PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yass McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexi Takala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexi Takala acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

McDonald
vs
Takala

175 cm
23
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
27
164 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yass McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alexi Takala!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takala buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Takala has McDonald up against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on McDonald's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McDonald wants to take the fight to the mat but Takala manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
McDonald has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Takala avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Takala working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Takala prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yass McDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body punch from Takala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takala prevents the takedown attempt.
Takala stalling.
Takala prevents a takedown attempt there.
McDonald wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala lands a body shot.
Takala lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Takala lands a nice shot to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Takala.
Takala stops a takedown attempt from McDonald.
McDonald drops down looking for an ankle pick but Takala pulls his leg out and moves away.

Takala clinches up with McDonald and pushes him back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Takala.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala pressing his opponent against the cage.
McDonald misses with a short punch on the inside.
McDonald tries to break free but Takala pushes him back against the cage.
McDonald is working for takedown but Takala is calmly controlling the position for now.
Takala lands a shot to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Takala.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takala stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Takala looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Takala leaning against his opponent.
McDonald looking for a takedown.

Takala manages to break the clinch.

Takala closes the distance and pushes McDonald back into the cage.
Takala lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt McDonald or not.
Takala stops a takedown attempt from McDonald.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexi Takala dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

McDonald has his takedown stuffed
and Takala counters with a one-two to the body.
Takala fails in his attempt to clinch.
Takala turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
McDonald shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Takala counters with a nice leg kick.

McDonald is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Takala's half guard.

McDonald is looking for a kimura here.
Takala keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Takala manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald throws a big elbow that misses.
McDonald scoring with punches to the head and body.
McDonald wants to control from the top but Takala keeps moving.

McDonald is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Takala is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Takala has escaped and now he's on top!
McDonald 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Takala slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
McDonald on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McDonald tries to get out of the position.
Takala sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed McDonald's guard.

Takala is working for a kimura but McDonald is defending it quite comfortably.
McDonald trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is refusing to be controlled, as Takala sits in half guard.

Takala is working for a kimura but McDonald is defending it quite comfortably.
Takala is trying to control. McDonald wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Takala is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to stand.

Takala is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McDonald defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Takala looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Takala wants to control but McDonald is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takala working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on McDonald's thigh. McDonald counters though and makes it back to full guard.

McDonald working for a triangle but Takala defends it easily.
McDonald keeping full guard, as Takala tries to pass.
Takala is looking to advance position but McDonald has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

McDonald wants to finish this one by submission but Takala is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from McDonald.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexi Takala will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

McDonald gets tackled into the cage by Takala. Takala maintains the clinch.
Takala digs a right hand underneath McDonald's ribcage. McDonald let out a lung full of air as it connected.
McDonald changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Takala fights it off and pushes away nicely.
McDonald shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Takala but Takala pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Takala forces McDonald back against the cage and clinches.
Takala pushes McDonald back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Takala working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
McDonald can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yass McDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takala lands with a right to the head.
Takala controlling the action here for a moment.
A hook to the body from Takala.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries to score a body lock takedown but Takala shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A left hand lands to the body for Takala.
McDonald changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Takala fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Good leg kick by Takala there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Takala has taken the fight to the clinch.
Takala digs a right hand into McDonald's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on McDonald's gas tank.
Takala cracks McDonald with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala scores with a shoulder strike.
Takala stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Takala scores with a hook to the body.
Takala stops a takedown attempt from McDonald.
Nice body punch from Takala - that landed with a thud.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Alexi Takala seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Takala.
Alexi Takala is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Takala lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down McDonald.
Takala just leaning against McDonald, taking a breather.
Takala is trying to break the clinch but McDonald has him pressed against the cage.
Takala slows down the pace here.
Yass McDonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A hook to the body from Takala.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexi Takala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Takala 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexi Takala!