PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Akseli Suokuokka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilya Murometz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Suokuokka comes to the cage accompanied by The Bags - Cavemen Rejoice. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Suokuokka
vs
Murometz

189 cm
39
255 lbs
20 - 23 - 3

195 cm
38
186 lbs
27 - 23 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 23 - 3, fighting out of Sydney, Akseli Suokuokka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ilya Murometz!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Bruno Hogan and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Murometz closes the distance and pushes Suokuokka back into the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murometz.
Murometz can't break the clinch.
Suokuokka just leaning against Murometz, taking a breather.
Murometz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Murometz lands a left hand that snaps the head of Suokuokka backwards.
Suokuokka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Suokuokka just misses with a elbow thrown towards Murometz's brow.
Suokuokka's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Suokuokka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Suokuokka looks to score with a jab to the body but Murometz is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Murometz is defended easily by Suokuokka.
Suokuokka displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Murometz.

Suokuokka looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Suokuokka not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Murometz keeping full guard, as Suokuokka tries to pass.
Suokuokka is stalling in the full guard.
Suokuokka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suokuokka's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Suokuokka trying to control the position from guard on top but Murometz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Suokuokka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Murometz being controlled here, momentarily.
Suokuokka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suokuokka works over Murometz with some ground and pound from guard.
Suokuokka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Suokuokka is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Suokuokka won't allow Murometz to get back to his feet.
Murometz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Murometz looking for a sweep. Not yet Murometz, not yet.
Suokuokka looking to sit in guard and control but Murometz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Murometz stops Suokuokka from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murometz stopping the sweep attempt from Suokuokka.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murometz stops Suokuokka from standing up.
Murometz controls from within his opponent's guard.
Suokuokka has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Suokuokka working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
No luck for Murometz with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akseli Suokuokka dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Suokuokka closes the distance and clinches.
Murometz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Murometz can't break the clinch.
Murometz can't break the clinch.
Murometz can't find room to land a body shot as Suokuokka controls the action.
Murometz wants to get back to striking at distance but Suokuokka won't allow it.
Stalling in the clinch from Murometz.
Murometz is trying to force a seperation but Suokuokka has the dominant position.
Suokuokka blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murometz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Come on Suokuokka - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Nice body punch from Suokuokka.
Murometz working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murometz breaks the clinch.
Murometz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Suokuokka sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Murometz somewhat.
Suokuokka seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Murometz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Suokuokka swivels and escapes.
Suokuokka scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Murometz doesn't seem bothered though.
Murometz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Suokuokka defends well and Murometz ends up having to push Suokuokka into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Akseli Suokuokka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilya Murometz.
Suokuokka stuffs the takedown attempt from Murometz. Murometz gets slowly back to his feet.
Suokuokka seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Akseli Suokuokka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Suokuokka has Murometz up against the cage in a clinch.
Murometz working hard to break the clinch.
Suokuokka taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suokuokka is pushing Murometz up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Suokuokka has Murometz pushed against the cage.
Murometz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Murometz stops a takedown attempt from Suokuokka.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murometz.

Murometz manages to break the clinch.
Suokuokka misses with a combination
and Murometz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Murometz forces Suokuokka back against the cage and clinches.

Murometz breaks from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Suokuokka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murometz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Suokuokka cracks a nice hook into Murometz's ribs.
Suokuokka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murometz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murometz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Suokuokka with a poor takedown
and Murometz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Suokuokka throws a sloppy head kick

and Murometz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Murometz has had enough of the clinch but Suokuokka keeps him there for the moment.
Suokuokka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Suokuokka will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Murometz up against the cage.
Murometz cracks Suokuokka with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Suokuokka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Suokuokka.

Murometz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akseli Suokuokka is winning the standup battle so far.
Suokuokka leaves Murometz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Murometz pushes Suokuokka up against the cage in a clinch.
Suokuokka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Murometz breaks the clinch.

Suokuokka gets tackled into the cage by Murometz. Murometz maintains the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Suokuokka gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Suokuokka content to control rather than advance.

Suokuokka wants to work for an arm triangle but Murometz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ilya Murometz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Murometz manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Suokuokka on his heels. He'll look to pass Suokuokka's guard now, I'm sure.
Murometz trying to control the position from guard on top but Suokuokka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murometz content to stall in guard here.

Suokuokka has his foot on Murometz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Murometz works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murometz trying to control the position from guard on top but Suokuokka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Suokuokka keeping full guard, as Murometz tries to pass.
Murometz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murometz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Murometz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Murometz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Murometz slows the pace down in half guard.
Suokuokka is refusing to be controlled, as Murometz sits in half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's two 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Murometz dodges the punch combination from Suokuokka.
Suokuokka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Murometz is fending him off so far but Suokuokka persists. Nope, Murometz circles away and we're back to standing.
Despite the aggression on Murometz's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Murometz gets tackled into the cage by Suokuokka. Suokuokka maintains the clinch.
Murometz wants to break free but Suokuokka has control.
Murometz displaying some good clinch control by pressing Suokuokka up against the cage.
Murometz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Suokuokka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Suokuokka as Murometz tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murometz is looking to break free of the clinch but Suokuokka has double underhooks.
Suokuokka is trying to drag Murometz to the mat but Murometz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Murometz blocks an uppercut.

Murometz manages to break the clinch.
Murometz misses with a hook. Suokuokka ducked under it nicely.
Murometz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Suokuokka gets a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Suokuokka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murometz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Suokuokka's elbow.
Suokuokka takes a shot to the head.
Suokuokka will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Murometz up against the cage.
Suokuokka gets through Murometz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Murometz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Suokuokka's elbow.

Suokuokka manages to break the clinch.
Suokuokka tries to clinch but Murometz moves out of range.
Suokuokka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Suokuokka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Suokuokka closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Akseli Suokuokka.
I think Suokuokka has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!