PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Murkula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murkula's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Forever Angel. Bishop has chosen 999 - Homicide as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Murkula
vs
Bishop

184 cm
30
188 lbs
23 - 4 - 1

185 cm
30
200 lbs
22 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Modern Wear Apparel
KnockOut

Pearson Specter Litt

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 23 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taisto Murkula!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Bobby Bishop!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bishop tries to close the distance and clinch up but Murkula swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bishop throws a hook but Murkula avoids it easily.
Murkula tries to counter with a takedown but Bishop is quick to defend against it.
Bishop looks to land a left hand but Murkula moved out of range nicely.
Murkula misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bishop.
Murkula throws a sloppy head kick and Bishop moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Murkula.
Murkula keeps the fight on the outside.
Bishop avoids the head kick by Murkula.
Murkula has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gangsterdamage in the buildup to the fight.
Murkula throws a low kick but it's checked well by Bishop.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murkula. Bishop does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Murkula takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bishop has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Murkula is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Murkula steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bishop.
Murkula gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bishop counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Murkula on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Murkula.
Bishop lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Murkula tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murkula.
A short left from Bishop.
Murkula lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Bishop backwards.
Murkula prevents a body shot from Bishop.
Bishop tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murkula's elbow.

Murkula breaks the clinch.
Bishop uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Murkula.
Murkula swings for the body but Bishop moves out of range.
Bishop replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Murkula blocks it well.
Murkula slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Murkula gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bishop tries to clinch up.
Bishop wants to clinch up but Murkula keeps it at a distance.
Murkula drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bishop sprawls and moves away.
Murkula throws a body shot but no joy.
Bishop was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murkula uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Murkula shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Murkula tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bishop knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bishop blocking the ground and pound attempt from Murkula.
Murkula sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bishop defending well though.
Bishop blocking the ground and pound attempt from Murkula.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula throwing shots but Bishop is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bishop is concentrating on defense, preventing Murkula from advancing position.

Murkula is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Murkula looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Murkula wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bishop keeps working.
Murkula not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bishop with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Murkula to score with a decent uppercut.
Bishop uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Murkula.
Murkula just misses with a punch to the body.
Murkula tries to land a front kick but Bishop steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Murkula throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bishop with a nice cross.
Murkula swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murkula looks to land a right hand but Bishop moved out of range.
Bishop tries a quick counter leg kick but Murkula is wise to it.
Murkula throws a right and a left that both miss.
Murkula connects with a high kick.
The fighters circling - Murkula throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murkula shoots in looking for a takedown. Bishop tries to sprawl out of it but Murkula keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bishop manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
It seemed like Bishop was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Murkula dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bishop throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Taisto Murkula is winning the standup battle so far.
Murkula lands with a hook. Bishop tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Murkula loads up on a big right hand but Bishop slips the punch.
Murkula lands with a straight right. Bishop didn't see that one coming.
The crowd cheers as Murkula lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bishop doesn't seem phased though.
Murkula scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
That kick from Murkula tenderised Bishop's leg. Bishop is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bishop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Murkula fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Murkula is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bishop can do to turn this around?
Bishop is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Murkula.
Bishop throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Murkula shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bishop! But no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jab, jab by Murkula - just one landing.
That kick from Murkula tenderised Bishop's leg. Bishop is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bobby Bishop is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bishop misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murkula.
Murkula lands a jab to the nose.
Bishop shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Bishop scores with a body shot.
A left lands for Murkula.
Bishop throws a jab but it's blocked by Murkula.
Murkula scores with the left hand. Bishop knows he should have avoided that one.
Bishop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Murkula delivers a nice body kick.
A cross from Bishop lands.
Bishop chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Murkula can pounce on him.
Bishop throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Murkula moves out of range of the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bishop. That did some damage!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bishop throws a right hand that Murkula ducks under and follows up with a left that Murkula also avoids with ease.
A jab lands there for Murkula.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murkula. Bishop does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murkula throws a big shot that misses.
Bishop scores with a push kick.
Good shot there by Bishop.
Murkula misses with an uppercut. Bishop saw that one coming.
Bishop gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Murkula has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Murkula there as he acknowledges the shot.
Murkula throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Bishop tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Murkula is out of range.

Murkula darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Murkula misses with a head shot. Bishop uses the momentum to regain guard.
Murkula trying to control the position from guard on top but Bishop is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula throwing strikes from guard but Bishop blocks nicely.
Bishop utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Murkula throws an elbow that misses. Bishop uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Murkula's guard. Nice move by Bishop!

Bishop got a little sloppy there for a moment and Murkula has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bishop has managed to get both his arms back between Murkula's legs - danger averted.
Bishop slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Murkula dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bishop tried to score with a low kick but Murkula checks it.
Murkula drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bishop sprawls and moves away.
Murkula lands with a kick to the temple. Bishop shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Murkula lands a nice shot that snaps Bishop's head back.
Murkula slips a straight right by Bishop.
Murkula lands the left hand.
A swing and a miss from Murkula.
Murkula swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bishop counters with a thumping low kick.
Bishop is looking to score with low kicks.
Bishop slips a jab from Murkula.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice inside leg kick there by Murkula. That's going to slow Bishop down.
Bishop throws a body kick that misses.
Murkula connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bishop momentarily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murkula. Bishop does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Bishop misses.
Taisto Murkula seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bishop checks the leg kick nicely there.
Bishop appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

Murkula shoots in and gets a takedown into Bishop's guard.
Bishop tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Murkula wants to control from the top but Bishop keeps moving.
Murkula looking to pass the guard.
Murkula in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bishop utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop looking for a sweep. Not yet Bishop, not yet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bishop keeping moving, preventing Murkula from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Murkula chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bishop drops his hands momentarily and Murkula takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Murkula dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bishop. That did some damage!
Bishop pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Murkula avoids a kick to the body.
Bishop's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Bishop loads up on a big right hand but Murkula slips the punch.
Jab, jab by Bishop - just one landing.
Bishop keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Murkula.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murkula misses with a hook. Bishop ducked under it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good leg kick by Murkula there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Murkula cracks the inside of Bishop's front leg.
Murkula looks to land a right hand but Bishop moved out of range.

Murkula gets the takedown into side control.
Murkula postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Bishop regains half guard, as Murkula was trying to land strikes.
Murkula is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Murkula has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula postures up in Bishop's guard and throws a big left but Bishop blocks it.
Murkula passes Bishop's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Murkula thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Murkula thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Murkula sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bishop defending well though.
Bishop is refusing to be controlled, as Murkula sits in half guard.
Bishop avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Murkula.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Murkula clearly takes that round.
That's time! Murkula's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Murkula smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Murkula tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bishop was well out of range. Poor timing from Murkula.
Bishop blocks a leg kick.
Bishop looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Murkula moves out of range as Bishop strikes.
Murkula looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bishop jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Bishop misses with a hook.
Murkula changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Murkula avoids the body shot from Bishop.
Murkula half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murkula cracks Bishop with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Murkula swings for the body but Bishop moves out of range.
Bishop replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Murkula blocks it well.
Murkula dips to his left and cracks Bishop with an uppercut!
Bishop takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A low kick from Murkula is predictable there
and Bishop counters with a thumping low kick.
Bishop has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bishop avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bishop throws out a counter right but Murkula avoids it with no problem.
A slapping leg kick lands for Murkula.
Bishop looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Murkula moves out of range of the body kick from Bishop.
Murkula looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bishop tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Murkula avoids a kick to the body.
Murkula throws a lazy right hand but Bishop sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bishop keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Murkula.
Murkula throws a hook to the side of Bishop's head but Bishop sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murkula lands with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nice takedown defense from Bishop. No joy for Murkula on that attempt.
Murkula uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bishop.
Bishop misses with a jab, cross combination.
Murkula ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murkula fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bishop manages to avoid it.
Bishop tests Murkula's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bishop takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Murkula swats away the attempt to clinch by Bishop.
Murkula throws out a loose jab but Bishop uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop moves out of range of the body kick.
Bishop thinks about the counter body kick.
Bishop misses with the combination.
Bishop misses with a kick to the body.
Bishop slips under a jab from Murkula.
Bishop blocks a jab.
Murkula thumps Bishop with a low kick.

Bishop pushes Murkula up against the cage in a clinch.
Bishop misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Murkula is looking for a takedown.
A nice left hand lands by Bishop.
Bishop swings wildly with an uppercut but Murkula uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bishop tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Murkula breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula cracks a nice hook into Bishop's ribs.
Bishop slips under a jab from Murkula.
Bishop misses with a hook. Murkula ducked under it nicely.
Bishop's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Murkula connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Bishop scrambles back to his feet.
Bishop takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Murkula getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murkula thumps Bishop with a low kick.
Bishop keeps Murkula at a distance using the push kick.
Murkula pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bishop lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Bishop throws a body kick that misses.
Murkula changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Murkula throws a shot from downtown. Bishop moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Taisto Murkula will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bishop lands a jab.
Bishop explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Murkula shoots for a double leg takedown but Bishop sprawls well. He's pushed Murkula's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murkula. Bishop does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murkula backing away here, and Bishop unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Murkula uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bishop.
Bishop misses with a low kick.
Nice jab there from Bishop.
Murkula is looking to score with low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murkula throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murkula misses with a low kick.
Bishop tries to counter with a clinch but Murkula shakes him off and moves away.
Bishop misses with a wild body shot.
Murkula tries to counter with a takedown but Bishop is quick to defend against it.
Bishop swings for the body but Murkula moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula misses with a head kick.
Bishop tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murkula was well out of range. Poor timing from Bishop.
Murkula moves out of range of the body kick.
Murkula scores with a shot to the body.
Murkula fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Murkula throws a leg kick but Bishop sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Murkula turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Bishop tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Murkula manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Murkula throws a shot from downtown. Bishop moves away and avoids it.
Murkula throws a leg kick but Bishop sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Murkula misses with a shot to the body
and Bishop counters with a stiff right hand.
Bishop cracks a nice hook into Murkula's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop wants to slow Murkula down by chopping away at his legs.
Bishop goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bobby Bishop has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Bishop gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murkula throws a big elbow that misses.
Murkula throws a big right hand that misses.
Murkula postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bishop avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Murkula working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Murkula trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bishop manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Bishop stopping the sweep attempt from Murkula.

Murkula working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bishop doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bishop manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Murkula looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bishop is one step ahead there.
Bishop in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop is looking to stand up but Murkula won't let him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Murkula pushes Bishop away with a front kick.
Murkula throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bishop throws a looping overhand right but Murkula ducks down to avoid it.
Murkula scores with a nice right hand.
Murkula throws a big shot that misses.

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 Taisto Murkula.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Murkula, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Gold scores the fight 50:45
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 50:45
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taisto Murkula!
Taisto Murkula retains his middleweight title!
Taisto Murkula seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.