PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Seamus McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilkka Mursu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mursu has chosen Someday I'll be the Champ as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McDonald
vs
Mursu

196 cm
23
245 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

193 cm
23
272 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seamus McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilkka Mursu!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mursu shoots in for a takedown but McDonald shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Mursu has closed the distance and engaged McDonald in a clinch.
McDonald lands a left hand.

Mursu has hold of one of McDonald's legs. McDonald is fighting the takedown attempt but Mursu gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Mursu preventing the sweep.
Mursu is in close to McDonald's body, working some short punches and elbows.
McDonald wants to sweep here but Mursu controlling him for the moment.

McDonald is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mursu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McDonald works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mursu tries to free his leg and advance position but McDonald is retaining full guard.
Mursu preventing the sweep.
McDonald working a defensive guard here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mursu got a little sloppy there for a moment and McDonald has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mursu has managed to get both his arms back between McDonald's legs - danger averted.
Mursu works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mursu seems to be looking for submissions.
McDonald wants to control but Mursu is keeping busy.
Mursu thows a huge punch but McDonald dodges it nicely.
Mursu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McDonald is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McDonald is looking to control Mursu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McDonald avoid being mounted?
McDonald is looking to improve his position.
Mursu slips a nice elbow through McDonald's hands, connecting with McDonald's forehead.
Mursu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mursu stops McDonald from getting back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mursu lands a nice short elbow.

Mursu 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mursu is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McDonald sees it coming and defends easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mursu is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McDonald is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mursu scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mursu takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McDonald kicks Mursu off and gets back to his feet.
Mursu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McDonald pinned against the cage. McDonald gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
McDonald misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald thows a left - swing and a miss!
Seamus McDonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mursu slips a jab and a cross from McDonald.
Mursu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McDonald.
Mursu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

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

McDonald looking for a guillotine here but Mursu defends easily.

Mursu thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
McDonald working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mursu.
Mursu is in close to McDonald's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mursu cracks McDonald with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McDonald is on top in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McDonald throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mursu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Mursu is looking for a triangle but McDonald pushes his legs off easily.

Mursu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McDonald defends well.

Mursu is looking for a triangle but McDonald pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McDonald throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Mursu has his foot on McDonald's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McDonald works his way back into a safe position though.
McDonald works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilkka Mursu dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McDonald jabs Mursu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
McDonald throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McDonald works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
McDonald stuns Mursu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McDonald lands a glancing blow to the side of Mursu's head.

It looks like Ilkka Mursu has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDonald throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mursu.
McDonald throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McDonald keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A jab from McDonald misses.
McDonald pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
McDonald connects with a nice looking jab.
Mursu throws a hook but McDonald avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from McDonald. Mursu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Seamus McDonald is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mursu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McDonald throws out the jab.
The crowd cheers as McDonald lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mursu doesn't seem phased though.
McDonald stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McDonald wants it to stay on the feet.
Mursu is breathing heavily.

Mursu looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for McDonald!
Mursu landing strikes, looking to finish!
McDonald is desperately trying to improve his position but Mursu has a good base and remains in mount.
Mursu landing punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDonald tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mursu lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
McDonald takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald gets back to half guard.

Mursu is working for a kimura but McDonald is defending it quite comfortably.
Mursu passes to full mount!
McDonald is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mursu lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
A nice elbow there by Mursu.
McDonald is in a horrible position here. Mursu smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

McDonald is rocked!
Mursu lands a big elbow - McDonald is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and McDonald is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Ilkka Mursu!