PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daichi Kishimoto (ranked 7949 p4p, 503 weight class) and Magyan Murko (ranked 6981 p4p, 476 weight class). Magyan Murko will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kishimoto
vs
Murko

170 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
19
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Aspire Nutrition
Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Daichi Kishimoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Magyan Murko!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Chad Campbell and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kishimoto gets tackled into the cage by Murko. Murko maintains the clinch.
Murko softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
I was talking to Kishimoto's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A short left from Murko.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Murko creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Kishimoto has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Murko uses from the top position.
Murko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kishimoto is keeping the position for now.
Murko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Murko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kishimoto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Murko has managed to get both his arms back between Kishimoto's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murko seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Kishimoto looking for a guillotine here but Murko defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kishimoto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kishimoto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Kishimoto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Murko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Murko tries to free his leg and advance position but Kishimoto is retaining full guard.

Kishimoto looking for a guillotine here but Murko defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Murko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Murko controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Kishimoto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Murko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Kishimoto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Murko controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Murko tries to free his leg and advance position but Kishimoto is retaining full guard.

Kishimoto has his foot on Murko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Murko works his way back into a safe position though.
Murko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Let's hope that Murko has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kishimoto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Murko controls from within his opponent's guard.

Kishimoto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Kishimoto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Murko is aware though and is defending well.
Murko wants to pass the guard but Kishimoto is keeping the position.
Murko is stalling in the full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Kishimoto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Murko defends well.

That's four 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.
Murko wants to pass the guard but Kishimoto is keeping the position.
Kishimoto is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Murko looking to pass the guard.

Kishimoto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Murko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Murko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kishimoto is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Murko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kishimoto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Murko is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magyan Murko dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Murko lands with a thumping leg kick.
Murko works Kishimoto's body with a nice hook.
Kishimoto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Murko sprawls well. Murko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kishimoto gets slowly back to his feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Murko.
Kishimoto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Murko tries to avoid it but Kishimoto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Murko to the ground. Murko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Magyan Murko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murko throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kishimoto shoots and misses
and Murko counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daichi Kishimoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Murko closes the distance and pushes Kishimoto back into the cage.
Kishimoto jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Murko walks away with a smile on his face. Kishimoto gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murko with a hook.

Murko clinches up against the cage.
Murko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kishimoto backwards.

Kishimoto has Murko pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kishimoto pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Murko tumbling to the mat - Kishimoto dives into Murko's guard.

Kishimoto is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Murko pulls Kishimoto in close to his closed guard and prevents Kishimoto from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kishimoto trying to control but Murko is working from the bottom.
Murko seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kishimoto looking to pass the guard.
Kishimoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Murko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kishimoto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Murko trying to keep a closed guard but Kishimoto is proving a slippery customer.

Kishimoto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kishimoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Murko can't keep his opponent in guard - Kishimoto advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Kishimoto is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Murko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kishimoto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murko wants to control but Kishimoto is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Kishimoto is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Murko defends it well.
Kishimoto is trying to control. Murko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Murko trying to control from the bottom.
Kishimoto wants to control but Murko is keeping him busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Murko moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kishimoto or perhaps it was just good defense by Murko, which made it look bad.
Kishimoto backing away here, and Murko unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Magyan Murko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Murko instigates a clinch.
Kishimoto takes a shot to the head.
Murko works on Kishimoto's body with a couple of short punches.
Murko lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Murko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Murko lands an uppercut.
Murko lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kishimoto backwards.
Murko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kishimoto wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Murko lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Murko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magyan Murko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Murko feints and then cracks Kishimoto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kishimoto down.
Murko doesn't manage to clinch there - Kishimoto circles away.
Murko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kishimoto appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kishimoto looks for a takedown but Murko sprawls well.
Both fighters circling a little - Murko finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Murko bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murko scores with a hook.
Daichi Kishimoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kishimoto takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Murko throws a front kick that sends Kishimoto stumbling back into the cage.

Kishimoto tries to keep at a distance but Murko has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short left from Murko.
Murko scores with a hook to the body.
Murko scores with a hook to the body.
A short left from Murko.
A body shot lands from Murko.
Murko makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Murko lands with a light punch inside.
Murko lands with a short shot to the head.
Murko lands a nice shot to the body.
Murko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Murko lands with a right to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Murko.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murko lands a nice shot to the body.
Murko digs a right hand into Kishimoto's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kishimoto's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kishimotos head.
Murko scores with a shot to the side of Kishimoto's head.

Kishimoto is rocked!
Murko lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Oh Kishimoto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A hook to the body from Murko.
A hook to the body from Murko.
Murko lands a hook that snaps the head of Kishimoto backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Murko.
Murko creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Kishimoto's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Kishimoto drops to his knees and Murko pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Magyan Murko!