PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paea Talanoa (ranked 1361 p4p, 138 weight class) and Robert McKenna (ranked 3440 p4p, 315 weight class). Talanoa comes to the cage accompanied by Tonga. McKenna has chosen Freedom as his entrance music. 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?

Talanoa
vs
McKenna

187 cm
25
280 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

194 cm
24
212 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paea Talanoa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robert McKenna!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKenna throws a head kick but Talanoa moves out of range.
Talanoa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Talanoa misses with an attempted mid kick.

Talanoa gets tackled into the cage by McKenna. McKenna maintains the clinch.
Talanoa goes for a takedown attempt but McKenna pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

McKenna closes the distance and clinches.
McKenna prevents a takedown attempt there.

McKenna is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Talanoa can't fight it off and eventually McKenna manages to take the fight to the floor. Talanoa looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McKenna working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKenna stops Talanoa from standing up.
McKenna controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
McKenna content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talanoa trying to control the position.

Talanoa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McKenna defends well.
McKenna chips away with some ground and pound.
McKenna is looking to work some ground and pound but Talanoa has wrist control.
Talanoa seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
McKenna must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Talanoa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McKenna is aware though and is defending well.
McKenna postures up and lands a big shot to Talanoa's brow.
McKenna throwing strikes from guard but Talanoa blocks nicely.
McKenna lands a couple of elbows.
Talanoa keeping moving, preventing McKenna from controlling successfully.
McKenna looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKenna throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Talanoa keeping full guard, as McKenna tries to pass.
McKenna loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McKenna trying to control the position from guard on top but Talanoa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Talanoa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McKenna doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McKenna manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
McKenna distracts Talanoa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Talanoa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Talanoa being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McKenna got a little sloppy there for a moment and Talanoa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McKenna has managed to get both his arms back between Talanoa's legs - danger averted.

Talanoa is looking for a triangle but McKenna pushes his legs off easily.
McKenna keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Talanoa's head.

Talanoa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McKenna loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McKenna wants to control from the top but Talanoa keeps moving.
McKenna postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Talanoa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKenna is working Talanoa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
McKenna wants to control from the top but Talanoa keeps moving.
Talanoa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McKenna sitting in guard here, content to control.
McKenna missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McKenna is pushing down on Talanoa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Talanoa is fighting to maintain full guard but McKenna has managed to sneak the leg through.
McKenna working the head and body with strikes.
Talanoa is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McKenna is looking to take a break and control but Talanoa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Talanoa actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert McKenna dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McKenna drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Talanoa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McKenna trying to control but Talanoa is working from the bottom.

Talanoa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McKenna is looking to work some ground and pound but Talanoa has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKenna passes Talanoa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nice strikes from McKenna there.
McKenna is stalling here. Talanoa is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! McKenna seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Talanoa has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Talanoa has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talanoa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McKenna is fending him off so far but Talanoa persists. Nope, McKenna circles away and we're back to standing.
McKenna tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

McKenna has closed the distance and engaged Talanoa in a clinch.
McKenna misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Talanoa.

McKenna works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
McKenna pushing down on Talanoa's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
McKenna thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McKenna trying to control from Talanoa's half guard. Talanoa has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Talanoa keeping moving, preventing McKenna from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Talanoa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McKenna trying to control but Talanoa is working from the bottom.

Talanoa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McKenna is aware though and is defending well.
McKenna looking to sit in guard and control but Talanoa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Talanoa drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McKenna dives on top into guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells McKenna's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Talanoa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McKenna doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McKenna manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
McKenna has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McKenna is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenna slips nicely into half guard.
Talanoa is trying to control but can't.
McKenna is pressing down on Talanoa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Talanoa is holding on for now.
Talanoa wants to get back to full guard.
McKenna takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Talanoa regains full guard. Nicely done.
Robert McKenna has got the better of the ground game so far.

Talanoa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McKenna passes Talanoa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Talanoa is staying active underneath McKenna, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Talanoa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Talanoa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Talanoa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McKenna is pressing down on Talanoa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Talanoa is holding on for now.
McKenna with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
McKenna wants to lay and pray for a moment but Talanoa keeps working.
McKenna scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Talanoa trying to control but McKenna postures up.
Talanoa is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert McKenna showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

McKenna fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Talanoa, pushing him back against the cage.
Talanoa wants a takedown.

McKenna breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

McKenna shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Talanoa is trying to control but can't.
McKenna is looking to take a break and control but Talanoa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Talanoa actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKenna is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Talanoa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but McKenna scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talanoa tries to roll over but McKenna keeps him under control.
McKenna is looking to take a break and control but Talanoa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Talanoa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McKenna pulls his head out easily.
Talanoa is not content to let McKenna control the position.
Talanoa is looking for a sweep. McKenna is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McKenna is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Talanoa is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! McKenna is tapping! Great win for Talanoa!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Paea Talanoa!
An out of breath Paea Talanoa thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
40%

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