PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tali Ihantala (ranked 18 p4p, 22 weight class) and Wanderson Machado (ranked 2 p4p, 3 weight class). Machado is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by El Barrio. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ihantala
vs
Machado

203 cm
34
253
28 - 10 - 0

175 cm
32
214
30 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Vegan Gains
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Hoarse Pills

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 28 - 10 - 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 30 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wanderson Machado!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Phil Schofield and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado lands with an overhand left.
Ihantala throws a leg kick that misses.
Machado throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ihantala counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Both fighters circling a little - Machado finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Machado scores with a nice right hand.
Machado checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nice defenses there by Machado.
Ihantala closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Machado throws a body punch but Ihantala moves out of range.
Ihantala throws a solid leg kick but Machado takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ihantala.
Ihantala connects with a single shot there.

It looks like Wanderson Machado has been cut.
Tali Ihantala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ihantala walks into a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihantala throws a body kick that misses
and Machado counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Machado misses with a body shot
and Ihantala counters with a nice uppercut.
Ihantala lands with a hook. Machado tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Ihantala crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Machado - the referee stops the clock and Ihantala gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Machado. Ihantala manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Machado looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ihantala went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Machado closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A head kick by Ihantala misses
and Machado counters with a body kick.
Ihantala is breathing heavily.
Machado throws a body kick that misses.
The fighters circling - Ihantala throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Machado with a jab.
Ihantala misses with a body punch
and Machado counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Machado fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ihantala checks it well.
Machado misses with a leg kick.
Ihantala lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ihantala is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Machado feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ihantalas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Machado blocks a head kick by Ihantala.
It seemed like Machado was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ihantala ducks under a wild hook from Machado.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Ihantala - that will leave a mark!
Ihantala throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Machado is trying to counter with his kicks.
Machado is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Ihantala had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Machado misses the jab.
Ihantala lands a glancing blow to the side of Machado's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Machado misses its intended target.
Ihantala with a nice cross.
Ihantala looks to land a body kick but Machado moved away.
Machado raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Nice straight punches there by Machado. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Machado.
Machado avoids the body shot from Ihantala.
A combination from Ihantala does no damage.
Ihantala misses with a wild body shot.
A leg kick checked by Ihantala.
Ihantala moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That has opened up Wanderson Machado's cut even more.
Machado misses with a hook. Ihantala ducked under it nicely.
Machado has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala ducks under a wild hook from Machado.
Ihantala slips a straight right by Machado.
Ihantala swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ihantala uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Machado.
Machado throws a push kick but Ihantala slaps the foot to one side.
Ihantala lands with a slapping head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ihantala jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ihantala rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Machado counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ihantala misses with the body kick
enabling Machado to counter with a crisp jab.
A slow jab from Ihantala misses its intended target.
Machado swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ihantala throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

The cut above Wanderson Machado's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Machado throws a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Wanderson Machado will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wanderson Machado's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Machado ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ihantala throws a head kick that misses.
Machado only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Machado throws a hook but Ihantala avoids it easily.
Machado misses the jab.
Ihantala takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Machado throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ihantala's head.
Ihantala misses with an uppercut
and Machado scores with a counter punch that sends Ihantala to the canvas! Machado smells blood - he's punishing Ihantala with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Ihantala has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Wanderson Machado!
Wanderson Machado is the new super heavyweight champion!
A very excited looking Wanderson Machado made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.