PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Reach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taisto Murkula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reach comes to the cage accompanied by Here's Johnny. Murkula comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Forever Angel kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Taisto Murkula has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Reach
vs
Murkula

195 cm
35
195 lbs
35 - 13 - 2

184 cm
36
188 lbs
37 - 12 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)
Bullet Proof System

Perkele!

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 35 - 13 - 2, fighting out of New York, Johnny Reach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taisto Murkula!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murkula displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Reach throws out the jab.
Reach throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Reach misses with a kick to the body
and Murkula counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Reach throws a sloppy head kick and Murkula moves out of range easily.
Murkula tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Reach throwing a counter right hand but Murkula manages to avoid it.
Murkula stuns Reach with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Reach seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Reach moves out of range as Murkula throws a body kick.
Reach bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Murkula scores with a nice right hand.
Reach lands a nice shot to the body.
Reach checks a leg kick.
Murkula scores with a jab to the head.
Murkula pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Murkula cracks Reach with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murkula throws a lazy right hand but Reach sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Reach just misses with a punch to the body.
Reach throws a right hand that misses

and Murkula counters with a single leg into guard. Reach didn't expect that.

Reach is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reach goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Murkula fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Reach tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Reach blocks a body shot from Murkula.
Reach struggles to land a body shot inside as Murkula controls his hands.
Murkula can't find room to land a body shot as Reach controls the action.
Murkula struggles to land a body shot inside as Reach controls his hands.
A left hand lands to the body for Reach.
Murkula tries to work over Reach's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Murkula is trying to break the clinch but Reach has him pressed against the cage.
Reach lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Murkula.
Still in the clinch, Murkula scores with a nice short uppercut.
Reach tries to throw a body punch but Murkula avoids it by throwing Reach back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Murkula - that landed with a thud.
Reach misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murkula blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Reach tries a body shot but Murkula blocks it.
Murkula tries for a takedown but Reach manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reach throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Murkula blocks it with crossed arms.
Murkula swings wildly with an uppercut but Reach uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murkula lands a body shot.
Reach misses with an elbow over the top.
Reach misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murkula throws a head punch that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Reach.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murkula lands a left hand.
Reach throws an elbow that misses.
Murkula lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Murkula prevents a body shot from Reach.
Murkula misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Reach misses with an elbow strike.
Murkula misses with a hook from the clinch.
Murkula stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Reach obliges.
Murkula lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Reach or not.
Reach tries a body shot but Murkula blocks it.
Reach lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Murkula or not.
Murkula doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murkula.
Murkula blocks a body shot from Reach.
A shot in the inside from Murkula.
Murkula presses Reach against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Reach swings wildly with an uppercut but Murkula uses good head movement to avoid it.
Reach misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murkula lands a left hand.
Reach throws a punch but it's blocked by Murkula.

Murkula's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Reach connects with a body shot that sends Murkula's belly button to the back.
Murkula misses with a body kick.
Murkula lands with a cross.
Murkula lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Murkula lands a jab.
Murkula throws a leg kick but Reach sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Murkula looks to land a left hand but Reach moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Murkula throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Reach makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murkula with a lazy takedown attempt
and Reach counters with a stiff right hand.
Reach misses the shot to the body.
Murkula looks to land a right hand but Reach moved out of range.
The fighters circling - Murkula throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murkula pushes Reach away with a front kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Murkula.
Danga de danga de dang - Murkula scores with a four punch combination!
Reach is looking to wear down Murkula with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Murkula takes a swing at Reach's ribcage but misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Murkula. That's going to slow Reach down.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Murkula.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Murkula looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Murkula accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Murkula cracks Reach with an open hand slap.
Murkula lets loose with a powerful body kick. Reach will feel that in the morning.
Taisto Murkula seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Reach takes one to the side of the head.
Reach pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Reach digs a good hook to Murkula's body.
Reach checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Reach bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Murkula's head.
Murkula throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Reach sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Reach throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Murkula works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Reach tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Murkula flicks out a counter leg kick but Reach steps away.
Murkula connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Reach's hands.
Reach lands a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murkula thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Reach if he has to take too many more of those.
Murkula lands a leg kick that knocks Reach off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reach avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Murkula cracks Reach with an open hand slap.
Murkula is looking to score with low kicks.
Reach wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Murkula lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Reach steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Murkula.
Reach moves out of range of the body kick.
Murkula looks for the body kick but Reach saw that one coming.
A lazy body kick from Murkula
and Reach counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Good leg kick by Murkula there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Reach with a jab.
Reach lands with an uppercut that bounces Murkula off the cage and back into range.
Murkula scores with a sloppy right hand. Reach should have avoided that one.
Murkula throws a lazy uppercut
and Reach counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Murkula is trying hard to land a takedown here. Reach sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reach throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Reach tries to clinch there but Murkula circles away.
Murkula misses with a low kick.
Murkula lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Murkula dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Reach. That did some damage!
Reach throws a low kick, looking for Murkula's leg but Murkula calmly moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Reach.
Murkula circles away from the clinch attempt.
Reach fails in his attempt to clinch.
Reach throws a quick inside leg kick.
Johnny Reach is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reach throws a leg kick that is checked
and Murkula counters with an outside leg kick.
Murkula throws a looping overhand right but Reach ducks down to avoid it.
Murkula fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Murkula missing with a left hand there. Reach was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Murkula takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Reach is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula throws a leg kick that misses.
Reach blocks a jab.
Reach throwing a counter right hand but Murkula manages to avoid it.
Murkula throws a body kick that misses.
Murkula with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Murkula gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Reach makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Reach throws a leg kick but Murkula sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Reach is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Murkula scores with a leg kick.
Reach throws out a loose jab but Murkula uses good head movement to avoid it.
Reach takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Murkula finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Murkula ducks under a wild hook from Reach.
Reach misses with an uppercut

and Murkula counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Murkula.
Reach is trying to control the position but Murkula postures up.
Murkula distracts Reach with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reach avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Reach controls Murkula momentarily but Murkula frees himself.
Reach avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reach is trying to keep Murkula in close.
Murkula keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Reach's head.
Reach managing to control the position.
Murkula postures up in Reach's guard and throws a big left but Reach blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Murkula showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Reach gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Reach lands with a shot to the body.
Reach misses with a hook. Murkula ducked under it nicely.
And Murkula responds with a good body kick, but Reach manages to step out the way in time.
A telegraphed right hand from Murkula misses the target.
Reach slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Murkula misses with a straight right.
Murkula loads up on a big right hand but Reach slips the punch.
Reach misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murkula thows a leg kick but Reach checks it
and Reach counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murkula misses with an attempted mid kick.
Murkula misses with a kick to the body.
Reach takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Reach avoids a kick to the body.
Reach is looking to counter the offense by Murkula and move into the clinch.
Reach on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Murkula. Murkula obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula has a takedown stuffed.

Reach fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Murkula, pushing him back against the cage.
Murkula lands a nice uppercut.

Murkula breaks from the clinch.
Murkula scores with a nice strike.
Reach connects with a jab.
Murkula misses with a hook
and Reach counters with a good low kick that Murkula was not able to check.
Reach works over Murkula's head and body with a nice combination.
Reach lands a leg kick that knocks Murkula off balance momentarily.
Murkula lands a leg kick that knocks Reach off balance momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reach with a hook.
Reach rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Murkula counter with a right hand.
Reach keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Johnny Reach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula takes a kick to the side of the head.
Murkula throws a low kick but Reach avoids it.
Murkula misses with a low kick.
Murkula connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Murkula has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Murkula throws a leg kick that is checked
and Reach counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Murkula lands a leg kick that knocks Reach off balance momentarily.
Reach misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murkula.
Reach thuds his right hand into Murkula's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Murkula avoids the body shot from Reach.
Murkula lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Murkula scores with a push kick.
Nice cross by Reach.
Reach throws an off balance right hand
and Murkula counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters circling a little - Reach finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reach misses with a low kick.
Murkula misses with a straight right.
Reach throwing a counter right hand but Murkula manages to avoid it.
Reach throws the left hand but Murkula avoids the punch easily.
Reach lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Murkula takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Reach stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Murkula.
Murkula scores with a jab to the body.
Murkula moves out of range of the strikes.
Reach connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Murkula's hands.
Murkula goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Reach drops Murkula with a beautiful combination! Murkula stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Reach is looking for the KO!

Murkula is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Reach is stalking Murkula. Murkula circles to his left. Keeps circling left. Bam! Straight right from Reach, and it's lights out! Murkula really payed the price for that rookie mistake.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Johnny Reach!
Johnny Reach seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.