PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake McThai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiki Konda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

McThai
vs
Konda

186 cm
18
212 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
207 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Blake McThai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hiki Konda!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McThai moves into the clinch.
Konda tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McThai smiles and moves away.

Konda closes the distance and clinches.
Konda tries to pull guard but McThai holds him up against the cage and eventually Konda drops back down to his feet.
McThai has Konda pressed against the cage.
Konda jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as McThai walks away with a smile on his face. Konda gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Blake McThai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiki Konda.
McThai ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Konda throws an overhand right that lands on McThai's shoulder, as McThai tries to avoid the shot.
Konda shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McThai but McThai pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Konda pushes McThai up against the cage in a clinch.
McThai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Konda walks away with a smile on his face. McThai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
McThai wants to clinch.
Konda wants to clinch but McThai slips to the side

and McThai moves into the clinch.
Konda tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McThai smiles and moves away.
Konda tries to clinch up but McThai circles away and keeps his distance.
McThai is looking to clinch but Konda is avoiding it.
McThai tries to clinch up.
Konda looks to throw the jab but McThai is out of range.
McThai lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Hiki Konda has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McThai pinned against the cage. McThai gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

McThai pushes Konda up against the cage in a clinch.

Konda pulls guard effortlessly.
McThai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Konda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Konda looks gassed!
McThai throwing strikes from guard but Konda blocks nicely.
McThai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Konda wants to stand but McThai is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McThai wants to stand and escape but instead Konda has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
McThai trying to control the position here.

McThai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Konda defends it easily.
McThai wants to sweep here but Konda controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Konda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McThai avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McThai wants to stand up but Konda is controlling him.
Konda is looking to work some ground and pound but McThai has wrist control.
Konda won't allow McThai to sweep him here.

McThai has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Konda can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McThai throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Konda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McThai wants to stand up but Konda is controlling him.
McThai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McThai keeping moving, preventing Konda from controlling successfully.
McThai trying to control the position.
McThai knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Konda on the ground.

Blake McThai has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Konda tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McThai makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Konda really felt that one!

Konda gets tackled into the cage by McThai. McThai maintains the clinch.

McThai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake McThai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hiki Konda's cut.
That's time! McThai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Konda stuffs the takedown attempt from McThai. McThai gets slowly back to his feet.
McThai looks for a takedown but Konda sprawls well.
McThai shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Konda sprawls well. Konda wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McThai gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake McThai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Konda looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A big right from Konda misses.
McThai misses with a takedown attempt - Konda sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McThai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Konda as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McThai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Konda is looking to clinch but McThai is avoiding it.
Konda is breathing heavily.
McThai fails with a takedown attempt.
Konda wants to clinch
and McThai counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konda tries for a takedown but McThai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
McThai shoots for a double leg takedown but Konda sprawls well. He's pushed McThai's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
McThai shoots in and drives through. Konda sprawls well.
McThai tries to close the distance and clinch but Konda swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McThai tries to score a power double leg takedown but Konda sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McThai somewhat.
McThai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Konda manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Konda looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Konda stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Konda wants it to stay on the feet.
Konda gets cracked there but stands up to it.
McThai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Konda as he jumps to the side.
McThai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Konda.
Konda doesn't manage to clinch there - McThai circles away.

Konda clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McThai fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McThai fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Konda fails to pull guard.
McThai is working for takedown but Konda is calmly controlling the position for now.

McThai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Konda clinches but McThai breaks the clinch
and McThai counters with a nice body kick.
McThai shoots in for a takedown but Konda shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
McThai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Konda is fending him off so far but McThai persists. Nope, Konda circles away and we're back to standing.
McThai fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Konda fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McThai, pushing him back against the cage.
Konda fails to pull guard.
McThai tries for a takedown but Konda manages to get underhooks.
Konda tries to pull guard but McThai holds him up against the cage and eventually Konda drops back down to his feet.
Konda tries to pull guard but McThai holds him up against the cage and eventually Konda drops back down to his feet.

McThai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McThai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Konda as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McThai shoots in for a double leg but Konda sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Konda fails in his attempt to clinch.
McThai tries to clinch up but Konda circles away and keeps his distance.
Hiki Konda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McThai swats away the attempt to clinch by Konda.
Konda is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McThai.
Blake McThai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McThai wants to clinch up but Konda keeps it at a distance.
McThai shoots in looking for a takedown. Konda tries to sprawl out of it but McThai keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Konda manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Konda fails with a takedown attempt.
McThai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Konda as he avoids it easily.

McThai has Konda up against the cage in a clinch.
Konda tries to pull guard but McThai holds him up against the cage and eventually Konda drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McThai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McThai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Konda is fending him off so far but McThai persists. Nope, Konda circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by McThai or perhaps it was just good defense by Konda which made him look bad.
Konda tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McThai swivels and escapes.
McThai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Konda avoids it really well and circles away.
McThai shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Konda defends it nicely.

McThai gets tackled into the cage by Konda. Konda maintains the clinch.
Konda tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

McThai drags the fight down to the ground.
McThai is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Konda preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hiki Konda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Hiki Konda's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

McThai slips under a jab.
Konda avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McThai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Konda swivels and escapes.
McThai wants to clinch up but Konda keeps it at a distance.
Konda tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and McThai counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Konda!
McThai trying to control but Konda is having none of it.

McThai goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Konda turns into him and now he's in McThai's guard.
McThai is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Konda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McThai pulls Konda in close to his closed guard and prevents Konda from doing any damage or advancing position.
McThai looking for a sweep. Not yet McThai, not yet.
Konda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McThai wants to stand and escape but Konda is having none of it.

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.
Konda throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Konda's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
McThai controls Konda momentarily but Konda frees himself.

McThai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McThai is trying to keep Konda in close.
McThai 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McThai is working hard here to advance position.
Konda is looking to work some ground and pound but McThai has wrist control.
McThai is pulling down on Konda's head. It's preventing any offense from Konda, at least for the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
McThai trying to keep a closed guard but Konda is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Blake McThai.
Konda tries to clinch but McThai moves away
and McThai counters with a leg kick.
McThai jabs Konda right on the nose. Konda blinks but takes it well.
McThai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McThai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Konda but Konda pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by McThai. That's going to slow Konda down.
McThai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Konda as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake McThai. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McThai shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Konda manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
McThai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McThai postures up in Konda's guard and throws a big left but Konda blocks it.
McThai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Konda is keeping the position for now.
McThai is looking to work some ground and pound but Konda has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake McThai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McThai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake McThai!