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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Harbor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taisto Murkula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murkula has chosen Forever Angel as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 184 cm
32
193 lbs
26 - 21 - 1 |
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184 cm
32
188 lbs
27 - 6 - 2 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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
26 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Harbor!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
27 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taisto Murkula!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murkula connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Harbor's hands.
Harbor misses with an uppercut. Murkula saw that one coming.
Harbor misses with a body shot.
Harbor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murkula throws out a loose jab but Harbor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murkula fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Harbor looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Taisto Murkula seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harbor drops his hands momentarily and Murkula takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Harbor takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Murkula pushes Harbor away with a front kick.
Harbor falls off balance throwing a combination
and Murkula counters with a stiff right hand.
Murkula looks to throw the jab but Harbor is out of range.
A head kick by Murkula misses
and Harbor decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Murkula's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Harbor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Murkula is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Harbor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murkula swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Harbor with a nice head shot there.
Harbor wants to control from the top but Murkula keeps moving.
Harbor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Harbor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Harbor with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've been hearing that Harbor has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Harbor trying to control but Murkula is working from the bottom.
Murkula tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's two 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.
Harbor trying to control the position from guard on top but Murkula is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Harbor lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Harbor throws the left hand but Murkula avoids the punch easily.
Harbor thuds a left hand into Murkula's body.
Murkula throws a front kick aimed at Harbor's knee but Harbor avoids it well.
Murkula moves in looking to clinch but Harbor pushes him off.
Harbor dips to his left and cracks Murkula with an uppercut!
Murkula cracks Harbor with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Murkula throws a hook but Harbor avoids it easily.
Harbor keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Harbor dives in for a single leg takedown but Murkula sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Harbor drops his hands momentarily and Murkula takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harbor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Murkula avoids it really well and circles away.
Murkula lands with a nice body punch.
Harbor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Harbor throws a right hand that Murkula ducks under and follows up with a left that Murkula also avoids with ease.
Murkula has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Murkula there as he acknowledges the shot.
Murkula stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Murkula lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Donk. Harbor catches Murkula right on the button with a cross.
Harbor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Murkula at a distance.
A left and a right from Murkula both land. Nice combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Harbor throws a lazy uppercut
and Murkula connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A left lands for Harbor.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Murkula throws a shot from downtown. Harbor moves away and avoids it.
Harbor misses with an uppercut
and Murkula counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Murkula.
Harbor wants to sweep but no luck.
Murkula is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Harbor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Murkula working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Harbor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Taisto Murkula dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Harbor on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Harbor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Murkula has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Harbor throws a looping overhand right but Murkula ducks down to avoid it.
Murkula turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Harbor misses the jab.
Murkula bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Harbor throws a hook but Murkula blocks it.
Murkula tries to bum rush Harbor with a series of wild strikes but Harbor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taisto Murkula seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Harbor avoids a kick to the body.
Jab, jab by Harbor - just one landing.
Harbor cracks Murkula with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harbor takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Murkula lands a nice looking kick to the body. Harbor takes a step back to recover.
Harbor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Harbor wants it to stay on the feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Harbor throws a hook but Murkula blocks it.
Murkula throws a lazy right hand but Harbor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Harbor throws a big shot that misses.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Murkula - that will leave a mark!
Murkula shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Harbor but Harbor pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Murkula feints and then cracks Harbor's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Harbor down.
Harbor throws a right and a left that Murkula avoids nicely.
Murkula looks to score with a jab to the body but Harbor is just out of range.
Good leg kick by Murkula there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Harbor misses with a body shot.
Murkula throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Harbor misses with a combination
and Murkula counters with a nice uppercut.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Harbor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Harbor half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Harbor shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Harbor shoots in looking for a takedown. Murkula tries to sprawl out of it but Harbor keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Murkula manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Murkula misses with a straight left.
Murkula throws an overhand right that lands on Harbor's shoulder, as Harbor tries to avoid the shot.
Murkula sizes up Harbor with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harbor moves out of range as Murkula throws a body kick.
Murkula throws a body shot but no joy.
Murkula throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Harbor on the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Murkula throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Harbor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murkula was well out of range. Poor timing from Harbor.
Harbor wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harbor throws a shot to the body.
Murkula takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Harbor cracks Murkula with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Murkula tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Harbor was well out of range. Poor timing from Murkula.
Harbor tries to counter with a takedown but Murkula is quick to defend against it.
A jab from Murkula finds it's way through Harbor's defenses.
Murkula throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Murkula throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Harbor appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Murkula.
Harbor misses with a straight left.
Murkula has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Harbor throws a hook to the side of Murkula's head but Murkula sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Harbor misses with a body shot.
Murkula throws a lazy right hand but Harbor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Murkula scores with a head kick.
Murkula will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Decent striking displayed by Murkula there.
Murkula throws a leg kick but Harbor sees it coming and moves out of range.
Harbor slips a jab from Murkula.
Harbor scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Harbor moves away from the strike by Murkula.
Harbor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Murkula but Murkula pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A solid leg kick lands there for Murkula.
Murkula fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Harbor has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Harbor throws a body shot but no joy.
Murkula swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Harbor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murkula.
Harbor with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Taisto Murkula showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Harbor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Harbor scores with a nice right hand.
Harbor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Murkula lands a jab.
Murkula misses with a kick to the body.
Harbor misses with a jab to the body
and Murkula counters with a straight right hand.
Harbor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Murkula.
Harbor appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Murkula throws a jab but it's blocked by Harbor.
Harbor swings for the body but Murkula moves out of range.
Harbor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murkula.
Murkula throws a lazy right hand but Harbor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harbor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Murkula circles away quickly and effectively.
Murkula blocks a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Harbor misses the target.
Murkula tries to counter with a clinch but Harbor shakes him off and moves away.
Murkula with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Murkula throws a hook but Harbor avoids it easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Harbor lands an overhand right.
Murkula closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Harbor misses with a punch to the body.
Harbor has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Murkula uses from the top position.
Murkula postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Harbor is trying to keep Murkula in close.
Harbor keeping moving, preventing Murkula from controlling successfully.
Murkula working some strikes from top position.
Harbor has his feet on Murkula's thighs here. He's pushed Murkula off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Murkula screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). James Harbor!
James Harbor retains his middleweight title!
An out of breath James Harbor thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
54% |
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