PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Markus Mattila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wladimir Murchulenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murchulenko has chosen Sandstorm, Darude as his entrance music. Markus Mattila has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mattila
vs
Murchulenko

188 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

187 cm
19
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Markus Mattila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wladimir Murchulenko!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mattila is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Murchulenko clinches up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Murchulenko.
Mattila tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Murchulenko throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mattila blocks it with crossed arms.
Murchulenko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Murchulenko misses with a knee to the head.
Murchulenko tries to break free but Mattila pushes him back against the cage.
The referee calls for Mattila to work.
Murchulenko avoids a wild elbow strike from Mattila.
Murchulenko connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mattila's face.

It looks like Markus Mattila has been cut.
Murchulenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Murchulenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murchulenko looks to land a combination but Mattila avoids it well.

Murchulenko tries to keep at a distance but Mattila has taken the fight into the clinch.
Murchulenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mattila misses with an elbow over the top.
Mattila lands a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mattila has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Murchulenko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mattila lands an elbow that stopped Murchulenko in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Wladimir Murchulenko has been cut.
Murchulenko scores a nice knee to the body.
Murchulenko looking to throw knees to the head but Mattila is blocking nicely.
A frustrated look appears on Murchulenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mattila managing to block the knees to the body from Murchulenko.
Mattila crunches a lovely knee into Murchulenko's ribcage.
Murchulenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Murchulenko is trying to break free.
Murchulenko looks gassed!
Mattila lands an elbow inside that Murchulenko shrugs off.
Mattila avoids a wild elbow strike from Murchulenko.
Mattila utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Mattila lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Murchulenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Murchulenko wants to clinch but Mattila slips to the side

and Mattila counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Murchulenko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mattila has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Murchulenko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mattila's brow.
Mattila unloads a knee to the mid-section. Murchulenko lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Murchulenko is trying to break free.
Murchulenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Murchulenko takes an elbow to the forehead.
Murchulenko connects with a knee to the head.
Murchulenko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mattila has him pressed against the cage.
Murchulenko wants to break free but Mattila has control.
Mattila throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Murchulenko blocks it with crossed arms.
Mattila goes for a takedown attempt but Murchulenko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mattila blocks a head kick by Murchulenko.
Mattila blocks a head kick by Murchulenko.
Mattila shoots for a double leg takedown but Murchulenko sprawls well. He's pushed Mattila's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Markus Mattila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murchulenko stuffs the takedown attempt from Mattila. Mattila gets slowly back to his feet.
Mattila will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wladimir Murchulenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murchulenko throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mattila's head.
A head kick by Murchulenko misses

and Mattila counters by clinching up.
Mattila using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Murchulenko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mattila is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Murchulenko wants to break free but Mattila has control.
Mattila tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Murchulenko just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mattila using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Mattila has Murchulenko pressed against the cage, preventing Murchulenko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Murchulenko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Murchulenko tries to break free but Mattila pushes him back against the cage.
Murchulenko tries to break free but Mattila pushes him back against the cage.
Mattila drops down looking for an ankle pick but Murchulenko pulls his leg out and moves away.
A punch combination from Murchulenko misses.

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.
Murchulenko misses with the combination.
Murchulenko takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Mattila doesn't manage to clinch there - Murchulenko circles away.
Murchulenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Murchulenko. No joy for Mattila on that attempt.
Murchulenko fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mattila is out of range.

Mattila closes the distance and clinches.

Murchulenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mattila tries to clinch up.
Murchulenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murchulenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Murchulenko rushes Mattila and presses him up against the cage.
Murchulenko throws a knee to the head but misses.
Murchulenko trying to control the position but instead, Mattila has worked for underhooks and has pushed Murchulenko into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wladimir Murchulenko dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mattila gets the takedown into side control.
Murchulenko tries to control but Mattila manages to take his back.

Mattila working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mattila has the hooks in. Murchulenko is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Murchulenko fending off the submission attempt from Mattila.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murchulenko trying to control the action but Mattila just sinks the hooks in.
I really don't envy Murchulenko right now.
Mattila doesn't have the hooks in and Murchulenko manages to turn into his guard.
Murchulenko landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Mattila working for a triangle but Murchulenko defends it easily.
Murchulenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Murchulenko trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mattila's guard.
Murchulenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mattila looking to hit a scissor sweep but Murchulenko is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Murchulenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murchulenko cracks Mattila with a solid left hand.
Murchulenko throwing strikes but missing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mattila misses with a body kick.
Murchulenko throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mattila's head.
Mattila moves in looking to clinch but Murchulenko pushes him off.
Murchulenko tries a head kick but it misses.

Mattila shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Murchulenko napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Murchulenko manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Mattila looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murchulenko thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Mattila to regain full guard.
Murchulenko throws and elbow that misses. Mattila uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Murchulenko's guard. Nice move by Mattila!
Mattila passes Murchulenko's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Murchulenko is looking to control Mattila's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Murchulenko avoid being mounted?
Murchulenko is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Mattila dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Murchulenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mattila darts in trying to clinch
and Murchulenko counters with a one-two to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mattila lands with a nice body kick.

Mattila has Murchulenko up against the cage in a clinch.
Mattila comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A frustrated look appears on Murchulenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Murchulenko takes a knee right on the jaw!
Murchulenko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mattila.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mattila lands a damaging elbow.

Mattila drags the fight down to the ground.
Murchulenko throws a big right hand that misses.

Murchulenko throws a sloppy strike and Mattila has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Murchulenko is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Mattila!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Markus Mattila!