PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Guster Spencer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jussi Murikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spencer's entrance music is A Country Boy Can Survive. A fine choice. Murikka comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Rock'n'Rolla kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Jussi Murikka has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Spencer
vs
Murikka

179 cm
27
169 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

170 cm
29
164 lbs
23 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Guster Spencer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Murikka!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spencer just misses with a punch to the body.
Spencer misses with a body shot.
Murikka takes a jab right on the kisser.

Spencer gets a takedown into half guard.
Spencer is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murikka is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Murikka wants to control but Spencer is having none of it.
Spencer is landing with some decent strikes but Murikka is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Spencer misses with some ground and pound and Murikka recovers position to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spencer prevents Murikka from improving his position.
Spencer passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spencer breaks from Murikka's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Murikka holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Spencer tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Murikka taking shots to the head.
Spencer scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Spencer prevents Murikka from getting the reversal.

Spencer jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Murikka manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Spencer throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Murikka works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Spencer scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spencer is trying to control. Murikka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Murikka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Spencer.
Spencer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Murikka's head.
Spencer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Murikka is trying to control but can't.
Murikka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Spencer.
Spencer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Murikka defending well though.
Spencer trying to control the action but Murikka is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spencer is nestled in close to Murikka, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Spencer is looking for a kimura here.
Murikka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Spencer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murikka is trying to control but can't.
Spencer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Spencer trying to control the action but Murikka is working from the bottom.
Spencer trying to pass the guard but Murikka defending well.
Spencer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Murikka's head.

Murikka is defending against the submission attempts here by Spencer.
Spencer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Spencer there.
Spencer works his way into side control.
Murikka wants to control but Spencer postures up.

Spencer decides to stand back up.
Spencer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Murikka is fending him off so far but Spencer persists. Nope, Murikka circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Murikka.
Spencer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Spencer falls off balance throwing a combination
and Murikka counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Spencer is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spencer lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Spencer keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Spencer throws a sloppy head kick and Murikka moves out of range easily.
Spencer moves out of range of the leg kick from Murikka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guster Spencer dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Spencer throws a hook to the side of Murikka's head but Murikka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Spencer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Spencer jabs Murikka to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Murikka checks a low kick from Spencer.
Murikka digs a good body shot into Spencer's ribs.
Spencer misses with a right hand
and Murikka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Spencer lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Murikka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Spencer misses with a hook. Murikka ducked under it nicely.

Spencer closes the distance and pushes Murikka back into the cage.
Spencer stalling in the clinch but Murikka improves position.
Murikka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Murikka blocks a body shot from Spencer.
Spencer throws a knee to the head but misses.
Spencer is trying to maintain a safe position but Murikka gets an underhook and turns Spencer into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spencer looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Murikka lands a body punch in the clinch.
Murikka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Guster Spencer has been cut.
Spencer working aggressively here.
Murikka misses with a body punch.
Spencer blocking some punches.
Spencer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Murikka.
A short right from Spencer.
The referee is keeping an eye on Spencer - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Murikka takes a shot to the head.
Murikka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murikka blocking some punches.
Murikka blocking some punches.
A short left from Spencer.
Murikka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murikka stalling the fight.
Murikka prevents a body shot from Spencer.
Murikka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Murikka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Murikka manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Spencer wants to break the clinch but can't.
Murikka wants to stall.
Spencer tries to work over Murikka's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Spencer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Spencer tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Murikka avoids it.
Murikka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Spencer backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spencer misses with a hook to the ribs.
A shot in the inside from Spencer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short right from Spencer.
Spencer has a couple of punches blocked by Murikka.
Murikka looking for a takedown.
Murikka takes a shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Spencer.
Spencer tries to stall but Murikka uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Murikka lands with a short shot to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Spencer throws an elbow but misses.
Spencer blocks an uppercut.
Spencer throws a punch but it's blocked by Murikka.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Spencer takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Murikka drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Spencer gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Murikka comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Spencer stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Spencer misses with the head strike.
Murikka throws an elbow that misses.
Spencer working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Spencer looking to throw knees to the head but Murikka is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch on the inside from Spencer fails to land.
Murikka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Spencer pressing his opponent against the cage.
Spencer trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guster Spencer dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Guster Spencer's cut.
That's time! Spencer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Spencer throws out a loose jab but Murikka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Spencer throws a leg kick but Murikka moved away.
Murikka cracks Spencer with an open hand slap.
Spencer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Murikka shoots in and gets a takedown into Spencer's guard.
Murikka trying to control but Spencer is working from the bottom.
Murikka controls from within his opponent's guard.
Spencer is trying to control the position but Murikka postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spencer wants to sweep but no luck.
Spencer has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A big left from Spencer misses.
Spencer misses with a looping right.
Spencer feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Murikkas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A bone on bone clash there as Spencer blocks the leg kick.
Spencer cracks a nice hook into Murikka's ribs.
Spencer dives in and grabs Murikka's left leg, looking for a takedown. Murikka pushes down on Spencer's head and hops out.
Murikka tries to bum rush Spencer with a series of wild strikes but Spencer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A jab from Murikka misses.
Spencer throws a body punch but Murikka moves out of range.
Murikka moves out of range as Spencer strikes.
Murikka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Murikka.
Guster Spencer is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murikka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Spencer stuns Murikka with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Murikka defending well as Spencer loads up on a big left hand.
Spencer fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Murikka looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Murikka throws a leg kick that misses.
Spencer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Murikka feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Spencer's calf.
Spencer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A jab from Spencer misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murikka tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Murikka connects with a good right hand that stumbles Spencer. Spencer circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Murikka slips under a jab.
Spencer throws a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer is trying hard to land a takedown here. Murikka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Spencer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Murikka pinned against the cage. Murikka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guster Spencer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Murikka misses with a head kick.
Spencer scores with a hook.
A punch combination from Murikka misses.
Spencer swings for the body but Murikka moves out of range.
A big right from Spencer misses.
Spencer throws the left hand but Murikka avoids the punch easily.
Jussi Murikka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murikka attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A head kick misses from Murikka.
Guster Spencer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spencer has taken the fight to the clinch.
Spencer throws a head punch that misses.
Spencer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Murikka stalling in the clinch but Spencer improves position.
Spencer tries to throw a body punch but Murikka avoids it by throwing Spencer back against the cage.
Guster Spencer has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Spencer pushes Murikka back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Murikka lands an uppercut.
Spencer makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spencer misses with an elbow strike.
Spencer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Murikka.
Murikka lands an elbow inside.

Murikka breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Spencer moves into the clinch successfully.
Murikka tries to work over Spencer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Murikka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Murikka misses with an elbow over the top.

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 Guster Spencer.
Well Spencer has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guster Spencer!
An intense looking Guster Spencer took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Train by day, Joe Rogan podcast by night. All day!'.