PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Tuft (ranked 52 p4p, 101 weight class) and Paul Murhaa (ranked 4 p4p, 9 weight class). Paul Murhaa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tuft
vs
Murhaa

170 cm
40
141
14 - 3 - 1

169 cm
35
144
28 - 10 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

SynCity Fightwear
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Gunnar Tuft!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 10 - 3, fighting out of New York, Paul Murhaa!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tuft scores with the left hand. Murhaa knows he should have avoided that one.
Murhaa checks a low kick from Tuft.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Tuft crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Murhaa - the referee stops the clock and Tuft gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Murhaa. Tuft manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Murhaa moves out of range of the strikes.
Murhaa looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Tuft bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Murhaa's head backwards.
Tuft lands with a cross.
An inside leg kick lands from Tuft.
Murhaa throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tuft misses with a low kick.
Murhaa misses with a kick to the body.
A quick step to the side and Tuft tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tuft is looking to clinch.
Murhaa appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Murhaa is looking to slow Tuft down with leg kicks.
Tuft throws a jab but it's blocked by Murhaa.
Murhaa slips a jab from Tuft.
Tuft lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tuft throws out a loose jab but Murhaa uses good head movement to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murhaa misses with a right hand
and Tuft counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tuft lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tuft needs to keep his hands up - Murhaa had a free shot at his head there.
Tuft lands with a cross.
Tuft fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Murhaa on the side of the head.
A lazy left from Tuft finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murhaa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tuft misses with a low kick.
Murhaa avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Murhaa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Murhaa tries to work over Tuft's front leg with a kick but Tuft checks it.
Tuft throws out a leg kick but Murhaa moves out of range and Tuft only half commits.
Murhaa throws out a counter right but Tuft avoids it with no problem.
A swing and a miss from Murhaa.
Murhaa takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Tuft throws out a leg kick but Murhaa moves out of range and Tuft only half commits.
Murhaa is looking to score with low kicks.
Tuft is looking to counter punch.
Tuft tries a low kick but Murhaa avoids it.
Tuft throws a leg kick
and Murhaa counters with a left to the body.
Murhaa throws a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from Tuft misses the target.
Murhaa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Murhaa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tuft throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Murhaa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tuft throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tuft throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tuft on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Tuft feints and then cracks Murhaa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Murhaa down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tuft stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
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!
Tuft attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Murhaa flicks out a counter leg kick but Tuft steps away.
Murhaa moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Murhaa throws out a loose jab but Tuft uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gunnar Tuft seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murhaa looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Murhaa misses with a wild body shot.
A big right from Murhaa misses.
A big left from Murhaa misses.
Murhaa slips under a jab from Tuft.
Tuft misses with a low kick.
Tuft tries a low kick but Murhaa avoids it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Murhaa.
It looks like Tuft has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Murhaa is looking to land body kicks.
Tuft throws a leg kick but Murhaa moved away.
Tuft throws out a leg kick but Murhaa moves out of range and Tuft only half commits.
Murhaa takes a swing at Tuft's ribcage but misses.
That kick from Murhaa tenderised Tuft's leg. Tuft is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tuft just misses with a punch to the body.
Tuft throws a low kick but it's checked well by Murhaa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Murhaa.
Murhaa looks for the body kick but Tuft saw that one coming.
Tuft throws a leg kick that misses.
Murhaa throws a big shot that misses.
Tuft throws a poor cross that misses
and Murhaa counters with an outside leg kick.
Murhaa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tuft looks to score with a jab to the body but Murhaa is just out of range.
Tuft misses with a wild combination.
Tuft uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murhaa.
Tuft avoids a kick to the body.
Tuft feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Tuft takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Tuft misses with a body shot.
Tuft misses with a right hand
and Murhaa counters with a solid body kick.
Tuft attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Tuft takes a swing at Murhaa's ribcage but misses.
Murhaa steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Tuft throws a hook but Murhaa avoids it easily.
Tuft fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murhaa manages to avoid it.
Murhaa doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A big right from Tuft misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tuft manages to avoid it.
Murhaa throws a hook to the side of Tuft's head but Tuft sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murhaa punishes Tuft's body with a nice straight punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tuft avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tuft throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murhaa moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Tuft finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Murhaa takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Murhaa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tuft connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Murhaa fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Tuft checks it well.
Tuft blocks the body kick.
Murhaa throws the kick towards the body but Tuft avoids it.
Tuft throws a hook but Murhaa avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murhaa takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
An inside leg kick lands from Murhaa.
Murhaa fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Murhaa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gunnar Tuft 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.

A clash of legs there as Murhaa blocks the low kick.
Tuft scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Tuft throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Murhaa counters with an outside leg kick.
Murhaa lands a leg kick that knocks Tuft off balance momentarily.
Murhaa fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Murhaa attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Murhaa in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Tuft throws a big shot that misses.
Murhaa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Murhaa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Murhaa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tuft can pounce on him.
Tuft takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Murhaa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Murhaa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tuft scores with a leg kick.
Gunnar Tuft is winning the standup battle so far.
Murhaa throws a good cross that connects.
Murhaa throws a body shot but no joy.
An inside leg kick from Tuft misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tuft throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tuft throws a leg kick that misses.
Tuft throws a leg kick but Murhaa sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuft connects with a single shot there.
Murhaa does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Tuft throws a leg kick
and Murhaa counters with an outside leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tuft.
A bone on bone clash there as Murhaa blocks the leg kick.
Tuft doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Murhaa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Tuft tried to score with a low kick but Murhaa checks it.
A clash of legs there as Tuft blocks the low kick.
Murhaa throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Murhaa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Murhaa throws a right hand that Tuft ducks under and follows up with a left that Tuft also avoids with ease.
A little feinted left hand from Tuft on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tuft throws a big shot that misses.
Tuft thumps Murhaa with a low kick.
Murhaa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Murhaa missing with a left hand there. Tuft was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murhaa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tuft.
Murhaa throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Murhaa lands a nice looking kick to the body. Tuft takes a step back to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Murhaa checks the leg kick.
Murhaa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Tuft swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Murhaa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tuft tries to land a leg kick but Murhaa saw it coming and moves away.
Murhaa connects with a solid leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Tuft misses the target.
Tuft jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tuft lands with a cross.
Murhaa walks into a left hand.
A big right from Tuft misses.
Murhaa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tuft takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Murhaa dips to his left and cracks Tuft with an uppercut!
Tuft throws a jab when Murhaa was well out of range.
Murhaa looks to land a right hand but Tuft moved out of range.
Murhaa looks to score with a jab to the body but Tuft is just out of range.
Tuft blocks a low kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuft shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Good leg kick by Tuft.
Tuft bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Tuft displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Murhaa throws out the jab.
Tuft misses with a low kick.
Tuft scoring well with a low kick there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tuft.
Murhaa just misses with a punch to the body.
Tuft motions for Murhaa to come forward. Tuft throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Murhaa throws a leg kick that misses.
Murhaa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tuft pivots, looking for a leg kick but Murhaa is out of range and Tuft settles back down.
Tuft avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Murhaa looks to land a left hand but Tuft moved out of range nicely.
Tuft swings widly with a right hand
and Murhaa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A good leg kick by Tuft.
Murhaa lands a jab to the head.
Murhaa defending well as Tuft loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tuft moves away.
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!
Tuft tries to score with a low kick but Murhaa moves his leg out of the way.
A nice leg kick from Tuft, right into the meat of the thigh.
Murhaa misses with a body kick.
Tuft throws a lazy right hand but Murhaa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Murhaa checks a leg kick.
Tuft throws out a loose jab but Murhaa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tuft buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Murhaa ducks under a wild hook from Tuft.
Tuft pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Murhaa now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Murhaa tries to land a leg kick but Tuft saw it coming and moves away.
Murhaa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tuft.
Tuft takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Murhaa misses with a low kick.
Tuft keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A good leg kick by Tuft.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murhaa loads up on a big right hand but Tuft slips the punch.
Murhaa looks to score with a jab to the body but Tuft is just out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gunnar Tuft will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Murhaa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tuft throws out the jab.
Tuft throws a low kick but Murhaa moves out of range easily.
Tuft throws a solid leg kick but Murhaa takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tuft.
Tuft is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Murhaa lands a nice hook to Tuft's body. Tuft takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tuft rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Tuft will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Murhaa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Murhaa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tuft avoids a kick to the body.
Tuft lands a nice shot to the body.
Murhaa walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tuft checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Tuft is looking to counter punch.
Tuft ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murhaa moves away.
Murhaa appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Murhaa slips under a jab from Tuft.
A countering left hand to the body from Murhaa misses.
Tuft lands a nice leg kick that just misses Murhaa's sensitive parts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murhaa fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tuft has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Murhaa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tuft throws out the jab.
Tuft swings for the body but Murhaa moves out of range.
Murhaa throws a big shot that misses.
Tuft throws a leg kick which misses Murhaa's front leg but catches the back leg as Murhaa tries to avoid it.
Murhaa moves away from the strike by Tuft.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murhaa scores with a leg kick.
Murhaa slips a jab from Tuft.
Murhaa just misses with a punch to the body.
Tuft lands a leg kick that knocks Murhaa off balance momentarily.
A shot to the liver by Tuft. Beautiful body shot.
Murhaa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tuft moves out of range of the body kick.
Tuft lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Murhaa looks to land a body kick but Tuft moved away.
Tuft blocks a low kick nicely.
Murhaa checks the leg kick.
Tuft backing away here, and Murhaa unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Murhaa takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Murhaa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tuft.
Tuft takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Tuft has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Murhaa finds it's way round the side to connect with Tuft's head.
Tuft misses with an uppercut.
Tuft throws a hook but Murhaa avoids it easily.
Tuft cracks Murhaa with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tuft smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Murhaa dips to his left and cracks Tuft with an uppercut!
Murhaa misses with a leg kick.
Tuft wants to slow Murhaa down by chopping away at his legs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murhaa. Tuft does a little dance to reset his feet.
A leg kick checked by Tuft.
Murhaa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A big right from Tuft misses.
Murhaa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tuft.
Tuft finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Murhaa tries to land a front kick but Tuft steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tuft throws a leg kick
and Murhaa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Murhaa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tuft throws out the jab.
Tuft wants to slow Murhaa down by chopping away at his legs.
Murhaa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A jab from Murhaa finds it's way through Tuft's defenses.
Murhaa ducks under a wild hook from Tuft.
Tuft connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuft scores with a jab. Murhaa acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A shot to the liver by Tuft. Beautiful body shot.
Tuft looks to land a right hand but Murhaa moved out of range.
Tuft has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Murhaa.
Tuft tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Murhaa takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tuft blocks a jab.
Murhaa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Paul Murhaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tuft throws a low kick, looking for Murhaa's leg but Murhaa calmly moves out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Tuft 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Tuft fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Murhaa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Murhaa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tuft.
Murhaa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A nice leg kick from Murhaa, right into the meat of the thigh.
A right-left combo lands from Tuft.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good standup being displayed there by Murhaa as he connects with a hook.
Tuft tries to land a leg kick but Murhaa saw it coming and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murhaa slips a straight right by Tuft.
Murhaa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tuft.
Good leg kick by Tuft.
Tuft throws a poor cross that misses
and Murhaa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Murhaa has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Murhaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tuft was well out of range. Poor timing from Murhaa.
Tuft avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Murhaa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A bone on bone clash there as Murhaa blocks the leg kick.
Tuft looks to land a right hand but Murhaa moved out of range.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Murhaa. Tuft shrugs it off though.
A good leg kick by Tuft.
Murhaa misses with a leg kick
and Tuft counters with a straight right hand.
Murhaa checks a leg kick nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murhaa thuds his right hand into Tuft's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tuft sizes up Murhaa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A shot to the body from Tuft misses
and Murhaa counters with a nice uppercut.
Tuft avoids the body shot from Murhaa.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gunnar Tuft.
Well Tuft 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gunnar Tuft!
Gunnar Tuft is the new bantamweight champion!
In his post fight interview, Gunnar Tuft gave a big smile as he said 'Couldn't have dreamed of any better retirement, going out on top, as the last 135lbs Syn champion, what a dream! '.