PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nicholas McDonald (ranked 582 p4p, 416 weight class) and Nyrkki Rauta (ranked 66 p4p, 54 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McDonald
vs
Rauta

179 cm
32
180
17 - 10 - 0

185 cm
29
180
26 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Fantasy Threads

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nicholas McDonald!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nyrkki Rauta!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rauta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rauta throws a jab when McDonald was well out of range.
McDonald scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rauta doesn't seem bothered though.
McDonald definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
McDonald lands a two punch combo.
A left and a right from McDonald both land. Nice combination.
Rauta avoids the head kick by McDonald.
Rauta throws out a powerful jab.
McDonald connects with an inside leg kick.
A slow jab from Rauta misses its intended target.
McDonald swings away with a leg kick that misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rauta misses with a looping right.
McDonald fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rauta checks it well.
Nicholas McDonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDonald throws a leg kick but Rauta sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rauta throws a counter combo.
McDonald throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rauta checks a low kick from McDonald.
Rauta misses with a hook.
Rauta misses with a low kick.
Rauta throws a low kick, looking for McDonald's leg but McDonald calmly moves out of range.
Rauta moves out of range of the strikes.
Rauta moves out of range of the leg kick from McDonald.
Rauta ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rauta misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald throws a body kick that misses.
Rauta counters with a body kick.
McDonald checks a leg kick.
McDonald half committed to a counter leg kick.
McDonald throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McDonald throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rauta.
A head kick misses from McDonald.
McDonald walks into a stiff left hand from Rauta.
Rauta jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McDonald swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rauta misses with a body shot.
Rauta dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rauta misses with a hook.
Rauta moves out of range as McDonald throws a body kick.
McDonald swings for the body but Rauta moves out of range.
McDonald chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rauta can pounce on him.

Rauta instigates a clinch.
Rauta misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rauta lands a nice uppercut.
Rauta is leaning against McDonald and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
McDonald digs a right hand underneath Rauta's ribcage. Rauta let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rauta lands a hook that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice left hand lands by Rauta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rauta lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rauta lands with a right to the head.
Rauta swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Rauta fails to land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rauta.
Rauta misses with some punches.
A short body shot lands from McDonald as the two fighters clinch.
Rauta misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McDonald tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rauta's elbow.
Rauta scores with a hook to the body.
Rauta scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rauta just misses with a elbow thrown towards McDonald's brow.

McDonald pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McDonald works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rauta bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rauta throws a hook to the side of McDonald's head but McDonald sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McDonald avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rauta swings away with a leg kick that misses.
McDonald takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald scores with a decent looking hook.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McDonald.
A little jabbing left from Rauta on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rauta throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McDonald.
McDonald swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rauta cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rauta showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McDonald.
Rauta lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rauta throws a body kick that misses.
Rauta fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rauta blocks a head kick by McDonald.
McDonald tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rauta lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McDonald throws a nice inside leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Rauta. Beautiful body shot.
Rauta goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rauta doesn't manage to clinch there - McDonald circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McDonald listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McDonald throws a nice inside leg kick.

Rauta moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries to stall but Rauta uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
McDonald misses with the head strike.
Rauta fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rauta has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. McDonald seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Rauta can turn it around.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rauta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McDonald was well out of range. Poor timing from Rauta.
McDonald swings for the body but Rauta moves out of range.
Rauta misses with a leg kick.
McDonald jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rauta takes a swing at McDonald's ribcage but misses.
McDonald misses with a series of wild punches.
McDonald uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rauta has time to react.
Rauta misses with a hook. McDonald ducked under it nicely.
Rauta misses with a straight right.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rauta jabs McDonald to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rauta dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McDonald. That did some damage!
McDonald misses with a body shot.
McDonald avoids the head kick by Rauta.
McDonald closes the distance and lands a one-two.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nyrkki Rauta dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McDonald throws a right and a left that Rauta avoids nicely.
McDonald scores with a shot to the body.

Rauta clinches with his opponent.
McDonald tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rauta working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nyrkki Rauta seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rauta tries to work over McDonald's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rauta tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McDonald tries a body shot but Rauta blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rauta.
Rauta creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
McDonald content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rauta's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McDonald avoids the elbow strike from Rauta, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rauta lands a hook that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
McDonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McDonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.

McDonald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McDonald will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rauta lands a leg kick that knocks McDonald off balance momentarily.
Rauta throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McDonald moves out of range as Rauta strikes.
Nicholas McDonald is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rauta lands with a good body shot.
McDonald throws a wild body kick that Rauta sees coming a mile off.
McDonald throws a leg kick that misses.
McDonald motions for Rauta to come forward. McDonald throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rauta lands with a kick to the temple. McDonald shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
McDonald throws the kick towards the body but Rauta avoids it.
Rauta throws a nice inside leg kick.
That kick from McDonald tenderised Rauta's leg. Rauta is trying to keep his angry face on.
McDonald will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rauta! But no joy.
Rauta throws a body kick that misses
and McDonald makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
McDonald tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McDonald throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McDonald misses with a body shot.
The fighters circling - Rauta throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rauta throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
McDonald connects with a jab.

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!
McDonald fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
McDonald finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rauta ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
McDonald fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rauta manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from McDonald. Rauta does a little dance to reset his feet.
McDonald throws a low kick but Rauta avoids it.
McDonald ducks right into an uppercut from Rauta.
Rauta displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
McDonald swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McDonald lands with a slapping head kick.
Rauta avoids the body shot from McDonald.
McDonald takes a swing at Rauta's ribcage but misses.
Rauta avoids the body shot from McDonald.
Rauta tries to clinch up.
A low kick lands for McDonald.
McDonald walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rauta fails to land with a series of punches.
McDonald throws a head kick that half lands.
McDonald tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McDonald buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rauta's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald misses with a double jab
enabling Rauta to counter with a crisp jab.
Rauta misses with a hook.
McDonald is looking to wear down Rauta with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rauta throws out a leg kick but McDonald moves out of range and Rauta only half commits.
McDonald fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rauta looks to land a right hand but McDonald moved out of range.
Rauta stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McDonald.
Rauta misses with a head kick.
Rauta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nicholas McDonald is winning the standup battle so far.
McDonald bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rauta lunges at McDonald with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by McDonald's hand.
Rauta throws a low kick, looking for McDonald's leg but McDonald calmly moves out of range.
McDonald lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
McDonald swats away the attempt to clinch by Rauta.
Rauta throws a looping overhand right but McDonald ducks down to avoid it.
Rauta checks a low kick from McDonald.
McDonald blocks a jab.
McDonald misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald defending well as Rauta loads up on a big left hand.

Rauta gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDonald blocks an uppercut.
Rauta misses with some punches.
McDonald looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McDonald blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McDonald.
Rauta throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McDonalds head.
Rauta leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rauta lands a nice shot to the body.
Rauta throws a punch but it's blocked by McDonald.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rauta lands a body shot.
Rauta working aggressively here.
Rauta lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
McDonald blocks an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nyrkki Rauta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McDonald dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McDonald misses with a body kick.
Rauta misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rauta shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
McDonald punishes Rauta's body with a nice straight punch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from McDonald lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rauta has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rauta and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rauta throws a leg kick which misses McDonald's front leg but catches the back leg as McDonald tries to avoid it.
McDonald moves out of range of the body kick from Rauta.
McDonald lands a nice shot to the body.
McDonald swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McDonald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McDonald swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald throws out a leg kick but Rauta moves out of range and McDonald only half commits.
McDonald fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rauta dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McDonald takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDonald takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
McDonald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rauta.
Rauta is looking to clinch but McDonald is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauta throws a chopping leg kick but McDonald manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
McDonald swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rauta throws a hook but McDonald avoids it easily.
McDonald dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rauta. That did some damage!
McDonald throws a looping overhand right but Rauta ducks down to avoid it.
Rauta goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rauta avoids the body shot from McDonald.
McDonald throws a head kick but Rauta moves out of range.
Rauta checks a leg kick.
Rauta connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
McDonald misses with a body kick.
McDonald just misses with a punch to the body.
McDonald throws a jab but it's blocked by Rauta.
A telegraphed right hand from Rauta misses the target.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as McDonald checks a leg kick.
McDonald throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rauta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McDonald was well out of range. Poor timing from Rauta.
McDonald misses with a wild body shot.
Rauta takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rauta jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald looks to score with a jab to the body but Rauta is just out of range.
Rauta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McDonald takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rauta checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A nice leg kick from Rauta, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rauta takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rauta waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McDonald.
McDonald moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice defenses there by McDonald.
McDonald wants to land a leg kick but Rauta is out of range.
Rauta connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between McDonald's hands.
McDonald throws a nice looking combination but Rauta bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McDonald misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rauta counters with a nice body kick.
Rauta moves away from the strike by McDonald.
A nice side step and Rauta releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
McDonald ducks under a wild hook from Rauta.
McDonald throws a head kick that misses
and Rauta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McDonald pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rauta is out of range and McDonald settles back down.
Rauta connects with a body shot.
McDonald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Rauta. That snapped McDonald's head back.
McDonald uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rauta.
McDonald has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from McDonald there as he acknowledges the shot.
McDonald checks a low kick from Rauta.
McDonald avoids the body shot from Rauta.
McDonald moves out of range as Rauta strikes.
McDonald fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rauta has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rauta swings away with a leg kick that misses.
McDonald thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rauta throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McDonald scores with a head kick. Rauta tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
McDonald slips a jab and a cross from Rauta.
A nice inside leg kick there by McDonald. That's going to slow Rauta down.
McDonald looks to land a combination but Rauta avoids it well.
Rauta only half commits to the counter leg kick.
McDonald throws a low kick but Rauta moves out of range easily.
Rauta scores with the left hand. McDonald knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDonald throws a head kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Rauta.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald wants to land a leg kick but Rauta is out of range.
Rauta jabs at McDonald's body.
Rauta throws a push kick but McDonald slaps the foot to one side.
A jab from Rauta misses.
Rauta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McDonald lands a jab to Rauta's midsection.
Rauta throws an overhand right that lands on McDonald's shoulder, as McDonald tries to avoid the shot.
It appears McDonald was looking to counter with a kick there.
McDonald slips under a jab from Rauta.
McDonald swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
McDonald throws a leg kick
and Rauta counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Rauta.
Rauta checks the leg kick.
McDonald will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McDonald walks into a straight right hand from Rauta.
Rauta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rauta throws a body kick that misses.
McDonald feinted there with a counter leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A low kick lands for McDonald.
Rauta works McDonald's body with a nice hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Nyrkki Rauta just about did enough to take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McDonald lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rauta lands a nice hook to McDonald's body. McDonald takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rauta avoids the body shot from McDonald.
Rauta scoring well with a low kick there.
Rauta avoids the head kick by McDonald.
McDonald takes a body punch but keeps moving.
McDonald avoids a kick to the body.
Rauta blocks a jab.
Rauta throws a front kick aimed at McDonald's knee but McDonald avoids it well.
McDonald swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
McDonald throws a low kick but Rauta avoids it.
Rauta looks for the body kick but McDonald saw that one coming.
McDonald attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
McDonald throws a hook to the side of Rauta's head but Rauta sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rauta takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
McDonald fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rauta.
Rauta tries to clinch but McDonald moves out of range.
Rauta avoids the head kick by McDonald.
Rauta swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
An inside leg kick lands from McDonald.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rauta throws a jab when McDonald was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald misses with a wild body shot.
McDonald throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rauta lands a nice hook to McDonald's body. McDonald takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
McDonald thows a leg kick but Rauta checks it
and Rauta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rauta connects with a body shot that sends McDonald's belly button to the back.
Rauta throws a series of punches but McDonald moves out of range.
McDonald slips under a jab from Rauta.
McDonald misses with a body shot.
Rauta looks like he wants to counter punch here.
McDonald takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McDonald misses with a hook. Rauta ducked under it nicely.
McDonald scores with a jab to the body.
McDonald punishes Rauta's body with a nice straight punch.
McDonald looks to land a body kick but Rauta moved away.

Rauta clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rauta.
Rauta misses with a body punch.
McDonald stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
McDonald blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rauta has McDonald pressed against the cage, preventing McDonald from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McDonald throws a head punch that misses.
Rauta has a couple of punches blocked by McDonald.
Rauta doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rauta lands a shoulder strike.
Rauta trying to stall but McDonald improves his position.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McDonald slips a straight right by Rauta.
McDonald keeps Rauta at a distance using the push kick.

Rauta instigates a clinch.
McDonald is trying to break free.
McDonald working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rauta doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rauta blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McDonald has a couple of punches blocked by Rauta.
McDonald misses with a punch on the inside.
McDonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDonald breaks the clinch.
McDonald scores with a body shot.
McDonald pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rauta is out of range and McDonald settles back down.
Rauta throws out a loose jab but McDonald uses good head movement to avoid it.
McDonald throws a low kick, looking for Rauta's leg but Rauta calmly moves out of range.
Rauta misses with a hook.
The crowd cheers as Rauta lands an impressive looking overhand right. McDonald doesn't seem phased though.
McDonald throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McDonald throws a body shot but no joy.
Rauta appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Rauta misses with an uppercut.
Rauta scores with a hook.
Rauta lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McDonald at a distance.
A swing and a miss from Rauta.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rauta.
Rauta scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rauta tries to work over McDonald's front leg with a kick but McDonald checks it.
McDonald tries a low kick but Rauta avoids it.
Rauta misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rauta blocks a head kick by McDonald.
Rauta moves out of range of the body kick from McDonald.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDonald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rauta.
McDonald lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McDonald is looking to land body kicks.
Rauta scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rauta tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
McDonald lands with a thumping leg kick.
McDonald moves out of range as Rauta throws a body kick.
McDonald fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McDonald checks a leg kick.
Rauta cracks McDonald with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rauta uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McDonald.
McDonald looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
McDonald walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rauta checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rauta throws a big shot that misses.
McDonald throws a leg kick which misses Rauta's front leg but catches the back leg as Rauta tries to avoid it.
Nice uppercut there from Rauta.
McDonald throws a leg kick but Rauta moved away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Nyrkki Rauta will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Rauta is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McDonald.
Rauta misses with an uppercut.
McDonald feints and then cracks Rauta's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rauta down.
McDonald will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rauta feints a counter leg kick.
Rauta lands a nice looking body kick.
Rauta misses with a hook.
Rauta throws a front kick aimed at McDonald's knee but McDonald avoids it well.
McDonald fires out a quick counter leg kick but Rauta just manages to avoid it.
Rauta gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McDonald.
Rauta checks a leg kick nicely.
Rauta has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from McDonald.
Rauta scores with a crisp jab that stopped McDonald in his tracks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald defending well as Rauta loads up on a big left hand.
Rauta connects with a good right hand that stumbles McDonald. McDonald circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from McDonald lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rauta has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rauta and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rauta misses with a wild body shot.
Rauta stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McDonald.
Rauta blocks a head kick by McDonald.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauta walks into a left hand.
McDonald pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
McDonald throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nice uppercut there from McDonald.

Rauta clinches up against the cage.

McDonald pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McDonald will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rauta keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
McDonald tries to land a leg kick but Rauta saw it coming and moves away.
McDonald throws a leg kick but Rauta sees it coming and moves out of range.
McDonald throws a body punch but Rauta moves out of range.
McDonald misses with a body shot.
Rauta scores with a punch to the head.
McDonald ducks under a wild hook from Rauta.
Rauta works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
McDonald swats away the attempt to clinch by Rauta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rauta tries to close the distance and clinch up but McDonald swats him away and circles back towards the center.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Danga de danga de dang - McDonald scores with a four punch combination!
A solid leg kick lands there for Rauta.
McDonald throws the kick towards the body but Rauta avoids it.
A nice leg kick lands there from McDonald.

Rauta gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
McDonald is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rauta.
McDonald working hard to break the clinch.
Rauta misses with an elbow over the top.

Rauta breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rauta checks a low kick from McDonald.
McDonald moves out of range of the body kick from Rauta.

Rauta drives through and clinches with McDonald against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to stall.
Rauta prevents McDonald from breaking the clinch.
McDonald misses with some punches.
Rauta misses with the head strike.
Rauta lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rauta leaning his opponent against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McDonald.
McDonald digs a right hand underneath Rauta's ribcage. Rauta let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rauta lands a left hand that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.

McDonald's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rauta takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McDonald tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rauta is able to avoid easily.
McDonald throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rauta avoids the body shot from McDonald.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rauta.
McDonald moves out of range of the leg kick from Rauta.
McDonald on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
McDonald lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rauta's sensitive parts.
Rauta swings for the body but McDonald moves out of range.
McDonald appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
McDonald works Rauta's body with a nice hook.
Rauta thuds a left hand into McDonald's body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rauta cracks McDonald with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
McDonald with the inside leg kick.
McDonald misses with a low kick.
Nice jab there from Rauta.
Nyrkki Rauta is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rauta scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
McDonald fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A shot to the body from McDonald misses
and Rauta connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rauta gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McDonald.
Rauta tries to clinch but McDonald moves out of range.
Nicholas McDonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rauta listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rauta checks a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nyrkki Rauta.
Well Rauta 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 46:50
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 45:50
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nyrkki Rauta!
Nyrkki Rauta is the new welterweight champion!
After winning the bout, Nyrkki Rauta thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.