PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Murk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonn Rusband (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Murk
vs
Rusband

214 cm
26
300 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

196 cm
26
314 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Murk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jonn Rusband!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Eliza Hachem and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murk wants to clinch up but Rusband keeps it at a distance.
Murk fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Murk tries to clinch but Rusband moves out of range.
Murk wants to clinch up but Rusband keeps it at a distance.
Rusband should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Murk tries to clinch up but Rusband circles away and keeps his distance.

Rusband tries to keep at a distance but Murk has taken the fight into the clinch.
Murk throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rusband blocks it with crossed arms.
Murk lands a nice knee to the body.
Rusband looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Murk creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Rusband has eaten all the pies!
Murk with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Jonn Rusband has been cut.

Murk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murk lands with a nice body kick.

Murk lands a left and a right that sends Rusband crashing to the canvas! Murk dives into mount looking to finish!

Murk gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Murk shoots in looking for a takedown. Rusband tries to sprawl out of it but Murk keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rusband manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Murk is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murk punishes Rusband's body with a nice straight punch.
Murk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Murk misses with a head kick.
Murk tries to clinch there but Rusband circles away.
Murk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Murk clinches up with Rusband and pushes him back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Murk as the two fighters clinch.

Murk manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murk wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murk throws a head kick but Rusband moves out of range.
Murk wants to clinch
and Rusband counters with a nice uppercut.

Murk closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rusband to the mat! Rusband manages to get full guard.
Murk wants to control from the top but Rusband keeps moving.
Rusband 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.
Murk advances to half guard.
Rusband is looking for a sweep. Murk is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Murk thows a huge punch but Rusband dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusband is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Murk decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Rusband circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murk looks to land a combination. Rusband sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Joe Murk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rusband slips a jab and a cross from Murk.
Rusband keeps the fight on the outside.

Murk fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rusband, pushing him back against the cage.
Murk lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Murk gets through Rusband's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Murk lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rusband.
Murk lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rusband or not.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Murk creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murk gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murk stops Rusband from getting back to his feet.
Rusband wants to improve his position but Murk is controlling well.
Murk missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rusband is looking for a sweep. Murk is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Murk decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Murk gets a clinch.
Murk misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rusband.
Murk connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rusband's face.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rusband has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Murk is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rusband can't get the takedown.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Murk obliges.
Murk lands a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Murk dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jonn Rusband's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Murk wants to clinch up but Rusband keeps it at a distance.
Murk wants to clinch
and Murk takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rusband shoots in looking for a takedown. Murk tries to sprawl out of it but Rusband keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Murk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Murk wants to clinch.
Murk fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murk looks to land a body kick but Rusband moved away.
Murk doesn't manage to clinch there - Rusband circles away.
Murk is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rusband can do to turn this around?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Murk looks to land a combination but Rusband avoids it well.
Murk closes the distance but Rusband moves to the side

and Rusband counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murk manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Murk prevents Rusband from improving his position.
Murk is keen to just control but Rusband is a slippery customer.

Murk is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rusband wants to get back to full guard.

Murk is working for a kimura but Rusband is defending it quite comfortably.
Rusband is looking for a sweep. Murk is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Murk is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rusband is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Murk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rusband tries to roll over but Murk keeps him under control.
Rusband trying to hold on to Murk's head to control him but Murk postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Murk stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Murk fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rusband looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Murk!
Murk bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rusband wants to sweep but no luck.
Murk will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Murk stays in close to Rusband's body and controls the position.
Murk wants to control from the top but Rusband keeps moving.

Rusband throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murk passes Rusband's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rusband keeps working.

Murk is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Murk prevents Rusband from improving his position.

Murk is trying to work for a kimura but Rusband is defending well.
Rusband is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joe Murk will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jonn Rusband's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rusband keeps the fight on the outside.
Murk tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rusband counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Murk!
Murk can't escape the position.

Rusband goes for an armbar but Murk turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Murk.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Murk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Murk passes into half guard.

Murk seems to be looking for submissions.
Rusband is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Murk seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murk passes to side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rusband takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Murk looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rusband tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Murk wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Murk tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Murk has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rusband is looking for a sweep.
Jonn Rusband has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusband is trying to control Murk's posture but Murk avoids it.

Murk has an Americana. Rusband didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Murk is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Murk hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Joe Murk!