PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ezra Mcfadden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Makwan Lak (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.

Mcfadden
vs
Lak

222 cm
19
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

182 cm
20
177 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ezra Mcfadden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Makwan Lak!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mcfadden throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lak unleashes a big counter combination but Mcfadden bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Lak misses with a hook

and Mcfadden counters by clinching up.

Lak breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mcfadden lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Lak tries to clinch up.
Lak throws a head kick but Mcfadden moves out of range.

Lak scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mcfadden tries to get to full guard but Lak has control of the leg.
Lak trying to control from Mcfadden's half guard. Mcfadden has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Lak's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcfadden is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mcfadden is really struggling to control Lak but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Mcfadden will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mcfadden wants to sweep here but Lak controlling him for the moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Lak stands up and waves to Mcfadden to follow him.
No joy there for Lak, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mcfadden seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Lak gets caught flat footed, as Mcfadden shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lak has his hands on Mcfadden's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcfadden trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mcfadden is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mcfadden trying to control but Lak is working from the bottom.
Mcfadden prevents Lak from getting back to his feet.
Mcfadden stopping the sweep attempt from Lak.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcfadden won't allow Lak to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lak scores with a takedown into Mcfadden's guard.
Lak looks winded!
Lak wants to stand but Mcfadden has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mcfadden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lak wants to stand but Mcfadden has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Lak stands up over Mcfadden, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mcfadden wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lak stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Lak shoots in and gets a takedown into Mcfadden's guard.
Lak is working Mcfadden over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lak is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lak trying to move into half guard but instead Mcfadden has managed to sweep!

Mcfadden drops back looking for a leg! Lak is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lak manages to kick Mcfadden off! Mcfadden jumps back into Lak's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mcfadden connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ezra Mcfadden will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lak throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mcfadden tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lak is in Mcfadden's guard.
Lak would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Lak pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mcfadden is keeping the position for now.
Lak wants to control from the top but Mcfadden keeps moving.
Lak sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mcfadden's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lak working over Mcfadden with some ground and pound. Mcfadden looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mcfadden won't allow Lak to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcfadden wants to get back to full guard.
Lak is thwarting Mcfadden's attempts to control the position.
Lak is looking to take a break and control but Mcfadden is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lak takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mcfadden wants to control but Lak is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Lak is trying to work for a kimura but Mcfadden is defending well.
Lak is breathing heavily.
Lak is controlling the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Mcfadden throws a head kick but Lak moves out of range.
Lak throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mcfadden tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Lak manages to circle out of the way.

Lak scores with a takedown into Mcfadden's guard.

Mcfadden is working an open guard so Lak takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mcfadden tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lak misses with a few strikes there.
Lak has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lak throws a head kick but Mcfadden moves out of range.

Mcfadden rushes Lak and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcfadden has had enough of the clinch but Lak keeps him there for the moment.
Lak stalling against the cage.

Mcfadden breaks the clinch.
Mcfadden tries to clinch up.
Mcfadden lands with a slapping head kick.
Mcfadden blocks the body kick.
Mcfadden feinted with a counter takedown.

Lak darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Mcfadden kicks off Lak and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcfadden shoots for a double leg takedown but Lak sprawls well. He's pushed Mcfadden's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Lak closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mcfadden did well to prevent Lak getting side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lak missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lak trying to control the action but Mcfadden is working from the bottom.

Lak is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mcfadden has managed to free his arm - good work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lak is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mcfadden sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makwan Lak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mcfadden throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lak's head.
Lak moves in looking to clinch but Mcfadden pushes him off.
Mcfadden throws a head kick but Lak moves out of range.

Lak drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lak scoring with some ground and pound.
Lak is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lak trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcfadden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mcfadden looking to control.
Makwan Lak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcfadden keeping moving, preventing Lak from controlling successfully.
Mcfadden lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lak looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mcfadden has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Lak looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mcfadden keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lak's head.
Lak trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcfadden missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mcfadden is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mcfadden postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mcfadden working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lak's head.
Lak is looking to stand up but Mcfadden isn't so interested in that idea.
Mcfadden trying to control but Lak is working from the bottom.
Mcfadden really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lak working a defensive guard here.
Lak working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mcfadden.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcfadden is looking to work some ground and pound but Lak has wrist control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mcfadden throws a head kick that half lands.
Mcfadden swats away the attempt to clinch by Lak.

Mcfadden tries to sprawl but Lak drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Mcfadden kicks Lak off and gets back to his feet.
Mcfadden lands a high kick!

Lak fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mcfadden to the ground. Lak is now in Mcfadden's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lak trying to control but Mcfadden is working from the bottom.
Lak is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lak pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mcfadden is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mcfadden keeping moving, preventing Lak from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ezra Mcfadden showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mcfadden 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!