PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Murkula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murkula comes to the cage accompanied by Forever Angel. Cooper is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: s.mouse - slap my elbow. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Murkula
vs
Cooper

184 cm
37
188 lbs
37 - 13 - 2

178 cm
37
190 lbs
29 - 23 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

PED Nutrition
Perkele!

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 37 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taisto Murkula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charles Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooper is looking to clinch but Murkula is avoiding it.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murkula paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cooper is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Cooper has closed the distance and engaged Murkula in a clinch.
Cooper lands an elbow just above Murkula 's eye.
Murkula lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cooper backwards.

Murkula breaks the clinch.
Cooper tries to clinch there but Murkula circles away.

Cooper closes the distance and pushes Murkula back into the cage.
Cooper misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murkula tries to score a body lock takedown but Cooper shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cooper tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Murkula's elbow.
Murkula tries to work over Cooper's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Murkula can't find room to land a body shot as Cooper controls the action.
Cooper keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Murkula's efforts to push away.

Murkula pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cooper has Murkula up against the cage in a clinch.

Murkula manages to break the clinch.

Cooper moves into the clinch.
Cooper lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Murkula lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cooper scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Murkula misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cooper throws an elbow that misses.
We've been informed that Cooper has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Cooper misses with an elbow strike.
Cooper throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Murkula breaks from the clinch.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Murkula swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cooper is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Murkula circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cooper moves to clinch but Murkula breaks away
and Cooper takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula swats away the attempt to clinch by Cooper.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murkula throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Murkula throws a hook but Cooper avoids it easily.
Murkula will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cooper wants to clinch.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murkula paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Murkula swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cooper feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Murkula's calf.
Cooper 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.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Murkula swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Cooper gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Murkula lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cooper lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cooper working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cooper misses with a body punch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Cooper.
A head punch on the inside from Murkula fails to land.
A short right from Murkula on the inside.
Cooper misses with some punches.

Murkula's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Cooper moves into the clinch.
Murkula blocks the elbow strike.
Cooper is trying to maintain a safe position but Murkula gets an underhook and turns Cooper into the cage.
Murkula misses with the head strike.
Cooper effectively controlling the action here.
Cooper misses with an elbow strike.
Murkula is trying to drag Cooper to the mat but Cooper just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Murkula dodges an elbow strike from Cooper.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula blocks an elbow strike.
Cooper lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Murkula lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Murkula's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Cooper moves into the clinch successfully.
Cooper can't find room to land a body shot as Murkula controls the action.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cooper just misses with a elbow thrown towards Murkula's brow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Murkula tries a body shot but Cooper blocks it.
Cooper misses with an elbow over the top.
Murkula scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Murkula breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Murkula throws a looping overhand right but Cooper ducks down to avoid it.
Murkula misses with a head kick.

Cooper instigates a clinch.
Murkula struggles to land a body shot inside as Cooper controls his hands.
Murkula looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taisto Murkula. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooper stops a takedown attempt from Murkula.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Charles Cooper will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cooper gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Murkula fails to land.
Murkula looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cooper misses with an elbow strike.
Charles Cooper seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cooper keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Murkula's efforts to push away.
Murkula avoids a wild elbow strike from Cooper.
Murkula tries to throw a body punch but Cooper avoids it by throwing Murkula back against the cage.
Murkula lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Murkula.
Murkula wants a takedown but no success here.
Cooper tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cooper lands a nice elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooper.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murkula escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Murkula circles away from the clinch attempt
and Murkula counters with a stiff right hand.
Murkula swats away the attempt to clinch by Cooper.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Murkula swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Cooper instigates a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Murkula throws a punch but it's blocked by Cooper.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cooper just misses with a elbow thrown towards Murkula's brow.
I was talking to Murkula's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Murkula wants to get back to striking at distance but Cooper won't allow it.
Cooper keeps control of Murkula as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cooper lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Murkula has had enough of the clinch but Cooper keeps him there for the moment.
Murkula throws a punch but it's blocked by Cooper.
Cooper throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Murkula avoids the elbow strike from Cooper, against the cage.
Cooper misses with an elbow over the top.
Cooper has Murkula pressed against the cage, preventing Murkula from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Murkula has a couple of punches blocked by Cooper.
Cooper misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula jumps guard but Cooper turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cooper throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Murkulas head.

Murkula breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cooper moves into the clinch.
Cooper lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cooper lands an elbow that stopped Murkula in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murkula misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cooper creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Murkula's defenses.
Cooper misses with an elbow strike.
Cooper looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cooper.
Murkula tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cooper goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cooper lands an elbow just above Murkula 's eye.
Still in the clinch, Cooper scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cooper taking a breather.
Cooper lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cooper pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murkula dodges an elbow strike from Cooper.

Murkula breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cooper gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cooper's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cooper pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Murkula avoids a wild elbow strike from Cooper.
Cooper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
With the fighters up against the cage, Cooper throws an elbow but misses.

Murkula turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Murkula manages to end up in side control.
Murkula misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Cooper is looking for a sweep.
Murkula working the ground and pound from side control.
Cooper tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Murkula wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cooper defending against the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is trying to get back to half guard.
Murkula throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Murkula lands a few punches from side control.
Murkula is trying to ground and pound but Cooper uses the momentary lack of control by Murkula to regain half guard.
Murkula thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cooper is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Murkula scores with a couple of nice shots.
Murkula passes the guard and advances to mount!
Cooper sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Cooper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Murkula scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Cooper moves into range and clinches up with Murkula.
Cooper lands a body shot.
Cooper throws an elbow that misses.

Murkula breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murkula fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cooper 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.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murkula paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murkula swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Murkula shoots in but Cooper avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper slips a jab and a cross from Murkula.

Cooper moves into the clinch successfully.
Murkula dodges an elbow strike from Cooper.
Murkula avoids a wild elbow strike from Cooper.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murkula working hard to break the clinch.
Cooper lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cooper creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Murkula avoids a wild elbow strike from Cooper.
Cooper lands a nice elbow.
Cooper can't find room to land a body shot as Murkula controls the action.
Cooper tries to work over Murkula's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cooper misses with an elbow over the top.
Murkula avoids a wild elbow strike from Cooper.
Murkula tries to circle away but Cooper has him pinned against the cage.

Murkula's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A hook to the body from Murkula.
Cooper tries to work over Murkula's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Murkula letting Cooper take a breather here.
Cooper lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Murkula pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper thows a body kick. Murkula tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Charles Cooper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cooper tries to clinch there but Murkula circles away.
Cooper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Taisto Murkula has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taisto Murkula. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooper tries to clinch but Murkula moves out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cooper looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cooper moves in looking to clinch but Murkula pushes him off.
Cooper tries to clinch up but Murkula circles away and keeps his distance.
Murkula circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murkula misses the jab.
Murkula circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cooper 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.
Cooper tries to clinch there but Murkula circles away.
Taisto Murkula is winning the standup battle so far.

Cooper gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper blocking some punches.
Cooper lands an elbow inside.
Cooper misses with an elbow over the top.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cooper.
Cooper pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cooper just misses with a elbow thrown towards Murkula's brow.
Murkula blocks the elbow strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murkula.
Murkula wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cooper gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Murkula blocks the elbow strike.
A short right from Murkula on the inside.

Murkula gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Cooper kicks Murkula off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A punch combination from Murkula misses.
Cooper fails with an attempt to clinch.

Cooper instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper throws an elbow that misses.
Cooper lands an elbow just above Murkula 's eye.

Murkula manages to break the clinch.

Cooper fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Murkula, pushing him back against the cage.
Cooper misses with a punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Cooper.
Cooper looking to slow down the pace here.
Cooper lands an elbow that stopped Murkula in his tracks for a moment.
Murkula tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cooper lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cooper misses with an elbow over the top.
Cooper lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Murkula lands with a light punch inside.
Murkula throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Coopers head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murkula.
Murkula throws a head punch that misses.
Cooper lands an elbow that stopped Murkula in his tracks for a moment.
Cooper creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Murkula's defenses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charles Cooper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cooper winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charles Cooper!
A very excited looking Charles Cooper 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.