PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yossi Avitan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taisto Murkula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murkula is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Forever Angel. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Avitan
vs
Murkula

191 cm
36
203 lbs
33 - 10 - 0

184 cm
32
188 lbs
27 - 7 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER

Hellbent
Modern Wear Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yossi Avitan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taisto Murkula!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Avitan misses with an uppercut.
Murkula thumps Avitan with a low kick.
Murkula scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Avitan delivers a nice body kick.
Murkula ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
An inside leg kick lands from Avitan.
Murkula throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Murkula swings for the body but Avitan moves out of range.
Avitan moves out of range as Murkula strikes.
Avitan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Murkula to score with a decent uppercut.
Murkula clobbers Avitan with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Avitan wants to land a leg kick but Murkula is out of range.
Murkula tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Murkula throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
As Murkula looks to move away, Avitan throws a big counter combo bu Murkula just gets out of the way.
Murkula will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Avitan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula misses the jab.
Murkula fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Avitan checks it well.
Murkula loads up on a big right hand but Avitan slips the punch.
An attempted straight right counter from Avitan misses the target.
Murkula thuds his shin into the meat of Avitan's side.
Murkula misses with an attempted mid kick.
Avitan swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Murkula lands a nice shot to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Avitan checks a leg kick.
A jab from Murkula finds it's way through Avitan's defenses.
Taisto Murkula seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murkula connects with an inside leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Avitan.
Murkula buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Murkula buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Murkula moves out of range of the strikes.
Murkula misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula digs a good body shot into Avitan's ribs.
Avitan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Murkula cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Avitan looks to score with a jab to the body but Murkula is just out of range.
Murkula looks to land a combination. Avitan sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Murkula throws a shot from downtown. Avitan moves away and avoids it.
Avitan walks into a jab.
Good work by Murkula as he checks the leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Murkula.
A jab from Murkula does it's job there.
Murkula misses with a wild body shot.
Murkula misses with a kick to the body.
Murkula misses the jab.
Murkula just misses with a punch to the body.
A quick step to the side and Avitan tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Avitan on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Murkula gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula throws a chopping leg kick but Avitan manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Avitan thinks about countering with a body kick.
Avitan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Avitan staying out of range there.
Avitan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Murkula punishes Avitan's body with a nice straight punch.
Murkula checks a leg kick nicely.
A clash of legs there as Murkula blocks the low kick.
Murkula feints the counter takedown.
Murkula lands with a shot to the body.
Murkula keeps the fight on the outside.
Murkula checks a leg kick.
A jab from Murkula misses.
Avitan was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Avitan takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Avitan chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Murkula can pounce on him.
Avitan lands a glancing blow to the side of Murkula's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Murkula misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula throws a quick inside leg kick.
Avitan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Avitan throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Avitan stuns Murkula with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Avitan throws a leg kick that is checked
and Murkula makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Murkula misses with an uppercut.
Murkula swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Murkula keeps the fight on the outside.
Murkula tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
The fighters circling - Murkula throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A low kick from Murkula misses
and Avitan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Murkula checks the leg kick nicely there.
Avitan ducks under a wild hook from Murkula.
Murkula will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Avitan avoids the head kick by Murkula.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Murkula dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Murkula avoids the head kick by Avitan.
Avitan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murkula.
Murkula ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Avitan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Murkula has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Murkula connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Avitan slips a straight right by Murkula.
Avitan throwing a counter right hand but Murkula manages to avoid it.
Murkula chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Murkula throws a body shot but no joy.
Avitan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murkula checks a low kick from Avitan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avitan throws a shot to the body.
Murkula connects with a right hand. Avitan shakes it off.
The fighters circling - Murkula throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A head kick by Avitan misses

and Murkula counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Murkula is standing up over Avitan. Avitan looks to escape but Murkula dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Murkula tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Avitan tries to improve position but can't.
Murkula scores with a couple of short elbows.
Avitan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Murkula is putting a hurting on Avitan here, landing some big shots from side control.
Murkula lands a decent elbow from side control.
Murkula trying to control the action but Avitan is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Avitan is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Avitan tries to bench press Murkula off him but Murkula keeps the position.
Murkula landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Avitan prevents Murkula from improving position.
Murkula scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Avitan to see if he's OK.
Murkula working the head and body with strikes.
Murkula lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Avitan taking punishment in the form of punches.
Avitan regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ground and pound from Murkula.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Avitan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Murkula wants to take a breather but Avitan is having none of it.
Murkula slips a nice elbow through Avitan's hands, connecting with Avitan's forehead.

Murkula is looking for a kimura here.
Avitan has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Avitan wants to improve his position but Murkula is controlling well.
Murkula slips a nice elbow through Avitan's hands, connecting with Avitan's forehead.
Avitan is pressing down on Murkula's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Murkula wants to control from the top but Avitan keeps moving.
Murkula throwing strikes from guard but Avitan blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula wants to pass the guard but Avitan is keeping the position.
Murkula pushing down on Avitan's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Avitan wants to improve his position but Murkula is controlling well.
Avitan on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Avitan wants to control the action here but instead Murkula manages to pass to full mount!
Murkula with shots to the head and body - Avitan looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Avitan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Murkula controlling the pace for now.
Murkula landing strikes, looking to finish!
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Avitan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Murkula.
Avitan went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Avitan swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Murkula counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Murkula turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Avitan avoids a kick to the body.
Avitan is looking for a counter combo.
Murkula pushes Avitan away with a front kick.
Murkula throws a nice outside leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Murkula.
Murkula throws an overhand right that lands on Avitan's shoulder, as Avitan tries to avoid the shot.
Murkula looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Avitan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Murkula. Murkula obviously looking to wear him down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murkula throws a low kick but it's checked well by Avitan.
Avitan tries a head kick but it misses.
Avitan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Murkula misses with an uppercut.
Murkula drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avitan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Murkula throws out the jab.
A lazy body kick from Murkula
and Avitan counters with a nice leg kick.
Murkula throws a predictable looking body shot
and Avitan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Avitan throws a solid leg kick but Murkula takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Avitan.
Avitan blocks a head kick by Murkula.
A nice leg kick lands there from Avitan.
Murkula scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Murkula misses with an uppercut
and Avitan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nice uppercut lands for Murkula. That snapped Avitan's head back.
Avitan stuffs the takedown attempt from Murkula. Murkula gets slowly back to his feet.
Avitan swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Avitan 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.
Taisto Murkula seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A lazy left from Murkula finds it's target.
Murkula misses with a leg kick
and Avitan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Yossi Avitan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Avitan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Avitan connects with a solid leg kick.
Murkula takes a swing at Avitan's ribcage but misses.
Avitan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Avitan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Avitan misses with an uppercut.
A cross from Murkula lands.
Murkula misses with a takedown attempt
and Avitan counters with a stiff right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murkula. Avitan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murkula scores with a sloppy right hand. Avitan should have avoided that one.
Yossi Avitan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big left from Murkula misses.
Avitan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Avitan dodges the punch combination from Murkula.
Avitan was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Avitan lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Murkula has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Murkula and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Avitan is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula lands a head shot.
Murkula throws a jab when Avitan was well out of range.
Avitan swings widly with a right hand
and Murkula counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Murkula lunges at Avitan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Avitan's hand.
Avitan throws a body shot but no joy.
Murkula throws a hook but Avitan blocks it.
Avitan scores with a nice strike.
Murkula shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Avitan as he jumps to the side.
Yossi Avitan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taisto Murkula.
Avitan drops his hands momentarily and Murkula takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Avitan ducks under a wild hook from Murkula.
Avitan tries a low kick but Murkula avoids it.
A jab from Murkula does it's job there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula shoots in looking for a takedown but Avitan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Murkula's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Avitan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Murkula throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Avitan connects with a leg kick. Murkula looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Murkula lands a nice hook to Avitan's body. Avitan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Murkula shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Avitan kicks off Murkula and gets to his feet.
Murkula throws a hook to the side of Avitan's head but Avitan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murkula tries to score with a low kick but Avitan moves his leg out of the way.
Murkula misses with a looping right.
Murkula comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taisto Murkula comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Murkula has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taisto Murkula!
A very excited looking Taisto Murkula rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.