PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taj al Din (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitch McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). al Din comes to the cage accompanied by قنب هندي. The crowd seem to be enjoying McDonald's choice of entrance music: Sounds of Silence. 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.

al Din
vs
McDonald

187 cm
30
212 lbs
30 - 6 - 0

192 cm
29
228 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Conviction
Convicted Trap House

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry
Reaper Combatwear

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 30 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Taj al Din!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mitch McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A leg kick checked by al Din.
McDonald scores with a punch to the head.
McDonald thows a body shot but no joy.
al Din connects with an inside leg kick.
al Din lands with a nice body kick.
McDonald rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and al Din counters with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDonald misses with a shot to the body
and al Din counters with a straight right hand.
McDonald throws the left hand but al Din avoids the punch easily.
al Din misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McDonald.
McDonald has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from al Din finds it's way round the side to connect with McDonald's head.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! McDonald crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from al Din - the referee stops the clock and McDonald gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says al Din. McDonald manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

al Din gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McDonald wants to break free but al Din has control.
A short left from McDonald.
al Din misses with a punch on the inside.

al Din successfully pulls guard.
al Din trying to control the position.

al Din has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McDonald can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control but al Din is working from the bottom.

al Din working for a triangle but McDonald defends it easily.
McDonald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

al Din escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McDonald gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

al Din has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McDonald can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McDonald is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al Din not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

al Din 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 trying to control but al Din is working from the bottom.
McDonald is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
McDonald must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
al Din throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
al Din pulls McDonald in to control the position.

al Din looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
al Din controls McDonald momentarily but McDonald frees himself.
McDonald is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mitch McDonald was stalling too much, according to the referee.
al Din tries to land a body kick
and McDonald makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A low kick from McDonald misses
and al Din counters with a low kick, right behind McDonald 's knee.
McDonald fakes a jab and throws a low kick but al Din checks it well.
McDonald looks for the body kick but al Din saw that one coming.
al Din misses with the body kick
and McDonald counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McDonald scores with a hook.
A big left from McDonald misses.

al Din rushes McDonald and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
al Din jumps guard but McDonald stands there with al Din around his waist. al Din gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by al Din.
A right hook to the body lands for al Din.

al Din jumps into guard, dragging McDonald to the mat.
McDonald is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

al Din looking for a guillotine here but McDonald defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

al Din is looking for a triangle but McDonald pushes his legs off easily.
al Din pulls McDonald in close to his closed guard and prevents McDonald from doing any damage or advancing position.

al Din looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

al Din working for a triangle but McDonald defends it easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McDonald controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taj al Din dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

al Din lands a nice leg kick that just misses McDonald's sensitive parts.
An inside leg kick from McDonald misses.
McDonald waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract al Din.
A head kick by McDonald misses
and al Din counters with a low kick, right behind McDonald 's knee.
al Din throws a front kick that sends McDonald stumbling back into the cage.
McDonald stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from al Din.
al Din throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
al Din lands with a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
al Din ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McDonald moves away.
McDonald turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
al Din fails with an attempt to clinch.
McDonald walks into a left hand.
al Din connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
McDonald avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McDonald looking to land some kicks to the body here.
al Din feints and then cracks McDonald's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McDonald down.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by al Din.
McDonald is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McDonald throws a big shot that misses.
Mitch McDonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A leg kick checked by al Din.
al Din moves out of range as McDonald strikes.
al Din moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
McDonald takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

It looks like Mitch McDonald has been cut.
al Din fails in his attempt to clinch.
al Din lands with a thumping leg kick.
Taj al Din is winning the standup battle so far.
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!
McDonald takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
al Din fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt McDonald.
al Din bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
al Din scores with a kick to the body.
al Din dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
al Din looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
al Din lands with a shot to the body.
McDonald walks forward, straight into a front kick from al Din.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

al Din drives through and clinches with McDonald against the cage.
al Din lands a hook that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
al Din crunches a lovely knee into McDonald's ribcage.
al Din is leaning against McDonald and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
al Din pushes McDonald back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
al Din scores with a shoulder strike.
al Din can't find room to land a body shot as McDonald controls the action.
McDonald takes a shot to the head.
al Din working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
al Din lands with a short head shot on the inside.
al Din tries to work over McDonald's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McDonald doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McDonald working aggressively here.
McDonald fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
al Din softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
al Din tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McDonald's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

al Din has clasped his hands together around McDonald's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

al Din looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
McDonald can't do much from the bottom here.
al Din has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for McDonald!

al Din goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now McDonald is on top in guard.
al Din is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taj al Din overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Din trying to strike off his back.

McDonald avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

al Din is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McDonald is aware though and is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but al Din is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

al Din 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.
al Din is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McDonald can do to turn this around?
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but al Din is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

al Din has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think McDonald should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, al Din has tightened it up now! McDonald should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Taj al Din!
After winning the bout, Taj al Din thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.