PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Isaias Mckinney (ranked 24188 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahmad Talib (ranked 6920 p4p, 0 weight class). Ahmad Talib will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Mckinney
vs
Talib

158 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 5 - 1

175 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Isaias Mckinney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ahmad Talib!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Joseph Jones and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Talib fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mckinney avoids it really well and circles away.

Mckinney has managed to clinch.

Mckinney manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Mckinney looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mckinney is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Talib is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mckinney looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Talib 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.
Talib looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mckinney is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Talib really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mckinney. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mckinney is thwarting Talib's attempts to control the position.
Talib wants to get back to his feet.
Mckinney really is a fat lump.
Talib wants to control but Mckinney passes into side.
Talib tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mckinney wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mckinney gets to mount! Talib was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Talib bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Mckinney lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Mckinney not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mckinney might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Talib looking for subs off his back but Mckinney has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mckinney not doing much here.
Talib avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mckinney.

Mckinney decides to stand up.
Mckinney moves in looking to clinch but Talib pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Mckinney forces Talib back against the cage and clinches.
Talib works on Mckinney's body with a couple of short punches.
Mckinney wants a takedown but no success here.

Talib pulls guard.
Mckinney looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mckinney's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Talib is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Talib is looking to sweep but instead, Mckinney has passed into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isaias Mckinney dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Talib has taken the fight to the clinch.
Talib with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Talib drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Talib is working for takedown but Mckinney is calmly controlling the position for now.
Talib has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mckinney is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Isaias Mckinney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahmad Talib.
Talib lands a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mckinney drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Talib gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Talib stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Talib's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick from Talib lands but Mckinney takes it in his stride.

It looks like Isaias Mckinney has been cut.
Talib misses with a combination

and Mckinney holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mckinney stalling in the clinch.

Talib escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Talib takes the fight into the clinch.

Talib breaks the clinch.
Talib fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mckinney avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mckinney moves in looking to clinch but Talib pushes him off.
Talib shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mckinney counters by clinching up.
Mckinney tries to pull guard but Talib won't allow it.
Mckinney can't get the takedown.

Talib jumps into guard, dragging Mckinney to the mat.
Mckinney preventing the sweep.
Talib is breathing heavily.

Mckinney drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mckinney jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Talib wants to control the position but Mckinney says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Talib tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Mckinney has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Talib defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Mckinney.
Talib is trying to escape the mount.
Mckinney looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Talib tries to lock up and control but Mckinney gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mckinney landing punches.

Mckinney is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Talib has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Talib!
Mckinney looking for a sweep. Not yet Mckinney, not yet.
Mckinney manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Talib manages to get himself to full guard.

Talib tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Talib looking to control but Mckinney passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ahmad Talib will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Isaias Mckinney's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Talib fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mckinney.
A head kick from Talib lands but Mckinney takes it in his stride.
Talib shoots in for a takedown but Mckinney shows good takedown defense.
Talib keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Talib misses with a double jab

and Mckinney holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mckinney jumps guard but Talib stands there with Mckinney around his waist. Mckinney gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Talib tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mckinney just stands there and leans against the cage.

Talib breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mckinney fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ahmad Talib seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mckinney fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaias Mckinney. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Talib goes for a double leg but Mckinney avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mckinney continues to drive forward.
Mckinney tries to counter by clinching up but Talib breaks away and moves out of range.
Mckinney fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mckinney moves forwards but Talib connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Mckinney takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Talib takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mckinney is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Mckinney gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Talib escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mckinney tries to clinch but Talib moves out of range.
Talib will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Talib gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Talib is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Mckinney dives into side control.
Isaias Mckinney overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mckinney cracks Talib with a big elbow.

Mckinney tries for a kimura but Talib is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talib tries to buck Mckinney off but Mckinney is having none of it.

Mckinney stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Mckinney throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Talib was covering up waiting for the punch and Mckinney finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Mckinney is standing up over Talib. Talib looks to escape but Mckinney dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Talib is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mckinney has just dragged him back down to the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Talib can do anything to dispel that myth.
Talib regains half guard.

Talib looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Mckinney escapes and gets back to his feet.
Mckinney wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Isaias Mckinney.
I think Mckinney 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Isaias Mckinney!