PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Max Cavalera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike McKinley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cavalera
vs
McKinley

187 cm
28
215 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

194 cm
30
204 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

•• Beast Mode ••
Brute

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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Max Cavalera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike McKinley!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut lands for Cavalera. That snapped McKinley's head back.
A low kick from McKinley is predictable there
and Cavalera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Good leg kick by Cavalera there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Jab, jab by McKinley - just one landing.
McKinley throws a chopping leg kick but Cavalera manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cavalera lands with a shot to the body.
McKinley tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Good leg kick by McKinley there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Cavalera closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McKinley is trying to force a seperation but Cavalera has the dominant position.
Cavalera misses with a hook from the clinch.
McKinley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cavalera has him pressed against the cage.
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!

McKinley breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cavalera shoots in but McKinley avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cavalera lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
McKinley throws the kick towards the body but Cavalera avoids it.
McKinley finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
McKinley feints and then cracks Cavalera's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cavalera down.
McKinley throws a hook but Cavalera blocks it.

Cavalera shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Cavalera has control of McKinley's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and McKinley regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Cavalera thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cavalera jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… McKinley is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by McKinley and Cavalera has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
McKinley avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Cavalera.
McKinley is trying to buck Cavalera off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cavalera fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Cavalera tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKinley is looking for a sweep.
McKinley defending against the ground and pound.
McKinley is trying to buck Cavalera off.
McKinley manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cavalera trying to mount his opponent but McKinley defends it.
Cavalera lands strikes from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cavalera is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McKinley defends it well.

McKinley manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cavalera misses with a straight left.
Mike McKinley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cavalera dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cavalera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McKinley manages to avoid it.
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!
Cavalera takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
McKinley misses the shot to the body.
McKinley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cavalera manages to avoid it.
McKinley connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cavalera digs a good hook to McKinley's body.
Cavalera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McKinley was well out of range. Poor timing from Cavalera.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Cavalera dominated that round.
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.

Cavalera walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McKinley explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Mike McKinley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McKinley tries a head kick but it misses.
Cavalera misses with a wild body shot.
McKinley just misses with a punch to the body.
McKinley cracks Cavalera with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cavalera on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
McKinley throws a low kick, looking for Cavalera's leg but Cavalera calmly moves out of range.
McKinley rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cavalera moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McKinley walks into a jab.
Cavalera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McKinley avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cavalera gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Cavalera feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cavalera postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McKinley is looking to stand up but Cavalera isn't so interested in that idea.
Cavalera trying to control but McKinley is working from the bottom.
Cavalera prevents McKinley from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cavalera with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cavalera wants to pass the guard but McKinley is keeping the position.
Cavalera missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cavalera postures up in McKinley's guard and throws a big left but McKinley blocks it.
Cavalera pushing down on McKinley's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cavalera tries to pass to full mount but McKinley defends it.
Cavalera has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McKinley is trying is best to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cavalera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

McKinley is defending against the submission attempts here by Cavalera.
McKinley avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cavalera.

Cavalera is looking for a kimura but McKinley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cavalera to get the leverage.

McKinley has one foot on Cavalera's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
A clash of legs there as Cavalera blocks the low kick.
Both fighters circling a little - McKinley finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
McKinley misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cavalera wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
McKinley has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Cavalera throws a hook to the side of McKinley's head but McKinley sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McKinley cracks Cavalera with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
McKinley misses with a looping right.
Cavalera sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cavalera lands a head shot.
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!
McKinley fails to land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cavalera misses with a telegraphed body shot
and McKinley counters with a nice body kick.
Cavalera lands an overhand right.
Some bone on bone action there as Cavalera checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike McKinley 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McKinley misses with a left hand
and Cavalera counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McKinley takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
McKinley ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cavalera moves away.
McKinley waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cavalera.
McKinley misses with a body kick.
McKinley misses with a body kick.
Cavalera misses with an uppercut. McKinley saw that one coming.
Cavalera misses with a wild body shot.
Cavalera scores with a hook to the body. McKinley takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cavalera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McKinley paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cavalera is looking to wear down McKinley with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cavalera takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cavalera tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cavalera misses with a body punch
letting McKinley counter with a right hand.
Cavalera throws a right hand that McKinley ducks under and follows up with a left that McKinley also avoids with ease.
Cavalera looks to land a right hand but McKinley moved out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cavalera. McKinley does a little dance to reset his feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by McKinley.

Cavalera closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into McKinley's guard.
McKinley wants to stand up but Cavalera is controlling him.
Cavalera tries to free his leg and advance position but McKinley is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKinley manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cavalera manages to get himself to full guard.

Cavalera looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
This has been an exciting period of action!

McKinley gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cavalera tries to move into range but McKinley moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
McKinley avoids the body shot from Cavalera.
Cavalera takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
McKinley throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cavalera dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McKinley scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cavalera slips under a jab from McKinley.
McKinley looks to land a left hand but Cavalera moved out of range nicely.
McKinley displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cavalera.
McKinley misses with a low kick.
Cavalera shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McKinley pinned against the cage. McKinley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
McKinley lands with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKinley dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cavalera. That did some damage!
Cavalera takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McKinley ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A swing and a miss from McKinley.
Cavalera lands a jab to the nose.
McKinley throws a push kick but Cavalera slaps the foot to one side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A shot to the liver by Cavalera. Beautiful body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cavalera drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike McKinley.
I think McKinley has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mike McKinley!
An out of breath Mike McKinley thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.