PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mareike Murmann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryder Irvine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Murmann
vs
Irvine

173 cm
21
160 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

178 cm
20
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

New Era Nutrition (156Q REC/STA $50)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mareike Murmann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryder Irvine!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Irvine tries to close the distance and clinch up but Murmann swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Murmann looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Murmann is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Murmann slips under a jab.
Irvine fails to land with a series of punches.
Irvine misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Irvine dives in and grabs Murmann's left leg, looking for a takedown. Murmann pushes down on Irvine's head and hops out.
Irvine throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Murmann.
No luck for Irvine with that takedown attempt.
Irvine misses with a wild combination.
Irvine misses with a series of wild punches.
Irvine throws a push kick but Murmann slaps the foot to one side.
Ryder Irvine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murmann doesn't manage to clinch there - Irvine circles away.
Murmann swings for the body but Irvine moves out of range.
Murmann throws a right and a left that Irvine avoids nicely.
Irvine throws a left and a right that both miss

and Murmann counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Murmann.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Irvine's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Irvine breaks the clinch.

Murmann drives through and clinches with Irvine against the cage.

Irvine breaks from the clinch.
Irvine misses with the combination.
Irvine circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murmann tries a head kick but it misses.
The fighters circling - Irvine throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Murmann throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Irvine fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Irvine gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Murmann drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Irvine gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A left hand lands to the body for Irvine.

Irvine breaks the clinch.
Irvine throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irvine throws a sloppy head kick and Murmann moves out of range easily.
Murmann throws a right and a left that Irvine avoids nicely.
Irvine misses with a straight left.
Irvine checks the leg kick.
Murmann wants to clinch.
Irvine fails to land with a series of punches.
Irvine shoots in for a double leg but Murmann sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mareike Murmann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryder Irvine.
Irvine throws a combination that misses
and Murmann counters with a nice body shot.
Irvine misses with a few strikes there.
Murmann avoids a punch combination nicely.
Murmann falls off balance throwing a combination

and Irvine counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Irvine with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irvine trying to control the position from guard on top but Murmann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Irvine stays in close to Murmann's body and controls the position.
Irvine stops Murmann from standing up.
Irvine is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Murmann is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Irvine is stalling in the full guard.
Murmann wants to get back to his feet but Irvine is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Irvine is pushing down on Murmann's leg trying to pass to half guard. Murmann is fighting to maintain full guard but Irvine has managed to sneak the leg through.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryder Irvine dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A jab from Irvine does it's job there.
Mareike Murmann is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Irvine swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Murmann counters with a thumping low kick.
Murmann throws a head kick that misses.
Irvine lands an overhand right.
Murmann takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Some wild striking there from Irvine.
Murmann throws a head kick but Irvine moves out of range.
Irvine is trying hard to land a takedown here. Murmann sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Murmann fails in his attempt to clinch.
Irvine scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Irvine throws a combination. Murmann tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Murmann moves in looking to clinch but Irvine pushes him off.
Irvine lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Irvine.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A combination from Irvine does no damage.
Murmann slips a jab and a cross from Irvine.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murmann takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Murmann tries to clinch but Irvine moves away
enabling Irvine to counter with a crisp jab.
Mareike Murmann is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Decent striking displayed by Irvine there.
Murmann misses with a head kick.
Irvine throws a right and a left that Murmann avoids nicely.
Murmann plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Irvine throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Murmann.

Irvine has managed to clinch.
Nice body punch from Irvine.

Irvine pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Irvine.
Murmann doesn't manage to clinch there - Irvine circles away.
Irvine misses with a jab, cross combination.
Irvine throws a lazy head kick
and Murmann counters with a nice uppercut.
Irvine misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Irvine misses with a combination
letting Murmann counter with a right hand.
No joy there for Irvine, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Irvine misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Irvine swats away the attempt to clinch by Murmann.
Murmann tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Irvine paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Irvine takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Murmann tries to keep at a distance but Irvine has taken the fight into the clinch.

Irvine breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murmann keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Irvine.
Murmann looks to clinch
and Irvine counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Murmann tries to close the distance and clinch up but Irvine swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Irvine lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Murmann backs up against the cage.
Murmann avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irvine misses with a double jab

and Murmann counters by clinching up.
Murmann keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Irvine's efforts to push away.
Murmann tries to pull guard but Irvine won't allow it.

Irvine's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Murmann takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Irvine scores a takedown into full mount!
Irvine tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Irvine goes for an armbar but Murmann turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Murmann.
Irvine has control of Murmann's left arm, preventing Murmann from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murmann landing some decent shots from guard.
Murmann won't allow Irvine to sweep him here.
Irvine keeping moving, preventing Murmann from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryder Irvine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Irvine throws a combination that misses
and Murmann counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A chopping leg kick lands by Irvine.
Irvine lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Irvine.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Irvine is defended easily by Murmann.
Irvine throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Murmann.
Irvine throws a big shot that misses.
A jab from Irvine does it's job there.
Irvine throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Murmann.
Murmann avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left lands for Murmann.
Irvine moves in looking to clinch but Murmann pushes him off.
Murmann avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Irvine instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Irvine pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Murmann misses.
Murmann takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Murmann tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Irvine paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murmann clinches but Irvine breaks the clinch
and Irvine cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Irvine has a takedown stuffed.
Good exchange - Murmann coming out on top.
Murmann lands with a kick to the ribs.
Irvine throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Murmann counters with a good low kick that Irvine was not able to check.
Irvine circles away from the clinch attempt
and Irvine counters with a stiff right hand.
Irvine misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Irvine throws a big shot that misses.
Murmann looks to land a combination but Irvine avoids it well.
Irvine misses with a two punch combination.
Murmann takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Irvine goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Murmann throws a one two combo.
Murmann fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Irvine.
Murmann ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Irvine fails to land the takedown.
Mareike Murmann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryder Irvine.
Murmann tries to clinch but Irvine is having none of it.
Some bone on bone action there as Irvine checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A jab from Irvine finds it's way through Murmann's defenses.
Irvine is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Murmann.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irvine moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Irvine misses with a combination
and Murmann counters with a nice body shot.
Irvine fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Irvine throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Irvine misses with a series of wild punches.
Decent striking displayed by Murmann there.
Irvine misses with a two punch combination.
Murmann slips a straight right by Irvine.
Murmann tries to clinch up but Irvine circles away and keeps his distance.
Irvine throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Murmann wants to clinch up but Irvine keeps it at a distance.
Irvine has his takedown stuffed
and Murmann counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Irvine is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Irvine misses with a combination
and Murmann counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Irvine throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Murmann counters with a nice leg kick.
A good leg kick by Murmann.
Murmann moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Irvine doesn't manage to clinch there - Murmann circles away.
Ryder Irvine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Irvine misses with a double jab
and Murmann counters with a good, hard body kick but Irvine shrugs it off.
Irvine circles away from the clinch attempt.
Irvine looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Murmann fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Irvine throws a combination that misses
and Murmann cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Irvine avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Irvine rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Murmann moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mareike Murmann has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Irvine cracks Murmann with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ryder Irvine.
Well Irvine has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryder Irvine!