PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kalervo Kaunismieli (ranked 47 p4p, 11 weight class) and Phol Murhaa (ranked 56 p4p, 12 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kaunismieli
vs
Murhaa

183 cm
39
192 lbs
40 - 14 - 2

182 cm
33
188 lbs
32 - 11 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing
Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q

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 40 - 14 - 2, fighting out of New York, Kalervo Kaunismieli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 11 - 3, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phol Murhaa!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Atkins and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaunismieli is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nice jab there from Murhaa.
Murhaa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kaunismieli.
Kaunismieli's jab looks to have found its range, popping Murhaa under the eye.
Kaunismieli slips under a jab.
Kaunismieli tried to counter with a leg kick but Murhaa avoided it.
Murhaa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kaunismieli doesn't seem bothered though.
Kaunismieli pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Murhaa checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kaunismieli misses with a low kick as Murhaa jumps back.
Murhaa misses with a double jab.
Murhaa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kaunismieli.
Murhaa avoids a kick to the body.
Murhaa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Murhaa has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Kaunismieli throws a looping overhand right but Murhaa ducks down to avoid it.
Kaunismieli thows a left - swing and a miss!
Murhaa scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kaunismieli takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kaunismieli throws a body shot but no joy.

Kaunismieli pushes Murhaa up against the cage in a clinch.
Murhaa looking to stall.
Murhaa misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murhaa misses with a hook to the ribs.
I was talking to Kaunismieli's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kaunismieli's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kaunismieli lands a right hand that snaps the head of Murhaa backwards.
Kaunismieli tries to throw a body punch but Murhaa avoids it by throwing Kaunismieli back against the cage.

Murhaa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kaunismieli with a jab.
Kaunismieli throws the kick towards the body but Murhaa avoids it.
Murhaa throws a front kick aimed at Kaunismieli's knee but Kaunismieli avoids it well.
Murhaa throws a leg kick which misses Kaunismieli's front leg but catches the back leg as Kaunismieli tries to avoid it.
Murhaa wants to slow Kaunismieli down by chopping away at his legs.
An inside leg kick lands from Murhaa.
Kaunismieli fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Murhaa.
Kaunismieli throws a solid leg kick but Murhaa takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kaunismieli.
A swing and a miss from Kaunismieli.
Kaunismieli moves out of range as Murhaa strikes.
Kaunismieli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murhaa.
Kaunismieli misses with a wild body shot.
Kaunismieli thows a body kick. Murhaa tries to catch it but that hurt him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kaunismieli takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaunismieli takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Murhaa throws a looping overhand right but Kaunismieli ducks down to avoid it.
Murhaa drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Murhaa just misses with a punch to the body.
Murhaa thows a leg kick but Kaunismieli checks it
and Kaunismieli counters with a straight right hand.
Kaunismieli has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Murhaa.
A big right from Murhaa misses.
Kaunismieli scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Murhaa throws a leg kick but Kaunismieli checks it.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Murhaa.
Kaunismieli misses with a hook.
Nice cross by Kaunismieli.
Nice defenses there by Kaunismieli.
A counter left hand to the body from Kaunismieli misses its target.
Murhaa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Murhaa missing with a left hand there. Kaunismieli was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Murhaa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kaunismieli.
Kaunismieli fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Murhaa on the side of the head.
Murhaa scores with a hook to the body. Kaunismieli takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kaunismieli throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Murhaa throws out a counter right but Kaunismieli avoids it with no problem.
Murhaa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kaunismieli.
Murhaa's corner calls for a 1-2. Murhaa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Murhaa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Murhaa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Murhaa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kaunismieli tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murhaa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murhaa tries a quick counter leg kick but Kaunismieli is wise to it.
Murhaa lands with a right hand.
Kaunismieli avoids the body shot from Murhaa.
Murhaa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kaunismieli can pounce on him.
Kaunismieli thows a left - swing and a miss!
Murhaa just misses with a punch to the body.
An inside leg kick from Murhaa misses.
Phol Murhaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murhaa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kaunismieli. Murhaa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kaunismieli closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kaunismieli connects with a leg kick. Murhaa looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Murhaa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Murhaa scores with a punch to the head.
Kaunismieli throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Murhaa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Murhaa lunges at Kaunismieli with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kaunismieli's hand.
Murhaa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kaunismieli misses with a few strikes there.
Murhaa with a hook.
Murhaa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Murhaa throws a looping overhand right but Kaunismieli ducks down to avoid it.
Kaunismieli was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Nice uppercut lands for Kaunismieli. That snapped Murhaa's head back.
Murhaa throws a big shot that misses.
Murhaa throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A decent looking cross lands there for Murhaa.
A swing and a miss from Kaunismieli.
A countering left hand to the body from Murhaa misses.
Murhaa slips under a jab.
Murhaa with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Phol Murhaa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Murhaa connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kaunismieli's hands.
Murhaa takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kaunismieli fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Murhaa.
Kaunismieli throws a hook to the side of Murhaa's head but Murhaa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kaunismieli checks a leg kick nicely.
Kaunismieli turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kaunismieli throws a jab when Murhaa was well out of range.
Murhaa misses with an uppercut.
Murhaa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Murhaa lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kaunismieli tries to clinch up but Murhaa circles away and keeps his distance.
Murhaa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kaunismieli ducks under a wild hook from Murhaa.
Kaunismieli went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaunismieli throws a hook to the side of Murhaa's head but Murhaa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big left from Kaunismieli misses.
It seemed like Murhaa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Phol Murhaa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Murhaa thumps Kaunismieli with a low kick.
Murhaa throws a jab when Kaunismieli was well out of range.
Kaunismieli misses with a wild body shot.
Kaunismieli staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Murhaa misses.
Murhaa scoring well with a low kick there.
Kaunismieli lands with a hook. Murhaa tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kaunismieli.
Murhaa misses with a hook.
Murhaa throws a lazy right hand but Kaunismieli sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Murhaa misses with a body shot.
Kaunismieli checks a leg kick.
Murhaa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kaunismieli throws a low kick but Murhaa avoids it.
Kaunismieli ducks under a wild hook from Murhaa.
Murhaa throws a right hand that Kaunismieli ducks under and follows up with a left that Kaunismieli also avoids with ease.
Kaunismieli tries to clinch but Murhaa is having none of it.
Murhaa throws a front kick that sends Kaunismieli stumbling back into the cage.
A nice leg kick lands there from Murhaa.
Murhaa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Murhaa throws a hook to the side of Kaunismieli's head but Kaunismieli sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murhaa thumps Kaunismieli with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murhaa ducks right into an uppercut from Kaunismieli.
Kaunismieli takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kaunismieli fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Murhaa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Murhaa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kaunismieli misses with a wild body shot.
Kaunismieli fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Murhaa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Murhaa swats away the attempt to clinch by Kaunismieli.
Murhaa takes a swing at Kaunismieli's ribcage but misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Kaunismieli blocks the leg kick.
It looked like Kaunismieli was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Murhaa.
Murhaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kaunismieli throws a hook to the side of Murhaa's head but Murhaa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kaunismieli connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Murhaa scores with a leg kick.
Murhaa misses with an uppercut. Kaunismieli saw that one coming.
Murhaa takes a swing at Kaunismieli's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaunismieli displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kaunismieli is looking to slow Murhaa down with leg kicks.
Murhaa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kaunismieli throws a right hand that Murhaa ducks under and follows up with a left that Murhaa also avoids with ease.
Good standup being displayed there by Murhaa as he connects with a hook.
Murhaa scores with a punch to the head.
Murhaa connects with the punch.
Murhaa avoids a kick to the body.
Murhaa appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kaunismieli throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Murhaa on the side of the head.
Kaunismieli gets cracked there but stands up to it.
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!
Kaunismieli pivots, looking for a leg kick but Murhaa is out of range and Kaunismieli settles back down.
Murhaa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kaunismieli is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Murhaa.
Kaunismieli looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Murhaa swings for the body but Kaunismieli moves out of range.
Kaunismieli throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kaunismieli swings away with a body shot that misses
and Murhaa counters with a thumping low kick.
A big right from Murhaa misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaunismieli throws a hook to the side of Murhaa's head but Murhaa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kaunismieli misses with a straight right.
Murhaa lands a head shot.
Murhaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murhaa moves out of range as Kaunismieli strikes.
Murhaa shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kaunismieli thumps Murhaa with a low kick.
Kaunismieli stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Murhaa.
Murhaa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Murhaa walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kaunismieli checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kaunismieli feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Kaunismieli takes a swing at Murhaa's ribcage but misses.
Murhaa misses with a head kick.
Kaunismieli throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Murhaa tries a quick counter leg kick but Kaunismieli is wise to it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A swing and a miss from Murhaa.
An attempted straight right counter from Kaunismieli misses the target.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Murhaa.
Murhaa tries to land a leg kick but Kaunismieli saw it coming and moves away.
Murhaa throws a hook to the side of Kaunismieli's head but Kaunismieli sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phol Murhaa 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! And we move into the final round!

Murhaa cracks the inside of Kaunismieli's front leg.
Kaunismieli throws a hook but Murhaa avoids it easily.
Murhaa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kaunismieli momentarily.
Murhaa tries to land a front kick but Kaunismieli steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kaunismieli missing with a left hand there. Murhaa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kaunismieli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murhaa misses with a body kick.
Murhaa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kaunismieli blocks the body kick.
Murhaa slips under a jab.
Murhaa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Murhaa attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murhaa swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kaunismieli dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kaunismieli tried to score with a low kick but Murhaa checks it.
Kaunismieli moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMurhaa.
Kaunismieli tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Murhaa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Murhaa connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murhaa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kaunismieli thows a left - swing and a miss!
Murhaa chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Murhaa throws a leg kick but Kaunismieli sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kaunismieli on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Murhaa looks to land a right hand but Kaunismieli moved out of range.
Kaunismieli throws an off balance right hand
and Murhaa counters with an outside leg kick.
Murhaa misses with a hook. Kaunismieli ducked under it nicely.
Kaunismieli blocks a leg kick.
Kaunismieli uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murhaa.
Murhaa looks for the body kick but Kaunismieli saw that one coming.
Kaunismieli ducks under a wild hook from Murhaa.
Murhaa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kaunismieli misses the jab.
Murhaa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kaunismieli throws a body punch but Murhaa moves out of range.
Murhaa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa moves out of range as Kaunismieli strikes.

Kaunismieli has closed the distance and engaged Murhaa in a clinch.
Kaunismieli misses with the head strike.
A frustrated look appears on Murhaa's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Murhaa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Murhaa misses with a punch on the inside.
Murhaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Kaunismieli.
Murhaa tries a body shot but Kaunismieli blocks it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Murhaa as Kaunismieli tries to tie him up.
Kaunismieli has a couple of punches blocked by Murhaa.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kaunismieli.
Murhaa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Murhaa lands a shoulder strike.
Murhaa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kaunismieli tries to throw a body punch but Murhaa avoids it by throwing Kaunismieli back against the cage.
Murhaa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kaunismieli lands a left hand.
Murhaa misses with the head strike.
Kaunismieli goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kalervo Kaunismieli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa tries to throw a body punch but Kaunismieli avoids it by throwing Murhaa back against the cage.
Murhaa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Kaunismieli breaks the clinch.
Murhaa misses with a low kick.
Kaunismieli misses with an uppercut. Murhaa saw that one coming.
Murhaa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kaunismieli doesn't manage to clinch there - Murhaa circles away.
Murhaa throws a series of strikes that have Kaunismieli backpedaling.
Murhaa looks to land a body kick but Kaunismieli moved away.
Murhaa scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Murhaa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kaunismieli finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kaunismieli throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kaunismieli takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Murhaa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheers as Kaunismieli lands an impressive looking overhand right. Murhaa doesn't seem phased though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kaunismieli throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaunismieli slips a jab from Murhaa.
Murhaa looks to throw the jab but Kaunismieli is out of range.
Kaunismieli takes a swing at Murhaa's ribcage but misses.
A big right from Murhaa misses.
Murhaa shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Murhaa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Murhaa slips under a jab.
Murhaa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Murhaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kaunismieli moves away.
Murhaa defending well as Kaunismieli loads up on a big left hand.
Murhaa ducks under a wild hook from Kaunismieli.
Murhaa tries to bum rush Kaunismieli with a series of wild strikes but Kaunismieli uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kaunismieli swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A cross from Murhaa lands.
Murhaa looks to throw the jab but Kaunismieli is out of range.
Kaunismieli walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kaunismieli swings and misses with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phol Murhaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Murhaa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phol Murhaa!
After winning the bout, Phol Murhaa thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.