PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Murkula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Raven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murkula comes to the cage accompanied by Forever Angel. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Murkula
vs
Raven

184 cm
35
188 lbs
34 - 9 - 2

188 cm
34
197 lbs
21 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Museum of Monsters & Madmen

Mohito Fightwear
Sun-Tzu

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 34 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taisto Murkula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thomas Raven!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Murkula misses
and Raven counters with a stiff right hand.
Raven closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Raven chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Murkula can pounce on him.
Raven feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Murkulas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Murkula ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Murkula looks to throw the jab but Raven is out of range.
Raven looks like he wants to counter punch here.
The crowd cheers as Murkula lands an impressive looking overhand right. Raven doesn't seem phased though.
Murkula will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Raven lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Murkula cracks Raven with a good jab.
Raven misses with a wild combination.
Murkula misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murkula throws a chopping leg kick but Raven manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Raven swings for the body but Murkula moves out of range.
Murkula throws a looping overhand right but Raven ducks down to avoid it.
Murkula scores with a jab to the jaw.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Raven has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula connects with a good right hand that stumbles Raven. Raven circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Murkula misses with a hook. Raven ducked under it nicely.
Raven tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Murkula fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Raven on the side of the head.
Murkula connects with a solid leg kick.
Murkula throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A telegraphed right hand from Raven misses the target.
Raven slips a jab from Murkula.

Murkula moves into the clinch.

Murkula breaks from the clinch.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Murkula.
Raven uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murkula.

Murkula feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raven lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Murkula trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raven in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Raven in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Murkula is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Raven has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Murkula is working away from the top position though.
Raven is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raven trying to control from the bottom.
Murkula sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Raven defending well though.
Raven has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Murkula is working away from the top position though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Murkula connects with a nice short shot to Raven's temple.
Raven is refusing to be controlled, as Murkula sits in half guard.
Murkula missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Raven manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Murkula not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raven pulls Murkula in close to prevent any damage.
Murkula stands and throws Raven's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Raven tries to buck Murkula off but Murkula is having none of it.
Raven regains half guard, as Murkula was trying to land strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Murkula dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Murkula lands a glancing blow to the side of Raven's head.
Raven connects with an inside leg kick.
Raven checks the leg kick.
Taisto Murkula is winning the standup battle so far.
Raven swings for the body but Murkula moves out of range.
Raven connects with a right hand. Murkula shakes it off.
Raven scores with a decent looking hook.
It looks like Murkula has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Raven throws an overhand right that lands on Murkula's shoulder, as Murkula tries to avoid the shot.
Murkula throws a jab but it's blocked by Raven.
Murkula avoids the body shot from Raven.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murkula throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Raven fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Murkula looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Raven misses with a low kick.
Murkula rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Raven counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Raven but Raven pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Raven throws a solid leg kick but Murkula takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Raven.
Murkula half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Raven lands with an overhand left.
Murkula scores with a leg kick.
Murkula connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Raven momentarily.
Murkula tries to clinch there but Raven circles away.
Raven lands with a straight right. Murkula didn't see that one coming.
A nice inside leg kick there by Murkula. That's going to slow Raven down.
A big left from Raven misses.
Raven walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Murkula checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Raven loads up on a big right hand but Murkula slips the punch.
Murkula ducks under a wild hook from Raven.
A jab lands there for Murkula.
Raven scores with a hook to the body. Murkula takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murkula misses with a series of wild punches.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Raven.
Nice shot by Raven.
Murkula uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Raven has time to react.
Murkula connects with an inside leg kick.
Murkula fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Murkula tries a low kick but Raven avoids it.
Raven is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Murkula lands with a right hand.
Raven swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Murkula takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Raven digs a good hook to Murkula's body.
Murkula connects with a looping right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula is looking to slow Raven down with leg kicks.
Murkula thows a leg kick but Raven checks it
and Raven makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Raven stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taisto Murkula. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raven blocks a low kick nicely.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Raven checks a leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Raven.
Raven avoids the body shot from Murkula.
Raven displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Murkula.
Murkula avoids the body shot from Raven.
Raven misses with a straight right.
A jab from Raven misses.
Murkula misses with a low kick.
Raven appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Raven lands a nice leg kick that just misses Murkula's sensitive parts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula throws a lazy uppercut
and Raven makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Murkula misses with a looping left.
Raven will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Murkula half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Raven cracks Murkula with a good jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murkula throws a leg kick that is checked
and Raven counters with an outside leg kick.
Murkula moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Murkula with a nice cross.
Raven scores with a nice strike.
Murkula is looking to clinch.
Raven slips under a jab from Murkula.
Murkula takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Raven.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Raven showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Raven misses with a body kick.
Murkula checks a low kick from Raven.
Murkula tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Raven is able to avoid easily.
Murkula throws an overhand right that lands on Raven's shoulder, as Raven tries to avoid the shot.
Murkula stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Murkula scores with a jab to the jaw.
Murkula keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Raven.
Murkula throws a leg kick that is checked
and Raven counters with a nice body kick.
Taisto Murkula seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A good leg kick by Raven.
Raven connects with a leg kick. Murkula looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good exchange - Raven coming out on top.
Murkula tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murkula. Raven does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raven scores with a nice head shot.
Raven walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Murkula tries to land a front kick but Raven steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Murkula scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Raven misses with an uppercut. Murkula saw that one coming.
Murkula tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Raven manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Raven throws a lazy right hand but Murkula sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Raven lands a lovely overhand right.
Murkula pivots, looking for a leg kick but Raven is out of range and Murkula settles back down.
Raven misses with a wild combination.
Raven scores with a nice head shot.
Raven keeps the fight on the outside.
It seemed like Raven was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Murkula fails with a takedown attempt.
Raven misses with a wild body shot.
Good work by Murkula as he checks the leg kick.
Raven's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Raven misses with a kick to the body.
Murkula tries to land a front kick but Raven steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Raven moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raven misses with a low kick.
Murkula drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Raven takes one to the side of the head.
Raven is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Murkula fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Raven pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raven misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murkula.
Murkula misses with an uppercut
letting Raven counter with a right hand.
Murkula is looking to slow Raven down with leg kicks.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Murkula. Raven shrugs it off though.
Raven blocks a low kick nicely.
Murkula throws a half hearted mid kick.
Murkula connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Raven's hands.
Murkula lands with a thumping leg kick.
Raven throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Murkula throws a jab but it's blocked by Raven.
Raven on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Raven has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Murkula takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Murkula misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raven dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Murkula. That did some damage!
Murkula lunges at Raven with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Raven's hand.
Murkula lands a jab.
Murkula throws a jab but it's blocked by Raven.
Raven just misses with a punch to the body.
Raven throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Murkula throws a right hand that misses
and Raven counters with a body kick.
Murkula avoids a kick to the body.
Murkula is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Raven.
A leg kick checked by Raven.
Raven throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Murkula stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Murkula misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raven.
Murkula waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Raven.
Murkula sets himself, and Raven steps forward looking for the clinch! Murkula avoids it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thomas Raven.
I think Raven 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Raven!
Thomas Raven took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.