PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Howlett (ranked 4431 p4p, 437 weight class) and Magyan Murko (ranked 2818 p4p, 314 weight class). Howlett's entrance music is Push. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Howlett
vs
Murko

164 cm
19
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
21
158 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Howlett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Magyan Murko!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howlett closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Murko to the mat! Murko manages to get full guard.
Howlett trying to control but Murko is working from the bottom.
Howlett is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Murko is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Howlett working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Howlett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Murko had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Howlett defends it easily.
Howlett throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Murko trying to control the position.
Murko keeping moving, preventing Howlett from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Howlett not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murko is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Howlett defends well.
Howlett lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Howlett chips away with some ground and pound.
Howlett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Howlett working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Murko looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Howlett wants to control from the top but Murko keeps moving.
Howlett might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Murko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Howlett trying to control the position from guard on top but Murko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett cracks Murko with a solid left hand.
Murko is trying to control the position but Howlett postures up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Howlett working some strikes from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Murko had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Howlett defends it easily.
Murko working a defensive guard here.
Howlett trying to control the position from guard on top but Murko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murko looking to control.
Howlett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Howlett lands a couple of digs.
Murko is trying to keep Howlett in close.
Howlett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Murko's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett wants to control from the top but Murko keeps moving.
Howlett with a nice head shot there.

Murko is looking for a triangle but Howlett pushes his legs off easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Howlett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Howlett has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Howlett landing with the ground and pound.
Murko controls Howlett momentarily but Howlett frees himself.
Howlett trying to control the position from guard on top but Murko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Howlett stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Howlett is working hard here to advance position.

Murko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murko is trying to keep Howlett in close.
Murko is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Howlett distracts Murko with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Howlett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Howlett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Murko's head.
Howlett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murko is keeping the position for now.

Murko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Howlett with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Howlett cracks Murko with a solid left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howlett makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Howlett lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Murko has control of Howlett's left arm, preventing Howlett from doing any damage.
Howlett postures up and lands a big shot to Murko's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Howlett fails with the takedown
and Murko counters with a head kick.
Howlett fails with the takedown.
Howlett with a lazy takedown attempt
and Murko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Howlett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howlett misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Murko shapes to counter with a head kick.
Howlett gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Murko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Howlett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murko can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howlett shoots in but no luck this time.
Howlett fails with the takedown
and Murko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Howlett shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Murko manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Murko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Howlett gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Murko is trying to keep Howlett in close.
Murko keeping full guard, as Howlett tries to pass.
Howlett postures up.

Murko is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Howlett is aware though and is defending well.
Howlett content to stall in guard here.
Howlett has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Murko is trying to control the position but Howlett postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Howlett scoring with punches to the head and body.
Howlett wants to control from the top but Murko keeps moving.
Howlett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murko is keeping the position for now.

Murko is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Howlett defends well.
Murko trying to control the position.
Howlett distracts Murko with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Howlett scoring with some ground and pound.
Howlett trying to control but Murko is working from the bottom.
Howlett postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett scoring with some ground and pound.
Howlett lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Murko trying to keep a closed guard but Howlett is proving a slippery customer.
Howlett with a nice head shot there.
James Howlett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howlett advances to half guard.

Howlett is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Murko is trying to maintain the position but Howlett is very close to passing his half guard.
Murko moves into full guard.
Howlett scoring with some ground and pound.
Murko keeping full guard, as Howlett tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murko seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Howlett trying to control the position from guard on top but Murko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Howlett is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Murko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Howlett with a nice head shot there.
Murko is trying to keep Howlett in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murko has his hands on Howlett's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that James Howlett will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Howlett fails with a takedown attempt.
Magyan Murko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Murko tries to keep at a distance but Howlett has taken the fight into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Murko.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murko.
Howlett is trying to pull guard but Murko turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Howlett blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murko scores with a nice hook to the head.
Murko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Murko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Howletts head.
Murko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Howlett is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Murko pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Howlett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murko lands a shoulder strike.
Howlett is trying to pull guard but Murko has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Howlett fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Murko throws a punch but it's blocked by Howlett.
A body shot lands from Murko.
Murko softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Murko successfully pulls guard.
Murko looking to control.

Murko working for a triangle but Howlett defends it easily.
Howlett is in close to Murko's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Murko is adopting a defensive guard.

Murko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Howlett lands a couple of digs.
Howlett throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Murko trying to keep a closed guard but Howlett is proving a slippery customer.

Murko has his foot on Howlett's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Howlett works his way back into a safe position though.

Murko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Howlett can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Howlett wants to pass the guard but Murko is keeping the position.
Howlett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Murko's head.

Murko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Howlett gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Howlett drops back looking for a leg! Murko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Murko manages to kick Howlett off! Howlett jumps back into Murko's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett lands a couple of digs.
Howlett wants to control from the top but Murko keeps moving.
Murko trying to keep a closed guard but Howlett is proving a slippery customer.
Howlett working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Murko being controlled here, momentarily.
Howlett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Murko's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Murko is controlling Howlett's posture.

Murko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Murko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Howlett lands a couple of digs.
Howlett scoring with some ground and pound.
Howlett is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Murko pulls Howlett in close to prevent any damage.

Murko had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Howlett defends it easily.
James Howlett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howlett slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magyan Murko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Howlett has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Howlett!
During a confident post fight interview, James Howlett thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.