PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Malig Murska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nishio Hiotaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nishio Hiotaki is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Murska
vs
Hiotaki

168 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Malig Murska!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nishio Hiotaki!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hiotaki misses with a head kick.
Hiotaki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Murska clinches up against the cage.

Murska successfully pulls guard.
Hiotaki stopping the sweep attempt from Murska.

Hiotaki decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hiotaki throws a head kick but Murska moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hiotaki.

Hiotaki drops Murska with a beautiful combination! Murska stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Hiotaki is looking for the KO!

It looks like Malig Murska has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hiotaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hiotaki throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Murska clinches up with Hiotaki and pushes him back against the cage.
Murska lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiotaki tries to pull guard but Murska holds him up against the cage and eventually Hiotaki drops back down to his feet.

Murska breaks the clinch.
Murska tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hiotaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hiotaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hiotaki closes the distance looking to clinch

and Murska counters with a single leg into guard. Hiotaki didn't expect that.

Murska got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hiotaki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Murska has managed to get both his arms back between Hiotaki's legs - danger averted.
Hiotaki controlling Murska's posture.

Hiotaki has an active guard here but Murska has managed to pass into half guard.
Hiotaki looks gassed!

Hiotaki has one foot on Murska's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murska moves out of range as Hiotaki throws a body kick.
Hiotaki wants to clinch but Murska slips to the side

and Murska counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hiotaki's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hiotaki keeping moving, preventing Murska from controlling successfully.

Murska stands and steps away. Hiotaki gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A head kick misses from Hiotaki.

Murska moves into the clinch.
Murska controlling the action here for a moment.

Murska has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hiotaki is trying to keep an underhook but Murska manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murska prevents Hiotaki from standing back up.

Hiotaki is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Murska pulls his head out easily.

Hiotaki looking for submissions off his back.
Murska tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Hiotaki.
Murska missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four 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.
Hiotaki wants to improve his position but Murska is controlling well.
Hiotaki regains full guard. Nicely done.

Hiotaki has an active guard here but Murska has managed to pass into half guard.

Hiotaki pushes Murska off and gets back to his feet.
Murska fails with the takedown

and Hiotaki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hiotaki.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hiotaki would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Murska trying to keep a closed guard but Hiotaki is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nishio Hiotaki will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Malig Murska's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hiotaki throws a head kick that misses

and Murska counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Murska cracks Hiotaki with a solid left hand.
Hiotaki throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Murska trying to control the position from guard on top but Hiotaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hiotaki pushes Murska off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Hiotaki throws a right and a left that Murska avoids nicely.

Murska gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hiotaki is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Murska is working an open guard so Hiotaki takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murska moves into range and clinches up with Hiotaki.
Hiotaki prevents the takedown attempt.
Hiotaki fails to pull guard.
Hiotaki wants to stall.
Knees in the clinch landing for Murska.
Hiotaki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Murska just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hiotaki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Malig Murska has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nishio Hiotaki.
Hiotaki drops down looking for an ankle pick but Murska pulls his leg out and moves away.
Malig Murska is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Murska drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Murska tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Murska postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Hiotaki's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Murska lands an elbow.
Hiotaki is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Murska asserts his dominance and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Hiotaki's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiotaki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hiotaki prevents Murska from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Murska.
Hiotaki is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Murska working away.
Hiotaki is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Murska is staying active.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiotaki is letting Murska control him for a moment.

Murska wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hiotaki, who protects the arm well.

Murska is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hiotaki knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Hiotaki bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malig Murska dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Malig Murska's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Murska fails with a takedown attempt.
Hiotaki gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Murska counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hiotaki's guard now.
Murska trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hiotaki is looking for a triangle but Murska pushes his legs off easily.

Hiotaki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Murska is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hiotaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Hiotaki working for a triangle but Murska defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hiotaki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Murska can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiotaki keeping moving, preventing Murska from controlling successfully.
Hiotaki is trying to control the position but Murska postures up.

Hiotaki is looking for a triangle here but Murska uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Murska goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hiotaki has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Murska but great work by Hiotaki.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Murska is not content to let Hiotaki control the position.
Murska can't do much from the bottom here.
Hiotaki throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hiotaki gets to mount! Murska was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Murska tries to lock up and control but Hiotaki gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Murska can't escape the position.

Hiotaki is working for a guillotine from mount but Murska frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murska tries to hold on but Hiotaki pushes him away.
Murska is squirming around, avoiding Hiotaki's attempts to control the action.
Murska is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hiotaki wants to control the pace but Murska is squirming around nicely.

Hiotaki has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Murska is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nishio Hiotaki!