shoot takedown. Anastasio fights it but they end up in guard.
Murkula lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Murkula trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Murkula in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Murkula throwing strikes but missing.
Anastasio is looking to stand up but Murkula isn't so interested in that idea.
Anastasio has momentary wrist control but Murkula slips an elbow through the middle.
Anastasio keeping moving, preventing Murkula from controlling successfully.
Murkula trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Murkula missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anastasio looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Murkula puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Murkula wants to take a breather but Anastasio is having none of it.
Murkula trying to control from Anastasio's half guard. Anastasio has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Murkula trying to control the position from guard on top but Anastasio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murkula trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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 loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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.
Anastasio pulls Murkula in close to prevent any damage.
Murkula stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Anastasio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Anastasio is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A low kick from Murkula is predictable there
and Anastasio connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Anastasio swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murkula looks to throw the jab but Anastasio is out of range.
Murkula listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Anastasio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murkula was well out of range. Poor timing from Anastasio.
A swing and a miss from Anastasio.
Murkula is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Anastasio scores with a hook to the body. Murkula takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Anastasio lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anastasio attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Anastasio tries to land a front kick but Murkula steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Murkula drops down looking for a counter takedown but Anastasio sprawls and moves away.
Murkula scores with a punch to the head.
Murkula throws a leg kick which misses Anastasio's front leg but catches the back leg as Anastasio tries to avoid it.
Anthony Anastasio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murkula's corner calls for a 1-2. Murkula obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Murkula shoots in for a takedown but Anastasio shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Murkula misses the target.
Murkula connects with the punch.
Anastasio throws the left hand but Murkula avoids the punch easily.
Murkula appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A slow jab from Anastasio misses its intended target.
Murkula attempts a counter takedown but Anastasio avoids it well and moves away.
Murkula looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Anastasio is fending him off so far but Murkula persists. Nope, Anastasio circles away and we're back to standing.
Anastasio throws a leg kick
enabling Murkula to counter with a crisp jab.
Murkula turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
It looks like Murkula has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Anastasio throws a sloppy head kick and Murkula moves out of range easily.
Anastasio throws a leg kick but Murkula checks it.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Murkula decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murkula thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Anastasio's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Murkula not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Murkula thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Murkula missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murkula looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Murkula throwing shots but Anastasio is blocking nicely.
Anastasio keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Anastasio trying to control but Murkula postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Murkula dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Murkula throws a hook but Anastasio avoids it easily.
Anastasio takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Anastasio lands with a thumping leg kick.
Anastasio scores with a leg kick.
Murkula moves out of range of the strikes.
Murkula jabs Anastasio to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Anastasio is looking to clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Murkula.
Anastasio misses with a low kick.
Murkula connects with a leg kick. Anastasio looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Anastasio will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Murkula tries to bum rush Anastasio with a series of wild strikes but Anastasio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murkula checks a leg kick.
Murkula changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Anastasio tries to avoid it but Murkula manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Anastasio to the ground. Anastasio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Anastasio throws a head kick that misses
and Murkula counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Anastasio gets caught flat footed, as Murkula shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Anastasio wants to get back to his feet but Murkula passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anastasio is looking for a sweep. Murkula is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Murkula trying to control from half guard but Anastasio is working away.
Murkula working the head and body with strikes.
Murkula is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Anastasio can do to turn this around?
Murkula throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Murkula thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Anastasio's head.
Murkula throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Murkula thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Anastasio's head.
Anastasio wants to improve his position but Murkula is controlling well.
Anastasio wants to control but Murkula is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anastasio is staying active underneath Murkula, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Anastasio is doing well to control the position and prevent Murkula from advancing to side control.
Anastasio blocking the ground and pound attempt from Murkula.
Murkula is nestled in close to Anastasio, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Anastasio wants to get back to full guard.
Murkula working Anastasio over with strikes.
Murkula thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Murkula controlling the action here.
Anastasio pushes Murkula off looking to stand but Murkula dives back in and keeps control.
Anastasio blocking the ground and pound attempt from Murkula.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula slips a nice elbow through Anastasio's hands, connecting with Anastasio's forehead.
Anastasio is looking to control Murkula's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Anastasio avoid being mounted?
Murkula wants to free his trapped foot but Anastasio is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Murkula missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Murkula prevents Anastasio from improving his position.
Murkula is looking to take a break and control but Anastasio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Anastasio is looking to improve his position.
Murkula missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Murkula stalling away here and it's allowed Anastasio to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Murkula makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Murkula accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Murkula with a flurry of punches that miss.

Anastasio has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Murkula is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Murkula misses with a short punch on the inside.
Anastasio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murkula throws a punch but it's blocked by Anastasio.
Murkula being controlled against the cage.
Anastasio lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Murkula.
Anastasio avoiding damage.
Anastasio is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Murkula dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Anastasio lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Anastasio uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murkula.
Anastasio looks for the body kick but Murkula saw that one coming.
Murkula staying out of range there.
Murkula turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Murkula tests Anastasio's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Murkula scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Anastasio takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Anastasio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murkula misses with a head kick.
Murkula circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice defenses there by Anastasio.
Murkula throws a nice outside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Anastasio.
Anastasio tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Murkula lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Anastasio has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Anastasio and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Anastasio! But no joy.
Murkula connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Anastasio moves away from the strike by Murkula.
Murkula sizes up Anastasio with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Anastasio gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Murkula throws a hook to the side of Anastasio's head but Anastasio sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Anastasio appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Murkula.
Anastasio scores with a nice right hand.
Murkula throws a leg kick but Anastasio sees it coming and moves out of range.
Anastasio fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Anastasio on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Anastasio misses with a head kick.
Murkula blocks a jab.
Anastasio tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Anastasio defending well as Murkula loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Anastasio connects with a right hand. Murkula shakes it off.
Murkula walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Anastasio checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Murkula scores with a jab to the body.
Murkula thows a left - swing and a miss!
Anastasio's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Anastasio ducks right into an uppercut from Murkula.
Murkula thumps Anastasio with a low kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Murkula.
Murkula drops his hands momentarily and Anastasio takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Murkula misses with the combination.
Murkula dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Anastasio throws a solid leg kick but Murkula takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Anastasio.
Murkula is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Anastasio changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula scores with a nice strike.
Anastasio misses with a wild combination.
Anastasio scores with a jab.
Anastasio throws a head kick that misses.
Jab, jab by Murkula - just one landing.
Anastasio ducks right into an uppercut from Murkula.
Crunch! Anastasio slams his shin into Murkula's torso.
Anastasio throws a head kick but Murkula moves out of range.
Anastasio thows a left - swing and a miss!
Anthony Anastasio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheers as Murkula lands an impressive looking overhand right. Anastasio doesn't seem phased though.
Anastasio moves out of range of the strikes.
Murkula scores with a nice head shot.
Taisto Murkula is winning the standup battle so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murkula scores with a sloppy right hand. Anastasio should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anastasio swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murkula feinted with a counter takedown.
Anastasio throws a leg kick but Murkula sees it coming and moves out of range.
Murkula lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Anastasio throws a leg kick
and Murkula counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Anastasio takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Anastasio checks a leg kick nicely.
Murkula scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Anastasio has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Anastasio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murkula is looking to score with low kicks.
Murkula listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Murkula with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Anastasio to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A shot to the body from Anastasio misses
and Murkula cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Murkula thuds a left hand into Anastasio's body.
Anastasio tries a head kick but it misses.
Anastasio throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Murkula counters with a left to the body.

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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taisto Murkula!
In his post fight interview, Taisto Murkula started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.