PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maurice McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juho Pennanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Pennanen

180 cm
30
184 lbs
24 - 15 - 1

184 cm
28
184 lbs
14 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Crippler's Corner

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Maurice McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Juho Pennanen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pennanen throws a sloppy head kick and McDonald moves out of range easily.
McDonald throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
McDonald displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pennanen throws out the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pennanen. McDonald does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pennanen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A head kick misses from McDonald.
McDonald misses with a left hand
and Pennanen counters with an outside leg kick.
McDonald throws a poor cross that misses
and Pennanen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Pennanen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Maurice McDonald has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pennanen misses with a leg kick.
Pennanen throws a head kick that misses.
McDonald closes the distance looking to clinch
and Pennanen counters with a nice uppercut.
Pennanen thows a body shot but no joy.
Pennanen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck McDonald on the side of the head.

Pennanen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pennanen breaks the clinch.
Pennanen avoids the head kick by McDonald.
McDonald lands a right hook to the body.
Pennanen thows a body kick. McDonald tries to catch it but that hurt him.
McDonald wants to slow Pennanen down by chopping away at his legs.
McDonald throws a sloppy head kick and Pennanen moves out of range easily.
McDonald uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pennanen.
Pennanen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McDonald.
Pennanen lands a jab to McDonald's midsection.
Pennanen thows a body shot but no joy.
Nice uppercut there from McDonald.
McDonald throws an off balance right hand
and Pennanen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps McDonald thinking.
Pennanen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Pennanen wants to land a leg kick but McDonald is out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDonald on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
McDonald takes one to the chin there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pennanen with a jab.
Pennanen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
McDonald thows a left - swing and a miss!
McDonald just misses with a punch to the body.
McDonald misses with a straight right.
McDonald takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
McDonald misses with a wild body shot.
McDonald throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pennanen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
McDonald fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pennanen manages to avoid it.
McDonald blocks a leg kick.
McDonald avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McDonald misses with a low kick.
McDonald blocks a low kick nicely.
Pennanen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pennanen lands a nice looking body shot.
Pennanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pennanen looks to land a right hand but McDonald moved out of range.
Pennanen is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! McDonald had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
A jab lands there for Pennanen.
Pennanen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. McDonald manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Danga de danga de dang - Pennanen scores with a four punch combination!
McDonald throws an off balance right hand
and Pennanen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
McDonald ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pennanen moves away.
McDonald on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
McDonald just misses with a punch to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Pennanen.
Pennanen thumps McDonald with a low kick.
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!
Pennanen is looking to clinch but McDonald is avoiding it.
McDonald slips under a jab.
McDonald looks to land a body kick but Pennanen moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pennanen staying out of range there.
Pennanen takes a swing at McDonald's ribcage but misses.
Pennanen lands a nice hook to McDonald's body. McDonald takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
McDonald tries to clinch up but Pennanen circles away and keeps his distance.
Pennanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Good work by McDonald as he checks the leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from McDonald. Pennanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
McDonald scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
McDonald uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pennanen.
Pennanen just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab from Pennanen misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pennanen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt McDonald.
Pennanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McDonald paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pennanen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juho Pennanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Maurice McDonald's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pennanen takes the fight into the clinch.
McDonald swings wildly with an uppercut but Pennanen uses good head movement to avoid it.
McDonald has a couple of punches blocked by Pennanen.
A head punch on the inside from Pennanen fails to land.
Pennanen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pennanen tries to throw a body punch but McDonald avoids it by throwing Pennanen back against the cage.
McDonald scores with a shot to the side of Pennanen's head.
McDonald working aggressively here.
McDonald scores with a shot to the side of Pennanen's head.
A right handed body shot lands from Pennanen.
McDonald misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pennanen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pennanen tries to throw a body punch but McDonald avoids it by throwing Pennanen back against the cage.
Pennanen pushes McDonald back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Pennanen lands a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pennanen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from McDonald fails to land.
A short right from Pennanen on the inside.
McDonald lands a hook that snaps the head of Pennanen backwards.
McDonald misses with a body punch.
Pennanen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
McDonald presses Pennanen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice left hand lands by Pennanen.
Pennanen slows down the pace here.

Pennanen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Pennanen.
Good leg kick by Pennanen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pennanen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Pennanen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McDonald throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pennanen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Pennanen throws a front kick aimed at McDonald's knee but McDonald avoids it well.
McDonald lands with a shot to the body.
Pennanen fails in his attempt to clinch.
McDonald throws out a loose jab but Pennanen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pennanen ducks under a wild hook from McDonald.
McDonald moves out of range of the strikes.
McDonald swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Pennanen counter with a right hand.
McDonald walks into a straight right hand from Pennanen.
Pennanen misses with a body shot.
Pennanen moves into range and connects with a jab.
McDonald moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pennanen misses the shot to the body.
Pennanen looks to score with a jab to the body but McDonald is just out of range.
Pennanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McDonald paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pennanen throws a body punch but McDonald moves out of range.
Pennanen connects with a nice looking jab.
McDonald throws a body punch but Pennanen moves out of range.
Pennanen moves in looking to clinch but McDonald pushes him off.
McDonald throws a jab but it's blocked by Pennanen.
McDonald lands a slapping body shot.
McDonald throws a leg kick which misses Pennanen's front leg but catches the back leg as Pennanen tries to avoid it.
Pennanen lands a head shot.
A shot to the liver by McDonald. Beautiful body shot.
Pennanen is breathing heavily.
Pennanen slips a jab from McDonald.
Pennanen ducks under a wild hook from McDonald.
McDonald swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from McDonald.
McDonald takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald throws a chopping leg kick but Pennanen manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Pennanen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pennanen avoids the body shot from McDonald.
McDonald ducks under a wild hook from Pennanen.
McDonald throws a hook but Pennanen blocks it.
Pennanen takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
McDonald walks into a left hand.
Juho Pennanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McDonald lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Pennanen cracks McDonald with a good jab.
McDonald misses with a wild body shot.
Pennanen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McDonald misses with a wild body shot.
Pennanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McDonald manages to avoid it.
Pennanen throws a head kick that misses.
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 Maurice McDonald will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maurice McDonald's cut.
That's time! McDonald's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

McDonald throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pennanen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McDonald throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McDonald blocks a head kick by Pennanen.
McDonald swings for the body but Pennanen moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from McDonald misses the target.
McDonald tries to clinch up.
McDonald throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pennanen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pennanen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McDonald jabs Pennanen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
McDonald connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
McDonald tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pennanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McDonald is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A low kick from Pennanen misses

and McDonald counters with a flying knee that sends his opponent to the canvas! McDonald looking to finish!

Pennanen is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pennanen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald looking to sit in guard and control but Pennanen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Pennanen from controlling successfully.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Pennanen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Juho Pennanen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
McDonald cracks a nice hook into Pennanen's ribs.
McDonald throws a head kick but Pennanen moves out of range.
McDonald looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pennanen, right into the meat.
McDonald throws a big shot that misses.
McDonald goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A head kick by Pennanen misses
and McDonald counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Pennanen is lucky that one didn't land flush.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pennanen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McDonald. That did some damage!
A telegraphed right hand from Pennanen misses the target.
McDonald loads up on a big right hand but Pennanen slips the punch.
Pennanen throws a sloppy head kick and McDonald moves out of range easily.

McDonald lands a head kick that stumbles Pennanen and the fighters go to the mat.
Pennanen is still in real trouble! Can McDonald finish him?

It looks like Juho Pennanen has been cut.
Pennanen is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and McDonald dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald working the ground and pound but Pennanen is defending the strikes.
McDonald remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Pennanen seems to have recovered his senses.
Pennanen wants to control but McDonald postures up.
McDonald working the head with strikes.
McDonald throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Pennanen parries the strikes from McDonald easily there. McDonald is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Pennanen to escape.
McDonald is working Pennanen over with some ground and pound from side control.
Pennanen is looking for a sweep.
McDonald throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Pennanen works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pennanen is not content to let McDonald control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maurice McDonald showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McDonald has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Maurice McDonald!