PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Malig Murskaa (ranked 3268 p4p, 2746 weight class) and Gatimu Wanjiku (ranked 304 p4p, 265 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Murskaa
vs
Wanjiku

178 cm
23
158
6 - 8 - 0

179 cm
21
170
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Malig Murskaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gatimu Wanjiku!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wanjiku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murskaa manages to avoid it.
Murskaa seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Wanjiku misses with a low kick.
A big right from Wanjiku misses.
Murskaa tries to counter by clinching up but Wanjiku breaks away and moves out of range.
Murskaa looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A swing and a miss from Murskaa.
Wanjiku swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Wanjiku connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Murskaa's hands.
Murskaa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Wanjiku doesn't seem bothered though.
A nice leg kick lands there from Murskaa.
Murskaa throws a hook but Wanjiku blocks it.
A big right from Wanjiku misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murskaa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wanjiku fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Murskaa is out of range.
Murskaa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Wanjiku has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Murskaa slips a straight right by Wanjiku.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wanjiku is looking to chop away at Murskaa's legs.
Murskaa is looking to clinch but Wanjiku is avoiding it.
Wanjiku lands with a straight right. Murskaa didn't see that one coming.
Murskaa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wanjiku.
Wanjiku is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Murskaa.
Murskaa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Wanjiku let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Wanjiku throws an overhand right that lands on Murskaa's shoulder, as Murskaa tries to avoid the shot.
Murskaa was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Wanjiku shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Murskaa manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Murskaa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wanjiku defends it easily.

Murskaa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murskaa controls Wanjiku momentarily but Wanjiku frees himself.
Wanjiku is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Murskaa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wanjiku is aware though and is defending well.

Murskaa has his foot on Wanjiku's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Wanjiku works his way back into a safe position though.
Murskaa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Murskaa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murskaa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Wanjiku passes into side control.
Murskaa tries to bench press Wanjiku off him but Wanjiku keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murskaa manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Murskaa is looking for a kimura here.

Murskaa trying to work for an americana but Wanjiku has managed to regain full guard.
Murskaa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wanjiku is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murskaa wants to control from the top but Wanjiku keeps moving.
Murskaa stops Wanjiku from standing up.
Murskaa wants to pass the guard but Wanjiku is keeping the position.

Murskaa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Murskaa trying to control but Wanjiku is working from the bottom.
Murskaa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wanjiku swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Murskaa trying to control but Wanjiku is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gatimu Wanjiku will probably get the nod.
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.

Murskaa misses with a hook. Wanjiku ducked under it nicely.
Gatimu Wanjiku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murskaa tries to clinch up but Wanjiku circles away and keeps his distance.
Wanjiku takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Wanjiku fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wanjiku lands a body shot.
A punch lands to the side of Murskaa 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wanjiku lands a nice hook to Murskaa's body. Murskaa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A solid leg kick lands there for Murskaa.
Wanjiku scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Wanjiku lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Murskaa at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wanjiku throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Murskaa is looking to counter punch.
Wanjiku rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Murskaa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Murskaa's corner calls for a 1-2. Murskaa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Wanjiku scores with a body shot.
Wanjiku moves out of range of the body kick from Murskaa.
Murskaa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wanjiku.
An attempted straight right counter from Murskaa misses the target.
Wanjiku is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Wanjiku fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Murskaa on the side of the head.
Wanjiku works over Murskaa's head and body with a nice combination.
Wanjiku has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wanjiku takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Murskaa connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murskaa thumps Wanjiku with a low kick.
Wanjiku tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murskaa was well out of range. Poor timing from Wanjiku.
Murskaa slips under a jab.
Gatimu Wanjiku seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wanjiku avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Wanjiku throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wanjiku scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Murskaa tries to clinch but Wanjiku is having none of it.
Murskaa fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Murskaa moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Wanjiku jabs at Murskaa's body.
Murskaa throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Murskaa lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Wanjiku has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Wanjiku and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Murskaa darts in and clinches Wanjiku up against the cage.
Murskaa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wanjiku misses with the head strike.
Knees to the body from Murskaa.
Wanjiku blocking some punches.
Murskaa lands a hook that snaps the head of Wanjiku backwards.
Murskaa is trying to maintain a safe position but Wanjiku gets an underhook and turns Murskaa into the cage.
Murskaa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Murskaa swings wildly with an uppercut but Wanjiku uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wanjiku doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wanjiku cracks Murskaa with a nice body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Murskaa fails to land.
Murskaa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Wanjiku's elbow.
Wanjiku tries to throw a body punch but Murskaa avoids it by throwing Wanjiku back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wanjiku swings wildly with an uppercut but Murskaa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Knees to the body from Murskaa.
Murskaa prevents a body shot from Wanjiku.
Wanjiku prevents a body shot from Murskaa.
A short right from Murskaa on the inside.

Murskaa jumps guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Murskaa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Wanjiku sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Murskaa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Wanjiku passes into side control.
Murskaa is trying to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gatimu Wanjiku will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Murskaa misses with a wild body shot.
Wanjiku looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Wanjiku lands a right hook to the body.
Murskaa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wanjiku misses with a hook
and Murskaa counters with a leg kick.
Murskaa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Wanjiku misses with a looping right.
As Wanjiku backs away, Murskaa returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Wanjiku jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wanjiku throws a leg kick that misses.
Murskaa misses with a leg kick.
Murskaa tries to clinch but Wanjiku moves away
and Wanjiku counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murskaa misses with a leg kick
and Wanjiku counters with a left to the body.
Murskaa just misses with a punch to the body.
A nice side step and Wanjiku releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Murskaa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wanjiku fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Murskaa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Murskaa throws an overhand right that lands on Wanjiku's shoulder, as Wanjiku tries to avoid the shot.
Wanjiku lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Wanjiku throws a leg kick but Murskaa moved away.
A swing and a miss from Murskaa.
Wanjiku throws a body punch but Murskaa moves out of range.
Wanjiku digs a good hook to Murskaa's body.
Wanjiku blocks a leg kick.
Wanjiku was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murskaa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Wanjiku lands a jab to the nose.
Wanjiku tries a low kick but Murskaa avoids it.
Wanjiku tried to score with a low kick but Murskaa checks it.
A slow jab from Wanjiku misses its intended target.
Murskaa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Wanjiku's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
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!
A combination from Wanjiku does no damage.
As Wanjiku tries to get set, Murskaa tries to push him back and clinch up but Wanjiku manages to avoid the attempt.
Wanjiku closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A jab from Murskaa misses.
Wanjiku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murskaa manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Wanjiku finds it's target.
Murskaa connects with a nice looking jab.
Wanjiku throws a shot to the body.
Wanjiku does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A chopping leg kick lands by Wanjiku.
Wanjiku scores with a jab. Murskaa acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Wanjiku misses with a wild body shot.
Murskaa misses with a left hand
and Wanjiku connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wanjiku throws a left and a right that both miss
and Murskaa counters with a straight right hand.
Wanjiku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Murskaa.
Murskaa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Wanjiku is able to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Murskaa is predictable there
and Murskaa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Murskaa clinches up with Wanjiku and pushes him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wanjiku misses with some punches.
Wanjiku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wanjiku can't find room to land a body shot as Murskaa controls the action.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Malig Murskaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gatimu Wanjiku is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wanjiku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Murskaa tries to land a knee to the head but Wanjiku blocks with his arms.
Murskaa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Murskaa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Wanjiku avoids it.
Murskaa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Murskaa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Wanjiku backwards.

Wanjiku is rocked!
Wanjiku blocking some punches.
Wanjiku is still on wobbly legs! Can Murskaa finish him?
Murskaa misses with a punch on the inside.
Murskaa misses with a punch on the inside.
Wanjiku blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Murskaa lands with a right to the head.
Wanjiku blocking some punches.
Malig Murskaa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Murskaa jerks Wanjiku's head down, straight into the path of a devastating knee! Wanjiku drops to the floor in a crumpled heap! Murskaa goes to throw a finishing haymaker but pulls out - good sportsmanship from Murskaa because Wanjiku was completely out of it. That was a nice finish - just the right level of brutality to send everyone home happy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee). Malig Murskaa!
After winning the bout, Malig Murskaa thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.