PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Herra Mursu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marit Larsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Herra Mursu has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mursu
vs
Larsson

215 cm
20
281 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

199 cm
22
275 lbs
2 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Herra Mursu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Marit Larsson!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Mursu circles away.
Mursu misses with a few strikes there.
Mursu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Larsson clinches up against the cage.
Mursu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Larsson tries a knee to the head but Mursu blocks it.

Larsson manages to break the clinch.
Larsson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Larsson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Larsson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mursu tries to avoid it but Larsson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mursu to the ground. Mursu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Larsson shoots in for a takedown but Mursu shows good takedown defense.
A punch combination from Mursu misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larsson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mursu lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Larsson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Herra Mursu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marit Larsson.
Mursu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Larsson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Mursu both land. Nice combination.
Mursu swats away the attempt to clinch by Larsson.
Larsson tries to close the distance and clinch but Mursu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Larsson looks gassed!
Mursu is looking to clinch.
Mursu moves in looking to clinch but Larsson pushes him off.
Larsson chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Larsson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Larsson has Mursu pressed against the cage, preventing Mursu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Larsson connects with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Larsson.
Larsson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Larsson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Larsson gets control of Mursu's arms and successfully pulls guard. Larsson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mursu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mursu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mursu prevents Larsson from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mursu won't allow Larsson to sweep him here.
Mursu is looking to stand up but Larsson won't let him.

Larsson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
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!
Larsson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Larsson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Mursu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsson wants to clinch up but Mursu keeps it at a distance.
Larsson tries to clinch up but Mursu circles away and keeps his distance.
Larsson is looking to clinch but Mursu is avoiding it.

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

Mursu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Mursu decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsson tries to clinch up but Mursu circles away and keeps his distance.
Mursu looks to land a combination but Larsson avoids it well.
Larsson throws a nice outside leg kick.

Larsson closes the distance and clinches.
Larsson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Mursu takes an elbow to the forehead.

Larsson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mursu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Larsson.
Mursu doesn't manage to clinch there - Larsson circles away.

Larsson moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Larsson lands a nice knee to the body.
Larsson lands a left hand.
Larsson leaning against his opponent.
A frustrated look appears on Mursu's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marit Larsson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Larsson tries to clinch but Mursu is having none of it.

Mursu pushes Larsson up against the cage in a clinch.
Mursu drops down looking for an ankle pick but Larsson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Larsson lands with a kick to the temple. Mursu shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Larsson drives through and clinches with Mursu against the cage.
Larsson scores a nice knee to the body.
Larsson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Larsson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Larsson lands an elbow that stopped Mursu in his tracks for a moment.

Larsson decides to pull guard.
Larsson trying to keep a closed guard but Mursu is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Larsson keeping moving, preventing Mursu from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Mursu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Mursu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Larsson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Larsson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Mursu wants to clinch.

Larsson has Mursu up against the cage in a clinch.
Mursu is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson with a knee to the head.
Larsson lands a knee to the head.
Larsson is stalling here.
Mursu tries to pull guard but Larsson holds him up against the cage and eventually Mursu drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herra Mursu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mursu is trying to break the clinch but Larsson has him pressed against the cage.
Larsson leaning his opponent against the cage.

Larsson breaks the clinch.
Mursu tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Larsson counters with a head kick.
Mursu fails to land with a series of punches.

Larsson closes the distance and pushes Mursu back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mursu takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mursu lands with a light punch inside.
Larsson landing knees to the head.
Larsson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mursu walks away with a smile on his face. Larsson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Larsson has closed the distance and engaged Mursu in a clinch.
A short left from Mursu.
Larsson lands a good knee to the midsection. Mursu won't want to take too many of those.
Mursu is trying to break free.
Larsson connects with a knee to the head.
Mursu lands a nice shot to the body.
Mursu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Larsson lands a damaging elbow.
Mursu drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Larsson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mursu fails to pull guard.
Larsson lands a nice knee to the body.
Mursu can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mursu tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Larsson lands a nice shot to the body.
Mursu letting Larsson take a breather here.
Mursu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Larsson crunches a lovely knee into Mursu's ribcage.
Nice body punch from Mursu - that landed with a thud.
Larsson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Larsson lands a good knee to the midsection. Mursu won't want to take too many of those.

Larsson manages to break the clinch.
Mursu lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Mursu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Larsson fails to land the takedown.
Larsson keeps the fight on the outside.
Larsson tries for a takedown but Mursu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Larsson moves in looking to clinch but Mursu pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marit Larsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mursu closes the distance and clinches.
Larsson is pushing Mursu up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Larsson has a couple of punches blocked by Mursu.
Larsson lands a knee to the body.
Larsson can't get the takedown.
Larsson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Larsson scores a nice knee to the body.
Larsson wants a takedown but no success here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Larsson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Larsson jumps guard but Mursu stands there with Larsson around his waist. Larsson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Herra Mursu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marit Larsson.
Larsson lands an elbow just above Mursu 's eye.
Mursu working hard to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Larsson lands a knee to the body.
Larsson tries to land a knee to the head but Mursu blocks with his arms.
Mursu is trying to break the clinch but Larsson is controlling him.

Larsson manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mursu counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Larsson!
Larsson wants to control but Mursu is having none of it.
Mursu thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Mursu swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Larsson is now in Mursu's guard. A big mistake from Mursu there, giving up the dominant position!
Larsson passes into half guard.
Larsson trying to control from half guard but Mursu is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mursu wants to control but Larsson passes into side.
Mursu tries to bench press Larsson off him but Larsson keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A slow jab from Mursu misses its intended target.
Larsson wants to clinch

and Mursu holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Larsson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Larsson lands a knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Larsson.
Larsson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Larsson working Mursu over with knees to the body.
Marit Larsson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mursu tries to pull guard but Larsson holds him up against the cage and eventually Mursu drops back down to his feet.
Larsson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Larsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mursu moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Larsson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mursu.
Mursu tries to clinch

and Larsson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Larsson.
Mursu prevents the takedown attempt.
Larsson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Larsson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A right hand to the body from Larsson.
Larsson gets underhooks to prevent Mursu's takedown attempt.
Mursu can't break the clinch.
Larsson lands a damaging elbow.
Larsson with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Larsson.

Mursu tightens his grip and picks Larsson up, before dumping him to the ground. Larsson manages to land in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mursu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Herra Mursu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marit Larsson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mursu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Herra Mursu.
I think Larsson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Marit Larsson!