PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Fabolous Fjodor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mahdi Makungu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fjodor kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Era - Enea Vollare Mezzo. Makungu comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Nelly - Heart of a Champion kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Mahdi Makungu was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Fjodor
vs
Makungu

166 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

174 cm
38
156 lbs
26 - 14 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fabolous Fjodor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Mahdi Makungu!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makungu throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice uppercut lands for Makungu. That snapped Fjodor's head back.
Fjodor wants to clinch up but Makungu keeps it at a distance.
Makungu darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Fjodor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fjodor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Makungu.
Fjodor has been working on his boxing with his coaches at MMA Sanok Training Center in the buildup to the fight.
A jab from Makungu does it's job there.
Nice defenses there by Makungu.
Makungu takes a swing at Fjodor's ribcage but misses.
Makungu shoots in for a double leg but Fjodor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fjodor cracks Makungu with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

It looks like Mahdi Makungu has been cut.
Makungu has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Fjodor finds it's way round the side to connect with Makungu's head.
Makungu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fjodor defends it nicely.
A good leg kick by Makungu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fjodor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Makungu thows a body shot but no joy.
Fjodor throws a right hand that misses
and Makungu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A slow jab from Fjodor misses its intended target.
Mahdi Makungu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Makungu misses.
Fjodor throws a body punch but Makungu moves out of range.
Makungu ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Makungu shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fjodor napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Fjodor is trying to improve his position.
Makungu is looking to take a break and control but Fjodor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A lull in the action here as Makungu stalls from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fjodor is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Makungu working away.
Fjodor is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Makungu in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makungu is looking to take a break and control but Fjodor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fjodor defending against the ground and pound.
Makungu is looking to take a break and control but Fjodor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fjodor is trying to get back to half guard.
The ground and pound from Makungu seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Makungu in side control, throwing shots but Fjodor defends.
Makungu misses with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makungu misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Makungu has knee on belly momentarily but Fjodor bucks him off and regains half guard.
Makungu thows a huge punch but Fjodor dodges it nicely.
Makungu is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Makungu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Makungu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Makungu looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Makungu trying to control but Fjodor is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mahdi Makungu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mahdi Makungu's cut.
That's time! Fjodor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Makungu tries to clinch there but Fjodor circles away.
Fjodor looks to land a combination but Makungu avoids it well.
Makungu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Fjodor walks into a left hand.
Fjodor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Makungu moves away.
Fjodor misses with a double jab.
Makungu staying out of range there.
Makungu moves out of range of the leg kick from Fjodor.
Fjodor checks a leg kick.
A cross from Makungu lands.

Fjodor has closed the distance and engaged Makungu in a clinch.
Fjodor blocking some punches.
Makungu gets through Fjodor's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Makungu is trying to pull guard but Fjodor has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makungu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Makungu ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Makungu no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Makungu working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Fjodor has passed into half guard!
Makungu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Makungu throws his legs up looking for a submission but Fjodor uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fjodor controls the position.
Fjodor tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Makungu manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Makungu working over Fjodor with some ground and pound. Fjodor looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fjodor blocking the ground and pound attempt from Makungu.
Makungu is looking to take a break and control but Fjodor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Makungu misses with a head shot. Fjodor uses the momentum to regain guard.
Makungu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Makungu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fjodor is looking for a sweep.
Makungu working the ground and pound.
Makungu looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Fjodor is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makungu lands a few punches from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fjodor regains half guard there - taking advantage of Makungu's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Makungu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fjodor defending well though.
Makungu is keen to just control but Fjodor is a slippery customer.
Makungu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Makungu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Makungu looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Makungu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mahdi Makungu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mahdi Makungu's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Makungu throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nice defenses there by Fjodor.
Makungu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fjodor misses with a leg kick.
Fjodor 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.
Makungu connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Makungu throws a jab but it's blocked by Fjodor.
Makungu misses with a body shot.
Fjodor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Makungu has a takedown stuffed.
Fjodor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Fjodor gets caught napping as Makungu dives in and scores a takedown. Fjodor manages to retain guard.
Mahdi Makungu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Makungu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makungu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fjodor looking to control.
Makungu landing some decent shots from guard.
Makungu's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Fjodor looking to control.
Makungu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fjodor wants to get back to his feet but Makungu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fjodor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Makungu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fabolous Fjodor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fjodor keeping moving, preventing Makungu from controlling successfully.
Makungu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Makungu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Makungu lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Makungu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fjodor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Makungu.
Makungu wants to control from the top but Fjodor keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Makungu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makungu wants to pass the guard but Fjodor is keeping the position.
Makungu trying to control but Fjodor is working from the bottom.
Makungu throws a big right hand that misses.
Makungu scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fjodor wants to control but Makungu passes easily into half guard.
Makungu passes to side control.
Makungu scores with punches from side control.
Makungu trying to control the action but Fjodor is working from the bottom.
Mahdi Makungu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fjodor is trying to improve his position.
Makungu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fjodor dodges the ground and pound from Makungu.
Makungu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Makungu happy to just control the position for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Makungu postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mahdi Makungu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Makungu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mahdi Makungu!
After the big win, Mahdi Makungu made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Undead clothing. All items 10$ and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.