PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Murkula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manolo Fu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murkula comes to the cage accompanied by Forever Angel. The crowd seem to be enjoying Fu's choice of entrance music: A Fifth Of Beethoven. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Murkula
vs
Fu

184 cm
34
188 lbs
33 - 8 - 2

191 cm
34
188 lbs
26 - 6 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Museum of Monsters & Madmen
MayheM sportswear

Bullet Proof System
MayheM sportswear

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 33 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taisto Murkula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manolo Fu!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fu explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Murkula shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Fu walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Fu throws a nice looking combination but Murkula bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fu connects with a leg kick. Murkula looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Murkula moves out of range of the body kick.
Murkula scores with a nice right hand.
Murkula looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Murkula closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Murkula avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Murkula motions for Fu to come forward. Murkula throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fu steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Murkula. That one must have hurt.
Fu blocks a jab.
Fu misses with a straight left.
Fu throws a low kick, looking for Murkula's leg but Murkula calmly moves out of range.
Murkula looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Fu checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jab from Fu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murkula lands the left hand.
Murkula lands a slapping body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Murkula misses the target.
Fu takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula is looking to chop away at Fu's legs.
Murkula connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Nice shot by Fu.
Murkula avoids the body shot from Fu.
Horrible takedown attempt by Murkula or perhaps it was just good defense by Fu, which made it look bad.
Murkula lands with a straight right. Fu didn't see that one coming.
Fu looks to score with a jab to the body but Murkula is just out of range.
Fu throws a half hearted mid kick.
No joy there for Fu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Manolo Fu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fu misses with a wild body shot.
Murkula misses with a low kick as Fu jumps back.
Nice shot by Fu.
Murkula scores with a leg kick.
Fu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murkula was well out of range. Poor timing from Fu.
Fu throws a leg kick which misses Murkula's front leg but catches the back leg as Murkula tries to avoid it.
Fu defending well as Murkula loads up on a big left hand.
Fu throws out a counter right but Murkula avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murkula walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Fu checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Fu throws out a counter right but Murkula avoids it with no problem.
Fu missing with a left hand there. Murkula was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Murkula slips under a jab.
Fu looks to land a right hand but Murkula moved out of range.
Fu cracks Murkula with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Murkula connects with a leg kick. Fu looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Fu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murkula manages to avoid it.
Murkula throws a leg kick but Fu checks it.
Fu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Murkula throws a wild body kick that Fu sees coming a mile off.
Fu moves away from the strike by Murkula.
Murkula misses with a wild combination.
Murkula does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Fu follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Murkula tries for a takedown but Fu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Murkula drives through with a takedown into guard.
Murkula tries to free his leg and advance position but Fu is retaining full guard.
Fu being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula trying to control the position from guard on top but Fu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fu is pulling down on Murkula's head to control his posture.
Fu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Murkula controls the pace.
Murkula wants to control from the top but Fu keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Murkula stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fu swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Fu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Fu avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Fu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Murkula looks to land a body kick but Fu moved away.
Fu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Murkula.
Fu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Fu throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Fu throws a leg kick but Murkula moved away.
Murkula attempts a counter takedown but Fu avoids it well and moves away.
Murkula takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Murkula cracks Fu with a good jab.
Fu throws a low kick but Murkula moves out of range easily.
Murkula throws a shot from downtown. Fu moves away and avoids it.
Fu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fu misses with a body shot.
Nice shot lands for Fu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Taisto Murkula will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Murkula moves out of range as Fu throws a body kick.
Some wild striking there from Fu.
Murkula changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Fu is looking to score with low kicks.
Murkula tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fu sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Murkula somewhat.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Murkula checks a leg kick.
Murkula throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Murkula.
Murkula gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nice cross by Murkula.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Fu is looking to chop away at Murkula's legs.
Murkula throws a low kick but it's checked well by Fu.
A slapping body kick lands there for Fu.
Fu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Murkula's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fu keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Murkula feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Fu's calf.
Murkula takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Fu scores with a nice head shot.
Good work by Murkula as he checks the leg kick.
Murkula was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Fu tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fu looks to score with a jab to the body but Murkula is just out of range.
Murkula checks a leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Fu.
Fu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Murkula attempts a counter takedown but Fu avoids it well and moves away.
Fu throws a body punch but Murkula moves out of range.
Fu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murkula.
Murkula connects with the punch.
Fu throws a leg kick
and Murkula counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fu throws a head kick but Murkula moves out of range.
Murkula thows a left - swing and a miss!
Murkula checks the leg kick.
Fu moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fu throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Murkula on the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big right from Fu misses.
Murkula misses with a low kick.
Murkula throws a low kick but Fu avoids it.
No joy there for Murkula, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fu lands a jab to Murkula's midsection.
Murkula pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A clash of legs there as Fu blocks the low kick.
Murkula throws a body punch but Fu moves out of range.
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 Fu has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Fu and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Fu looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Murkula scoring well with a low kick there.
Some bone on bone action there as Murkula checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Murkula shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Murkula sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fu defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula throwing shots but Fu is blocking nicely.

Murkula wants to work for an arm triangle but Fu is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Murkula thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fu's head.
Murkula not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Murkula missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Murkula lands strikes from half guard.
Fu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Murkula is working away from the top position though.
Murkula throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Murkula not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fu regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Murkula.
Murkula with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fu has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Murkula's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Murkula trying to control but Fu is working from the bottom.
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!

Fu misses the shot to the body.
Murkula pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A jab from Murkula misses.
Nice takedown defense from Fu. No joy for Murkula on that attempt.
Fu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Murkula lands with an overhand left.
Murkula throws a leg kick but Fu checks it.
A nice side step and Fu releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Murkula connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Fu connects with a body shot that sends Murkula's belly button to the back.
Murkula blocks the body kick.
A punch lands to the side of Murkula 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Murkula blocks the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Fu misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Murkula darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Murkula lands a head shot.
Fu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Murkula.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murkula fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murkula misses with a leg kick.
Fu throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Murkula on the side of the head.
Manolo Fu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Murkula misses with a low kick.
Fu moves away from the strike by Murkula.
Fu blocks a jab.
Fu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A good leg kick by Fu.
Murkula throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Murkula.
Murkula throws an off balance right hand
and Fu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Murkula misses with a lunging right hand
and Fu counters with a nice low kick that buckles Murkula's knee momentarily.
Murkula throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Murkula lands a lovely overhand right.
Fu slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Manolo Fu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fu blocks a jab.
Murkula with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Some bone on bone action there as Murkula checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Murkula with a hook.
Murkula stalks Fu and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Fu's face. Fu staggers backwards, shaken.
Fu throws a body punch but Murkula moves out of range.
A big left from Murkula misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Fu! But no joy.
Murkula tries to close the distance and clinch but Fu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fu misses the shot to the body.
Fu lands a leg kick that knocks Murkula off balance momentarily.
Murkula scores with a jab.
Fu misses with the combination.
Murkula looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Murkula tries to clinch up.
Fu misses with a wild body shot.
Murkula cracks a nice hook into Fu's ribs.
Fu lands with an overhand left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Murkula throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fu throws a series of punches but Murkula moves out of range.
Fu missing with a left hand there. Murkula was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fu on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Murkula throws a leg kick but Fu checks it.
Murkula misses with a looping right.
Murkula checks a leg kick.
Murkula turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Murkula takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Murkula doesn't manage to clinch there - Fu circles away.
Fu's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Murkula scores with a spinning back kick!
Fu connects with a single shot there.
Fu misses with a body shot.
Fu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murkula moves away.

Fu gets tackled into the cage by Murkula. Murkula maintains the clinch.
Murkula working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fu blocking some punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murkula lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Fu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fu has a couple of punches blocked by Murkula.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Murkula creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Murkula fails to land.
Fu misses with some punches.
Fu stalling against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murkula.
Fu misses with a punch to the body.
Fu swings wildly with an uppercut but Murkula uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murkula lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Fu throws a punch but it's blocked by Murkula.
Fu scores with a shoulder strike.
A shot in the inside from Murkula.

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 Taisto Murkula.
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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority 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.