PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Juan Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Murt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dos Santos comes into the arena with Sugar We Going Down blaring out of the sound system. Murt comes into a darkened arena with his song building. I like to move it kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Dos Santos
vs
Murt

175 cm
23
130 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

173 cm
23
144 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q160 *Christmas Sale*

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juan Dos Santos !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Murt!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Murt has Dos Santos up against the cage in a clinch.
Murt stalling the fight.
Dos Santos drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Murt with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Murt will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dos Santos up against the cage.
Murt misses with a knee strike.
Murt is trying to break the clinch but Dos Santos has him pressed against the cage.
Murt has Dos Santos pressed against the cage.
Murt with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murt with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Murt with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Murt with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dos Santos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Murt gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Murt pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Dos Santos really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Murt slowing the pace effectively.
Murt throws a knee to the head but misses.
Murt tries to land a knee to the head but Dos Santos blocks with his arms.
Murt throws an elbow but it misses.
Murt is pressed up against the cage. Dos Santos has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Murt down to the mat. Murt avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Dos Santos . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Murt gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murt tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Murt creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Murt wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dos Santos blocks an elbow strike.
Murt is trying to stall.
Murt misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dos Santos .
Dos Santos dodges an elbow strike from Murt.
Dos Santos blocks an elbow strike.
Murt scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Juan Dos Santos has been cut.
Murt creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Dos Santos has Murt pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Dos Santos pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Murt tumbling to the mat - Dos Santos dives into Murt's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Murt is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Murt is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Murt has escaped and now he's on top!
Murt content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murt trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Matthew Murt has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Dos Santos tries to keep at a distance but Murt has taken the fight into the clinch.
Murt lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Dos Santos is rocked!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dos Santos is trying to drag Murt to the mat but Murt just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Murt displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dos Santos up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Murt dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Juan Dos Santos 's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Murt has managed to clinch.
Dos Santos blocks an elbow strike.
Murt tries to land a knee to the head but Dos Santos blocks with his arms.
Dos Santos blocks an elbow strike from Murt.
Dos Santos takes an elbow to the temple.

Murt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Murt fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dos Santos , pushing him back against the cage.
Murt misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dos Santos .

Murt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Murt closes the distance and clinches.

Murt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murt gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Murt breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Murt moves into the clinch successfully.
Murt throws a knee to the head but misses.
Murt wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Murt with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees to the body from Murt.
Murt misses with a knee strike.
Matthew Murt seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Murt is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Murt misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos blocks an elbow strike from Murt.

Murt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Murt moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murt throws an elbow that misses.
Dos Santos is looking for a takedown.
Murt tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Murt lands a damaging elbow.
Dos Santos keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Murt's efforts to push away.
Dos Santos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Murt gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Dos Santos gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos has gone for a leg lock! Murt slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dos Santos 's guard.

Murt decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Murt closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Murt avoiding damage.
Murt tries a knee to the head but Dos Santos blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murt looking to throw knees to the head but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.
Murt trying to land knees to the body.
Murt pushes off an throws an elbow but Dos Santos leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Murt is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dos Santos is defending well for now.
Murt throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Murt tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Murt breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Murt closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dos Santos wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Dos Santos . That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dos Santos avoids the elbow strike from Murt, against the cage.
Murt missing with knees to the body.
Dos Santos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Murt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Juan Dos Santos 's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dos Santos avoids the head kick by Murt.
Murt misses with a hook

and Dos Santos counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dos Santos .

Dos Santos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Murt is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Murt has escaped and now he's on top!

Murt stands up and waves to Dos Santos to follow him.

Murt closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos takes a knee right on the jaw!
Dos Santos takes an elbow to the temple.
Come on Murt - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Murt taking a breather.
Dos Santos blocks an elbow strike.
Dos Santos avoiding damage as Murt throws knees to the body.
Dos Santos can't get the takedown.
Dos Santos letting Murt take a breather here.
Murt wants to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is looking for a takedown.
Murt lands a damaging elbow.
Dos Santos tries for a takedown but Murt manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Dos Santos . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murt looking to throw knees to the head but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.
Dos Santos takes an elbow to the forehead.

Juan Dos Santos 's cut is getting worse.
Dos Santos is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Murt is defending well.
With the fighters up against the cage, Murt throws an elbow but misses.
Murt stalling against the cage.
Murt misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murt looking to throw knees to the head but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.
Murt lands a good knee to the midsection. Dos Santos won't want to take too many of those.
Murt putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Dos Santos in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Murt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Murt throws a head kick that misses.
A lazy body kick from Murt

and Dos Santos counters with a shoot takedown. Murt fights it but they end up in guard.
Murt seems keen to control Dos Santos 's posture.
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!

Dos Santos postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Murt is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dos Santos , into his guard.
Matthew Murt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Murt trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matthew Murt was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Dos Santos tries to keep at a distance but Murt has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dos Santos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murt just leaning against Dos Santos , taking a breather.
Juan Dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murt creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dos Santos 's defenses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Murt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Murt winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Murt!
An out of breath Matthew Murt thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.