PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Firnanda Talha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter McBain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Talha might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Avicii - wake me up. The crowd seem to be enjoying McBain's choice of entrance music: Alien8. Peter McBain will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Talha
vs
McBain

170 cm
29
147 lbs
14 - 14 - 0

182 cm
29
135 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.

KAISER
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Firnanda Talha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Peter McBain!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for McBain, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've been informed that McBain has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
McBain misses with a right hand

so Talha counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
McBain manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Talha really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Talha bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Talha tries to free his leg and advance position but McBain is retaining full guard.
Talha in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Talha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talha keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McBain's head.
Talha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Talha loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Talha throws an elbow that misses. McBain uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Talha's guard. Nice move by McBain!
Talha is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Talha working for a triangle but McBain defends it easily.

Talha looking for subs off his back but McBain has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Talha looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Talha wants to get back to full guard but McBain has passed into side control.
Talha tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBain moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Talha tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McBain decides to stand up, so the ref orders Talha to his feet.
McBain throws a series of punches but Talha moves out of range.
McBain throws a sloppy head kick and Talha moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Talha slips a jab and a cross from McBain.
McBain misses with a two punch combination.
McBain throws a right and a left that both miss.
McBain throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Firnanda Talha dominated that round.
That's time! Talha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McBain lands with a slapping head kick.
Talha slips a straight right by McBain.
Talha shoots in looking for a takedown. McBain tries to sprawl out of it but Talha keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McBain manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McBain scores with a jab to the jaw.
Talha avoids the head kick by McBain.
McBain lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Talha circles away quickly and effectively.
McBain misses with a hook

and Talha counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Firnanda Talha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McBain keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Talha thows a huge punch but McBain dodges it nicely.
Talha thows a huge punch but McBain dodges it nicely.
McBain is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nice strikes from Talha there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McBain keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Talha looks to land a strike but McBain avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Talha throws an elbow that misses. McBain uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Talha's guard. Nice move by McBain!
McBain has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Talha is proving hard to escape from.
Talha lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for McBain!
McBain really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talha working McBain over with strikes here.
Talha looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Poor strikes thrown by Talha there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Talha goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now McBain is on top in guard.

McBain stands up from guard. Let's bang!
McBain uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Talha.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Talha with that takedown attempt.
The fighters circle momentarily. McBain darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
McBain throws a sloppy head kick and Talha moves out of range easily.
Talha closes this distance looking for a takedown but McBain circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Firnanda Talha. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Talha closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into McBain's guard.
Talha postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McBain keeping moving, preventing Talha from controlling successfully.
Talha seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
McBain avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Talha chips away with some ground and pound.
McBain avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Talha postures up in McBain's guard and throws a big left but McBain blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Talha throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Talha wants to control from the top but McBain keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Firnanda Talha dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McBain thows a body shot but no joy.
McBain dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Talha takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
McBain falls off balance throwing a combination

and Talha counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McBain's guard now.
Talha throws an elbow that misses. McBain uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Talha's guard. Nice move by McBain!
Talha might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Talha working for submissions but it's allowed McBain to get to half guard.

Talha actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McBain is keen to just control but Talha is a slippery customer.

Talha looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Talha has a hand on McBain's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. McBain takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Talha has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Talha can't escape the position.
Talha is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Darwinism , so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Talha bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Talha lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talha throws a big right hand that misses.
McBain is adopting a defensive guard.
Talha keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McBain's head.
Talha postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Talha loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Talha is working McBain over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McBain utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talha throws an elbow that misses. McBain uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Talha's guard. Nice move by McBain!

Talha looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McBain must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Talha has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. McBain is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Talha.
Talha is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but McBain is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Talha is desperately trying to improve his position but McBain has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Firnanda Talha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Talha, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Firnanda Talha!
A relieved looking Firnanda Talha thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Peter McBain stepped up to the mic, saying 'I want to thank all you fans for coming out tonight, Kaiser for helping me look so good, and Fury for helping me be strong, my team at Hey Steve's Fight Shack, all of my loved ones back home, and King Justus for letting me fight here in the OFC..really wanted the win tonight, I'll get it next time'.