PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jarkko Vaakku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vaakku kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is I'll Face Myself (Reincarnation). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vaakku
vs
Murphy

188 cm
25
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
191 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Outkast Clothing Line

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $150)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarkko Vaakku!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mark Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy pivots, looking for a leg kick but Vaakku is out of range and Murphy settles back down.
A jab from Murphy misses.
Vaakku looks for the body kick but Murphy saw that one coming.
A punch lands to the side of Murphy 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A slow jab from Murphy misses its intended target.
Mark Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vaakku lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A telegraphed right hand from Murphy misses the target.
Murphy blocks a head kick by Vaakku.
Murphy lands a leg kick that knocks Vaakku off balance momentarily.
Vaakku tries for a takedown but Murphy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vaakku closes the distance and clinches up with Murphy, looking for a takedown. Vaakku pushes Murphy against the cage but Murphy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murphy leaves Vaakku with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jarkko Vaakku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vaakku blocks a leg kick.
A big left from Murphy misses.
Vaakku throws a sloppy head kick and Murphy moves out of range easily.
Vaakku tries a head kick but it misses.
Murphy connects with a leg kick. Vaakku looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy misses with a low kick.
Murphy throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vaakku sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Murphy closes the distance and pushes Vaakku back into the cage.
Vaakku blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Murphy lands a right hand.
Murphy lands a left hand that snaps the head of Vaakku backwards.
Still in the clinch, Murphy scores with a nice short uppercut.
Vaakku blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Vaakku decides to pull guard.

Murphy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vaakku has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Murphy has managed to get both his arms back between Vaakku's legs - danger averted.
Murphy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vaakku. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Vaakku is looking for a triangle but Murphy pushes his legs off easily.
Murphy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vaakku is on top in guard.
Vaakku is pushing down on Murphy's leg trying to pass to half guard. Murphy is fighting to maintain full guard but Vaakku has managed to sneak the leg through.
Vaakku trying to mount his opponent but Murphy defends it.
Vaakku is keen to just control but Murphy is a slippery customer.

Vaakku seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is looking to control Vaakku's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Murphy avoid being mounted?

Vaakku is looking for a kimura but Murphy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vaakku to get the leverage.
Murphy keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Murphy trying to control but Vaakku postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaakku throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vaakku trying to pass the guard but Murphy defending well.

Vaakku is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Murphy has managed to free his arm - good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murphy wants to improve his position but Vaakku is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Murphy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vaakku moves away.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses.
Vaakku throws a sloppy head kick and Murphy moves out of range easily.
Vaakku lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Vaakku.
Murphy takes a swing at Vaakku's ribcage but misses.
Murphy swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Murphy moves out of range of the body kick.
Murphy takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

It looks like Jarkko Vaakku has been cut.
A left lands for Murphy.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jarkko Vaakku is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Vaakku scores a takedown into full mount!
Murphy tries to hold on but Vaakku pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vaakku looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Vaakku sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Vaakku looking to finish with strikes here!
Vaakku moves to the back.
Vaakku throwing sloppy strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaakku tries to keep control of the position but Murphy is staying busy.

Vaakku is looking for the choke from the back position but Murphy is controlling his hands well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Vaakku is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Murphy is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jarkko Vaakku!
Jarkko Vaakku retains his middleweight title!
Jarkko Vaakku made sure to mention his sponsor, Outkast Clothing Line in his post fight interview.