PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phol Murhaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). White is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Fugees - Ready or not. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Murhaa
vs
White

182 cm
28
184 lbs
18 - 6 - 1

180 cm
32
182 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Fanatic Inc. [ $25.00 ]
Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Phol Murhaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris White!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murhaa just misses with a punch to the body.
Murhaa works the jab nicely.

It looks like Chris White has been cut.
Murhaa has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Murhaa dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on White. That did some damage!
White throws a nice looking combination but Murhaa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Murhaa misses with a body shot.
Murhaa throws a push kick but White slaps the foot to one side.
Murhaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murhaa scores with a jab.
Murhaa misses with a right hand
and White counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
White slips a straight right by Murhaa.
Murhaa is looking to slow White down with leg kicks.
Murhaa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good leg kick by Murhaa there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murhaa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract White.
Murhaa throws the left hand but White avoids the punch easily.
White avoids the head kick by Murhaa.
As Murhaa backs off White throws a huge counter combo but Murhaa manages to avoid it all.
Murhaa misses with a wild body shot.
White is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A big left from Murhaa misses.
Murhaa moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
White keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Murhaa.
Murhaa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
White lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Murhaa lands a nice shot that snaps White's head back.
Murhaa misses with the body kick
and White counters with a two punch combo.
Murhaa misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Murhaa lands.
Murhaa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Murhaa lands a big head kick that sends White tumbling to the mat! Murhaa takes a step backwards and waves White back to his feet - he wants the finish!

White is rocked!
Murhaa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
White is still on wobbly legs! Can Murhaa finish him?
Murhaa fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but White is out of range.
Murhaa lands a glancing blow to the side of White's head.
Murhaa lands a front kick.

Murhaa closes the distance and clinches.
Murhaa looking to throw knees to the head but White is blocking nicely.
White seems to have recovered his senses.
Murhaa lands a right hand.
Murhaa blocking some punches.
A short right from Murhaa on the inside.

Murhaa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murhaa lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Phol Murhaa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa missing with a left hand there. White was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
White counters with a body kick.
White takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Murhaa misses with a right hand
and White connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

White looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Murhaa holds on and takes a little breather.
Murhaa keeping full guard, as White tries to pass.
Murhaa is pulling down on White's head. It's preventing any offense from White, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa looking to hit a scissor sweep but White is one step ahead there.
White is fighting to break Murhaa's control of his arms but Murhaa is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
White working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
White keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
White lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
White stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Murhaa.
A swing and a miss from Murhaa.
Murhaa sets himself, and White steps forward looking for the clinch! Murhaa avoids it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phol Murhaa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chris White's cut.
That's time! Murhaa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Murhaa misses with a right hand
and White counters with a one-two to the body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by White.
Murhaa manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Murhaa keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Murhaa is pressing down on White's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
White scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murhaa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from White.
Murhaa pulls White in close to prevent any damage.
Murhaa wants to stand and escape but White is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murhaa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Murhaa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Murhaa is pulling down on White's head. It's preventing any offense from White, at least for the moment.
Murhaa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that White can do to turn this around?
White with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
White postures up in Murhaa's guard and throws a big left but Murhaa blocks it.
Murhaa wants to get back to his feet but White is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
White avoids the body shot from Murhaa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Murhaa moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Phol Murhaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
White drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
White avoids the body shot from Murhaa.
White lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
White tries to close the distance and clinch up but Murhaa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Murhaa throws a front kick aimed at White's knee but White avoids it well.
No joy there for Murhaa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Murhaa misses with a hook. White ducked under it nicely.
White is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Murhaa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and White counters with a left and a right that stings Murhaa.
White looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Murhaa is fending him off so far but White persists. Nope, Murhaa circles away and we're back to standing.
Murhaa throws a big counter combination but White scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Murhaa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. White sees it coming and avoids it easily.
White shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Murhaa sprawls well. Murhaa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. White gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Murhaa.
Murhaa blocks a jab.
Nice body kick from Murhaa.
Murhaa throws a leg kick that is checked

and White counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Murhaa!
Murhaa is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Murhaa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Murhaa lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Murhaa sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed White's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Murhaa wants to stand but White has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Phol Murhaa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Murhaa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phol Murhaa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chris White's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Murhaa throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A lazy left from Murhaa finds it's target.
That kick from Murhaa tenderised White's leg. White is trying to keep his angry face on.
Murhaa throws an overhand right that lands on White's shoulder, as White tries to avoid the shot.
Murhaa misses with an attempted mid kick.
White doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Murhaa counters with a nice uppercut.
Murhaa tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White walks into a left hand.
Murhaa tries to clinch up but White circles away and keeps his distance.
White unleashes a big counter combination but Murhaa bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
White avoids the head kick by Murhaa.
White unleashes a big counter combination but Murhaa bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murhaa chopping away at his opponent's legs.

White closes the distance and clinches.
White's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Murhaa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Murhaa has White pressed against the cage, preventing White from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Murhaa is working White over against the cage.
Murhaa pushes White back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
White stalling in the clinch but Murhaa improves position.
Murhaa displaying some good clinch control by pressing White up against the cage.
Murhaa is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
White tries a body shot but Murhaa blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa leaning his opponent against the cage.
White blocks a punch to the side of the head.
White can't find room to land a body shot as Murhaa controls the action.
Good body shot from Murhaa.
A short left from Murhaa.
White working aggressively here.
White has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Murhaa.
Murhaa lands with a left to the head.

That has opened up Chris White's cut even more.
Phol Murhaa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Murhaa dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
White is trying to push Murhaa away but Murhaa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Murhaa lands with a right to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A right hand to the body from Murhaa.
Murhaa lands a left hand that snaps the head of White backwards.
A shot in the inside from Murhaa.

Murhaa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chris White is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Murhaa. White shrugs it off though.
Murhaa works the jab nicely.
Murhaa throws out a loose jab but White uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murhaa misses with a double jab.
White throws out a counter right but Murhaa avoids it with no problem.

White has taken the fight to the clinch.

Murhaa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murhaa slaps away a takedown attempt from White, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Murhaa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
White throws a right and a left that Murhaa avoids nicely.
Murhaa fakes the leg kick and cracks White in the body.
Murhaa wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa lands a front kick.
White ducks under a wild hook from Murhaa.
White throws a counter combo.
Murhaa scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice body kick there by Murhaa.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jab by Murhaa.
White slips a straight right by Murhaa.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phol Murhaa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Murhaa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phol Murhaa!
A determined Phol Murhaa didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!