PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tali Ihantala (ranked 16 p4p, 106 weight class) and Jim Bob McDonald (ranked 1 p4p, 3 weight class). McDonald is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Ray Wylie Hubbard - Redneck Mother. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ihantala
vs
McDonald

203 cm
31
253
19 - 8 - 0

196 cm
38
275
42 - 21 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Vegan Gains

Voodoo Nutrition
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tali Ihantala!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 42 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Bob McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDonald clinches up against the cage.
Ihantala tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McDonald's elbow.
Ihantala tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McDonald.
A body shot lands from Ihantala.
McDonald struggles to land a body shot inside as Ihantala controls his hands.
McDonald pushes Ihantala back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ihantala.
McDonald's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ihantala misses with a punch on the inside.
Ihantala misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ihantala misses with a punch to the body.
McDonald tries to work over Ihantala's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

McDonald jumps guard.
McDonald looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ihantala is one step ahead there.
McDonald keeps trying to improve his position.
Ihantala trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McDonald is trying to control the position but Ihantala postures up.
Ihantala engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McDonald is on top in guard.

Ihantala has control of McDonald's left arm, preventing McDonald from doing any damage.
McDonald trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McDonald missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ihantala pulls McDonald in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald stands up over Ihantala, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ihantala keeping full guard, as McDonald tries to pass.
McDonald throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McDonald chips away with some ground and pound.
Ihantala keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
McDonald pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ihantala is keeping the position for now.
Ihantala avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McDonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ihantala swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McDonald postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ihantala controls McDonald momentarily but McDonald frees himself.
Ihantala working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McDonald.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Ihantala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ihantala is keeping the position for now.
McDonald working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McDonald lands a couple of decent looking shots.
McDonald has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McDonald tries to free his leg and advance position but Ihantala is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald landing with the ground and pound.
Ihantala avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McDonald connects with a couple of short punches.
Ihantala trying to control the position.
McDonald loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

McDonald looks to land a left hand but Ihantala moved out of range nicely.
McDonald misses the jab.
Ihantala with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ihantala scores with a body shot.
Ihantala uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McDonald.
McDonald throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McDonald misses with a combination
and Ihantala cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McDonald ducks under a wild hook from Ihantala.
McDonald misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald lands a jab to the head.
Ihantala connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ihantala lands with a slapping head kick.
Ihantala uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McDonald.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ihantala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jim Bob McDonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihantala pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McDonald keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McDonald wants to clinch.
Ihantala connects with an inside leg kick.
Ihantala throws a head kick but McDonald moves out of range.
A nice side step and McDonald releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Ihantala takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Good shot there by Ihantala.
McDonald lands a jab.
McDonald throws a hook but Ihantala blocks it.
McDonald misses with a jab to the body
and Ihantala connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by McDonald as he connects with a hook.
McDonald blocks a head kick by Ihantala.
McDonald digs a good hook to Ihantala's body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice straight punches there by McDonald. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of McDonald.
McDonald has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McDonald lands a slapping body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ihantala defending well as McDonald loads up on a big left hand.
McDonald lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Jab by Ihantala.
McDonald fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ihantala manages to avoid it.
Donk. McDonald catches Ihantala right on the button with a cross.
Ihantala tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting McDonald counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDonald moves into the clinch successfully.
McDonald misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McDonald.
Ihantala is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
McDonald throws a punch but it's blocked by Ihantala.
Ihantala prevents a body shot from McDonald.
Ihantala blocks an uppercut.
Ihantala lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on McDonald's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ihantala lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
McDonald has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Ihantala seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if McDonald can turn it around.

Ihantala manages to break the clinch.
Ihantala keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McDonald lands with a nice body punch.
Ihantala throws a half hearted mid kick.
McDonald lands with a shot to the body.
McDonald misses with a hook to the body
and Ihantala counters with a thumping low kick.

McDonald gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McDonald misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jim Bob McDonald seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDonald lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ihantala backs up against the cage.
McDonald swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ihantala.
Donk. Ihantala catches McDonald right on the button with a cross.
Ihantala bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ihantala seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
McDonald throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ihantala tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from McDonald misses the target.
Ihantala is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from McDonald.
McDonald connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ihantala momentarily.
McDonald cracks Ihantala with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
McDonald misses the shot to the body.
Ihantala appears to be looking for a big counter.
McDonald avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ihantala swats away the attempt to clinch by McDonald.
Ihantala throwing a counter right hand but McDonald manages to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Bob McDonald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A looping hook to the body misses from McDonald. Ihantala does a little dance to reset his feet.
McDonald misses with an uppercut.
McDonald tries to clinch but Ihantala moves out of range.
McDonald just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromIhantala.
Ihantala throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McDonald counters with a stiff right hand.
McDonald moves in looking to clinch but Ihantala pushes him off.
Ihantala fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ihantala thows a left - swing and a miss!
McDonald with a body punch. A glancing blow.
McDonald misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ihantala lands with a good body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from McDonald. Ihantala does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ihantala throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ihantala looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ihantala throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald throws a body punch but Ihantala moves out of range.
Ihantala takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ihantala fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches McDonald on the side of the head.
McDonald scores with a hook.
Ihantala ducks under a wild hook from McDonald.
McDonald thuds a left hand into Ihantala's body.
McDonald lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ihantala walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McDonald tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ihantala was well out of range. Poor timing from McDonald.
McDonald scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
McDonald lands with a nice combination. Ihantala backs away looking to recover.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McDonald lands with a good body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McDonald throws a hook to the side of Ihantala's head but Ihantala sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Ihantala is rocked!
Ihantala moves out of range of the strikes.
An attempted straight right counter from Ihantala misses the target.
Ihantala misses with a straight right.

McDonald gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McDonald misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McDonald lands a nice shot to the body.

McDonald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McDonald throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McDonald takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McDonald digs a good body shot into Ihantala's ribs.

McDonald moves into the clinch.
McDonald is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ihantala to keep the fight standing.

McDonald breaks the clinch.
Ihantala moves away from the strike by McDonald.
A lazy body kick from Ihantala
and McDonald counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ihantala misses with a left hand

and Ihantala is countered with a crisp right hand from McDonald that sends him to the canvas! McDonald follows him to the mat into side control.
Oh Ihantala is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
McDonald landing strikes.
McDonald cracks Ihantala with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! McDonald immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Ihantala is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by McDonald!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jim Bob McDonald!
Jim Bob McDonald is the new super heavyweight champion!
An out of breath Jim Bob McDonald thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.