PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tali Ihantala (ranked 11 p4p, 166 weight class) and Zheko Melondov (ranked 2 p4p, 8 weight class). Melondov has chosen Exploration of Space by Cosmic Gate as his entrance music. Zheko Melondov is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Ihantala
vs
Melondov

203 cm
32
253
23 - 9 - 0

200 cm
34
272
39 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

HELLBENT
Vegan Gains

Bondi MMA 🏝️
The Natural Order

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 23 - 9 - 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 39 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zheko Melondov!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melondov connects with a body shot.
Melondov lands a front kick.
Melondov feints and then cracks Ihantala's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ihantala down.
Ihantala tries to land a front kick but Melondov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ihantala bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Melondov's head backwards.
Ihantala throws a body shot but no joy.
Melondov feints a counter leg kick.
Melondov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ihantala counters with a straight right hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Melondov, as that shot connected.
Melondov moves away from the strike by Ihantala.
Ihantala throws a body punch but Melondov moves out of range.
Despite the aggression on Melondov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Melondov gets tackled into the cage by Ihantala. Ihantala maintains the clinch.
A short right from Melondov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ihantala blocks an uppercut.
Ihantala wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ihantala swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melondov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Ihantala.
Melondov misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Ihantala fails to land.
Ihantala lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Melondov.
Melondov lands a left hand.
Melondov gets through Ihantala's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
I was talking to Ihantala's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ihantala blocks a body shot from Melondov.
Melondov misses with a hook to the ribs.

Ihantala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Melondov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ihantala looks to throw a body kick
and Melondov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Melondov tries to land a front kick but Ihantala steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ihantala throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ihantala throws a right hand that misses
and Melondov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Melondov throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Ihantala counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ihantala avoids a kick to the body.
Melondov blocks a jab.
Melondov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Melondov cracks Ihantala with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ihantala misses with a few strikes there.
Melondov throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Ihantala is breathing heavily.
Melondov misses the shot to the body.
Ihantala throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Melondov's head.
Melondov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ihantala on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ihantala throws a hook but Melondov avoids it easily.
Ihantala slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala throws a shot to the body.
Melondov tries to score with a low kick but Ihantala moves his leg out of the way.
Ihantala scores with a punch to the head.
Ihantala bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Melondov's head backwards.
A lazy left from Ihantala finds it's target.
Melondov looks to land a body kick but Ihantala moved away.
Ihantala throws a head kick that Melondov semi-blocks.
A nice leg kick from Melondov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ihantala throws a sloppy head kick
and Melondov counters with a good, hard body kick but Ihantala shrugs it off.
The fighters circling - Melondov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Melondov dodges the punch combination from Ihantala.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ihantala throws a hook but Melondov blocks it.
Melondov scores with a leg kick.
Ihantala lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ihantala throws a front kick that sends Melondov stumbling back into the cage.
Melondov thows a leg kick but Ihantala checks it
letting Ihantala counter with a right hand.
Ihantala ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ihantala throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Melondov's corner calls for a 1-2. Melondov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Melondov throws a half hearted mid kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Ihantala misses its target.
Ihantala throws a lazy uppercut
and Melondov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tali Ihantala will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ihantala's corner calls for a 1-2. Ihantala obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ihantala rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Melondov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ihantala moves out of range as Melondov strikes.
A head kick by Melondov misses
and Ihantala counters with a stiff right hand.
Melondov blocks a head kick by Ihantala.
A big left from Ihantala misses.
Melondov unleashes a big counter combination but Ihantala bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Melondov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Melondov thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Ihantala if he has to take too many more of those.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ihantala misses with a looping right.
Melondov connects with an inside leg kick.
Ihantala misses with a low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Melondov misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melondov lands a leg kick that knocks Ihantala off balance momentarily.
Melondov scores with a nice head shot.
Melondov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A head kick misses from Melondov.
A slow jab from Melondov misses its intended target.
Melondov misses with a left hand
and Ihantala counters with a three punch combo that has Melondov backing up. Melondov nods at Ihantala to acknowledge the strikes.
Melondov moves out of range as Ihantala strikes.
Ihantala looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala cracks Melondov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ihantala connects with a body shot that sends Melondov's belly button to the back.
Melondov throws a head kick but Ihantala moves out of range.
Melondov blocks a head kick by Ihantala.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A decent looking cross lands there for Ihantala.
Ihantala misses with a hook. Melondov ducked under it nicely.
Ihantala uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Melondov.
Melondov misses with a hook. Ihantala ducked under it nicely.
A big left from Melondov misses.
Ihantala moves out of range of the body kick from Melondov.
It looked like Ihantala wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Melondov moves out of range as Ihantala strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Melondov. That snapped Ihantala's head back.
Ihantala gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Melondov counters with a straight right hand.
A head kick misses from Ihantala.

Ihantala closes the distance and clinches.
Ihantala makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Melondov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ihantala.
Ihantala misses with a hook from the clinch.
Melondov swings wildly with an uppercut but Ihantala uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ihantala lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Ihantala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Melondov lands a jab to the nose.
Melondov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ihantala forces Melondov back against the cage and clinches.
Ihantala's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ihantala lands a left hand.
Ihantala working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ihantala struggles to land a body shot inside as Melondov controls his hands.
Melondov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ihantala throws a head punch that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ihantala.
Ihantala blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tali Ihantala has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ihantala doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Melondov stalling in the clinch but Ihantala improves position.
Melondov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Melondov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ihantala tries a head kick but it misses.
Melondov scores with a punch to the head.
Both fighters circling a little - Melondov finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tali Ihantala will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Melondov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ihantala buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ihantala takes a swing at Melondov's ribcage but misses.
A little jabbing left from Melondov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ihantala takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ihantala on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Melondov scores with a leg kick.
Ihantala throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Melondov is looking to slow Ihantala down with leg kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melondov gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Ihantala counters with a straight right hand.
Zheko Melondov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Melondov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Melondov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihantala staying out of range there.
Good shot there by Ihantala.
A big left from Melondov misses.
Ihantala misses with a head kick.
Melondov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice straight punches there by Melondov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Melondov.
Ihantala uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Melondov.
Melondov misses with a lunging right hand

and Ihantala counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ihantala fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Melondov presses Ihantala against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ihantala lands a left hand that snaps the head of Melondov backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Melondov.
Melondov is looking to break free of the clinch but Ihantala has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ihantala.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Melondov.
Ihantala misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ihantala lands a nice shot to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Ihantala.
Ihantala lands a nice shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Melondov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ihantala backwards.
Ihantala has a couple of punches blocked by Melondov.
Ihantala lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Melondov struggles to land a body shot inside as Ihantala controls his hands.
Melondov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Still in the clinch, Ihantala scores with a nice short uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Melondov.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Melondov.
Melondov trying to control the position but instead, Ihantala has worked for underhooks and has pushed Melondov into the cage.
Ihantala lands a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Melondov lands a left hand.
A nice left hand lands by Ihantala.
A short left from Melondov.
Ihantala lands an uppercut.

Melondov breaks the clinch.
Ihantala cracks Melondov with an open hand slap.
Ihantala explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Melondov takes one on the button.

Melondov is rocked!
Melondov drops his hands momentarily and Ihantala needs no second invitation. He sets himself and throws a perfect high kick, that clips Melondov just on the top of the head. Melondov drops like a sack of potatoes to the canvas, out cold! Oooooooh yeah! Stick a fork in Melondov - he's done!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Tali Ihantala!
Tali Ihantala retains his super heavyweight title!
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.