PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Melko Murkula (ranked 6545 p4p, 684 weight class) and Kan Harvey (ranked 6641 p4p, 691 weight class). Melko Murkula has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Murkula
vs
Harvey

200 cm
20
204 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Dauntless
KAGED

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Melko Murkula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kan Harvey!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murkula buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Harvey closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Harvey - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Harvey has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Murkula avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Harvey manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Harvey holds on and takes a little breather.
Harvey trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Harvey keeping moving, preventing Murkula from controlling successfully.
Murkula postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harvey pulls Murkula in close to prevent any damage.
Murkula has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Harvey throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Murkula will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Murkula accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harvey preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Harvey avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Murkula with a flurry of punches that miss.
Harvey keeping full guard, as Murkula tries to pass.

Harvey pushes Murkula off and scrambles back to his feet.
Murkula keeps Harvey at a distance using the push kick.
Harvey shoots in but no luck this time.
Murkula fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice sprawl there from Murkula as Harvey shoots in.
Melko Murkula has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kan Harvey.
Murkula displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Kan Harvey has been cut.
Murkula feints a jab promting Harvey to slip. Murkula then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Harvey slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Harvey moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harvey tries to score a body lock takedown but Murkula shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Murkula has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Harvey successfully pulls guard.

Harvey has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Murkula has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Murkula can't break the clinch.
Harvey has Murkula pressed against the cage.
Murkula wants to break the clinch but can't.
Murkula tries to circle away but Harvey has him pinned against the cage.
Harvey tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Murkula avoids it.
Harvey tries to pull guard but Murkula forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harvey successfully pulls guard.
Harvey avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Murkula throws a big elbow that misses.
Murkula throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Harvey looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Murkula postures up and lands a big shot to Harvey's brow.

Harvey has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Murkula can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Harvey looks winded!

Harvey is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Murkula is aware though and is defending well.
Murkula throwing strikes from guard but Harvey blocks nicely.
Murkula working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Murkula pushes down on Harvey's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murkula not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Murkula throws a strike but Harvey avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Harvey looking to hit a scissor sweep but Murkula is one step ahead there.
Murkula trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Harvey scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Murkula.
Murkula misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Melko Murkula is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Harvey throws a head kick that misses.
Murkula moves out of range as Harvey throws a body kick.
Murkula pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kan Harvey will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kan Harvey's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Harvey shoots in for a takedown but Murkula shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Murkula misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Murkula.
Harvey with a poor takedown
and Murkula counters with a one-two to the body.

Harvey closes the distance and pushes Murkula back into the cage.
Harvey looking for a takedown.
Melko Murkula has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kan Harvey.

Harvey gets control of Murkula's arms and successfully pulls guard. Harvey will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Harvey working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Murkula.
Murkula stopping the sweep attempt from Harvey.
Murkula throws an elbow that misses. Harvey uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Murkula's guard. Nice move by Harvey!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murkula being controlled here, momentarily.
Harvey is breathing heavily.
Murkula wants to hit a switch here but Harvey passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Murkula there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harvey prevents Murkula from getting the reversal.
Murkula bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Murkula throwing strikes but missing.

Harvey isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Murkula stacks Harvey on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Murkula!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Murkula throws an elbow but Harvey slips to the side and avoids it well.
Murkula definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Harvey manages to work his way to half guard, despite Murkula's best efforts.
Harvey makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Harvey.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Murkula accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harvey bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Murkula's guard.

Harvey controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Harvey passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harvey looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Harvey perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Harvey works his way into full mount!
Murkula is working to get back to half guard.
Murkula tries to improve his position but instead Harvey has taken his back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Murkula is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Murkula is covering up but some of the strikes from Harvey are getting through and doing damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kan Harvey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kan Harvey's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Murkula pushes Harvey away with a front kick.
Melko Murkula seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murkula misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murkula lands with a kick to the ribs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Harvey.
Harvey shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Harvey shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Murkula but Murkula pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Melko Murkula has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kan Harvey.
Murkula slaps away a takedown attempt from Harvey, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Harvey.
Murkula lands with a thumping leg kick.
Harvey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Murkula digs a good hook to Harvey's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harvey steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Murkula. That one must have hurt.
Murkula throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Harvey.
Harvey tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Harvey shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Harvey showed some decent athleticism there.
Murkula punching from the bottom.
Murkula is looking for a sweep. Harvey is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Harvey slows the pace down in half guard.
Murkula throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murkula is looking to improve his position.
Murkula wants to get back to full guard but Harvey has mounted him!
Murkula keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Harvey tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harvey working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Harvey connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Harvey lands a nice shot to the head.
Harvey controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harvey dominating with strikes here.
Murkula is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Harvey controlling from mount.

Harvey is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Murkula to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Murkula shrugs it off.
Melko Murkula has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kan Harvey is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harvey tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

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 Melko Murkula.
I think Harvey 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Melko Murkula!
The defeated Kan Harvey had this to say: 'That was tough but I will return strong.'.