PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Bob McDonald (ranked 22 p4p, 57 weight class) and Tali Ihantala (ranked 2 p4p, 2 weight class). McDonald comes to the cage accompanied by Ray Wylie Hubbard - Redneck Mother. 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
Ihantala

196 cm
39
275
45 - 21 - 1

203 cm
32
253
20 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Voodoo Nutrition

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Vegan Gains

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 45 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Bob McDonald!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tali Ihantala!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald avoids the body shot from Ihantala.
McDonald lands with an overhand left.
McDonald throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McDonald looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
McDonald lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Ihantala moves into the clinch.
McDonald presses Ihantala against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from McDonald.
McDonald gets through Ihantala's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
McDonald swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short left from Ihantala.
McDonald prevents a body shot from Ihantala.
McDonald tries a body shot but Ihantala blocks it.
A short left from Ihantala.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDonald misses with the head strike.
Ihantala tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right hook to the body lands for Ihantala.
Nice body punch from Ihantala - that landed with a thud.
Ihantala lands a left hand that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
McDonald scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short uppercut from McDonald.
McDonald lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ihantala backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ihantala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McDonald staying out of range there.
Ihantala scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ihantala displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McDonald throws out the jab.

McDonald clinches up with Ihantala and pushes him back against the cage.
McDonald misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ihantala lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ihantala goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Ihantala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McDonald waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ihantala.
Ihantala moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice shot by McDonald.
Ihantala scores with a nice right hand.
Ihantala connects with a nice looking jab.
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!
Ihantala slips under a jab from McDonald.
Ihantala connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ihantala counters with a thumping low kick.
McDonald swings for the body but Ihantala moves out of range.
McDonald 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 connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McDonald momentarily.
McDonald tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ihantala was well out of range. Poor timing from McDonald.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Ihantala.
McDonald misses with an uppercut. Ihantala saw that one coming.
Jim Bob McDonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ihantala thumps McDonald with a low kick.
Ihantala displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McDonald throws out the jab.
Ihantala looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Good exchange - Ihantala coming out on top.
Ihantala moves forwards but McDonald connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McDonald blocks a leg kick.
Ihantala misses with a hook. McDonald ducked under it nicely.
McDonald throwing a counter right hand but Ihantala manages to avoid it.
Ihantala displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McDonald throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Ihantala.
McDonald misses with a hook.
McDonald throws an off balance right hand
and Ihantala counters with a straight right hand.

McDonald drives through and clinches with Ihantala against the cage.
McDonald makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
McDonald misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McDonald misses with a short punch on the inside.
McDonald blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McDonald blocks a body shot from Ihantala.
Ihantala tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McDonald's elbow.
McDonald blocks a body shot from Ihantala.
McDonald blocks an uppercut.
Ihantala lands a nice uppercut.
A short left from Ihantala.
Ihantala tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McDonald lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ihantala backwards.
McDonald lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ihantala has a couple of punches blocked by McDonald.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDonald lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ihantala blocks a body shot from McDonald.
A nice left hand lands by Ihantala.
McDonald blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McDonald.
Ihantala gets through McDonald's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
McDonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McDonald tries to throw a body punch but Ihantala avoids it by throwing McDonald back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ihantala.
McDonald can't find room to land a body shot as Ihantala controls the action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McDonald.
Ihantala misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ihantala lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ihantala lands a body punch.
Ihantala pushes McDonald back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ihantala blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ihantala can't find room to land a body shot as McDonald controls the action.
Ihantala misses with a body punch.
Ihantala misses with the head strike.
Ihantala lands a body punch in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tali Ihantala dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McDonald tries to clinch up but Ihantala circles away and keeps his distance.
McDonald misses with a lunging right hand
and McDonald takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Jim Bob McDonald has been cut.
Ihantala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McDonald jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McDonald takes one to the chin there.
Nice uppercut there from McDonald.
A solid body kick from Ihantala.
McDonald shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ihantala avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The fighters circling - McDonald throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ihantala lands a nice looking body kick.
Ihantala misses with a looping right.
It looked like McDonald was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
McDonald misses with a hook.
Ihantala swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McDonald swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ihantala counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ihantala cracks McDonald with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends McDonald tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Ihantala pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! McDonald is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tali Ihantala!
Tali Ihantala is the new super heavyweight champion!
An out of breath Tali Ihantala thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
The defeated Jim Bob McDonald had this to say: 'A country boy can survive'.