PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shinzade Murakami (ranked 3889 p4p, 25543 weight class) and Yaroslav Borkechev (ranked 446 p4p, 545 weight class). Shinzade Murakami has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Murakami
vs
Borkechev

188 cm
33
155
10 - 10 - 0

180 cm
23
155
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shinzade Murakami!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yaroslav Borkechev!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Borkechev shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Murakami napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Borkechev tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Murakami being controlled for a moment.
Borkechev prevents Murakami from escaping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murakami is not content to let Borkechev control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borkechev is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Borkechev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Borkechev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Borkechev goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Murakami rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Borkechev's guard! Nice work there by Murakami!
Murakami wants to stand but Borkechev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borkechev wants to get back to his feet but Murakami is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Borkechev has a closed guard, preventing Murakami from standing up.
Murakami looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Murakami postures up.

Borkechev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murakami doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murakami manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Borkechev is trying to control the position but Murakami postures up.
Murakami would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Borkechev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Murakami, pushing him back against the cage.

Borkechev jumps guard and drags Murakami to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Borkechev has a closed guard, preventing Murakami from standing up.
Borkechev trying to control the position here.
Murakami trying to stand up but can't free himself from Borkechev's guard.
Borkechev is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murakami wants to stand but Borkechev is controlling his posture from full guard.
Borkechev is trying to keep Murakami in close.
Borkechev wants to stand up but Murakami is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Borkechev drives through and clinches with Murakami against the cage.
Murakami lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Borkechev.

Borkechev jumps guard.
Borkechev looks winded!
Murakami wants to stand but Borkechev is controlling his posture from full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Murakami stands and steps away. Borkechev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yaroslav Borkechev dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Murakami fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Borkechev looks to throw a body kick
and Murakami counters with a straight right hand.
Borkechev on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Borkechev drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Borkechev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Murakami is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Borkechev remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Borkechev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Murakami has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murakami tries to escape but Borkechev is in control.
Borkechev wants to control but Murakami is keeping him busy.
Murakami is trying to buck Borkechev off.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Murakami is not content to let Borkechev control the position.
Murakami on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Murakami tries to get out of the position.
Murakami is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Murakami really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Murakami gets caught napping as Borkechev dives in and scores a takedown. Murakami manages to retain guard.
Borkechev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Murakami is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murakami trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Borkechev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Murakami is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Borkechev is controlling him.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Borkechev stands up from guard. Let's bang!

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.

Murakami takes the fight into the clinch.
Borkechev tries to break the clinch but Murakami is controlling the position.
Murakami working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Borkechev tries a knee to the head but Murakami blocks it.
Murakami misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murakami softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Borkechev has Murakami pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Borkechev pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Murakami tumbling to the mat - Borkechev dives into Murakami's guard.
Murakami preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Murakami wants to stand and escape but Borkechev is having none of it.
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 Shinzade Murakami will probably get the nod.
That's time! Murakami's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Murakami connects with a body shot that sends Borkechev's belly button to the back.

Murakami has taken the fight to the clinch.
Murakami misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murakami lands a left hand that snaps the head of Borkechev backwards.

Borkechev lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Murakami is refusing to be controlled, as Borkechev sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borkechev thows a huge punch but Murakami dodges it nicely.
Murakami is trying to stand back up but Borkechev is controlling him
Borkechev wants to take a breather but Murakami is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Borkechev manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Murakami on his heels. He'll look to pass Murakami's guard now, I'm sure.
Borkechev wants to control from the top but Murakami keeps moving.

Borkechev stands up from Murakami's guard - Borkechev perhaps looking for a knockout.
Borkechev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Borkechev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Borkechev scores with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murakami managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Borkechev.

Borkechev stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Murakami throws a combination. Borkechev tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Borkechev misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Murakami counters with a straight right hand.

Borkechev is rocked!
Murakami weaves into range and cracks Borkechev right on the temple with a beautiful overhand right! Borkechev goes down! He's out cold! Wow, what a beautiful knockout! Murakami is strutting round the canvas like a movie star as the camera bulbs flash frantically.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Shinzade Murakami!
Shinzade Murakami decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.