PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tali Ihantala (ranked 5 p4p, 98 weight class) and Zheko Melondov (ranked 1 p4p, 7 weight class). Melondov has chosen Exploration of Space by Cosmic Gate as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Ihantala
vs
Melondov

203 cm
33
253
26 - 9 - 0

200 cm
35
265
41 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Vegan Gains
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

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 26 - 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 41 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zheko Melondov!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melondov throws a lazy right hand but Ihantala sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Melondov misses with a body shot.
Ihantala is looking to counter punch.
Melondov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Melondov lands a big head kick that sends Ihantala tumbling to the mat! Melondov takes a step backwards and waves Ihantala back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Tali Ihantala has been cut.
Melondov throws a head kick that misses.
Ihantala fires out a quick counter leg kick but Melondov just manages to avoid it.
Ihantala scores with a hook to the body. Melondov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Melondov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ihantala thinks about countering with a head kick.
Melondov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Zheko Melondov has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihantala takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Melondov throws a jab when Ihantala was well out of range.
A quick step to the side and Ihantala tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ihantala throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A countering left hand to the body from Melondov misses.

Melondov clinches with his opponent.
Melondov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Melondov has a couple of punches blocked by Ihantala.
Melondov struggles to land a body shot inside as Ihantala controls his hands.
Ihantala wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ihantala has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Ihantala breaks from the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ihantala. Melondov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Melondov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Melondov misses the target.
Melondov throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Melondov throws the kick towards the body but Ihantala avoids it.
Ihantala takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Melondov looks to throw a body kick
and Ihantala counters with a nice body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melondov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Melondov slams his shin into Ihantala's torso.
Ihantala is breathing heavily.
Ihantala on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Melondov misses with a hook. Ihantala ducked under it nicely.
Melondov swings for the body but Ihantala moves out of range.
Ihantala keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Melondov.
It looked like Ihantala wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Melondov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Melondov throws a sloppy head kick and Ihantala moves out of range easily.
It looked like Ihantala wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melondov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ihantala counters with a good low kick that Melondov was not able to check.
Melondov throws a jab but it's blocked by Ihantala.
Ihantala appears to be looking for a big counter.
Melondov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Melondov blocks a jab.
A nice side step and Melondov releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zheko Melondov dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ihantala blocks the body kick.
Melondov throws a head kick but Ihantala moves out of range.
Ihantala was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Melondov connects with a single shot there.
Ihantala moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ihantala swings widly with a right hand
and Melondov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ihantala thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melondov throws a jab but it's blocked by Ihantala.
Melondov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melondov misses with a hook
and Ihantala connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ihantala lands a glancing blow to the side of Melondov's head.
Melondov throws a combination that misses
and Ihantala counters with a nice kick to the body.
Ihantala moves out of range as Melondov strikes.
Melondov misses with a body shot
and Ihantala counters with a nice low kick that buckles Melondov's knee momentarily.
Melondov takes one to the side of the head.
Ihantala getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala misses with a looping right.
A countering left hand to the body from Melondov misses.
Melondov jabs Ihantala to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ihantala takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ihantala was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Ihantala lands a left and a right that send Melondov crashing to the mat, dazed. Ihantala thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Melondov is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ihantala flashes Melondov a smile before throwing a beast of a right hand, straight down the pipe. Melondov's eyes follow the hand right onto his nose, taking in it's full glory... and then darkness. Melondov crumples to the floor! He's out cold! Ihantala punches the air and yells at the top of his lungs - yeeeeeeeeeeah!!!! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Tali Ihantala!
Tali Ihantala retains his super heavyweight title!
Tali Ihantala seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.