PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Teppo Taavitsainen (ranked 2254 p4p, 2615 weight class) and Riley Hatfield (ranked 259 p4p, 299 weight class). Hatfield has chosen Alabama - Bishop Gunn as his entrance music. 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.

Taavitsainen
vs
Hatfield

185 cm
20
160
5 - 3 - 0

174 cm
20
160
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

HELLBENT

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teppo Taavitsainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Riley Hatfield!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hatfield takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hatfield throws a head kick that misses
and Hatfield takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Taavitsainen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hatfield.
Hatfield takes a swing at Taavitsainen's ribcage but misses.
Taavitsainen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Hatfield just misses with a punch to the body.
Taavitsainen scores with a nice strike.
Hatfield misses with a body shot.
Hatfield looks to land a right hand but Taavitsainen moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatfield throws an off balance right hand
and Taavitsainen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Taavitsainen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hatfield under the eye.
Nice body punch from Hatfield.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taavitsainen throws a lazy right hand but Hatfield sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hatfield missing with a left hand there. Taavitsainen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Taavitsainen throwing a counter right hand but Hatfield manages to avoid it.
Hatfield moves out of range as Taavitsainen strikes.
Hatfield with the inside leg kick.
Hatfield misses with a hook. Taavitsainen ducked under it nicely.

Taavitsainen moves into the clinch successfully.
Hatfield misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hatfield lands a left hand.
Hatfield stalling against the cage.
Taavitsainen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hatfield stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatfield has a couple of punches blocked by Taavitsainen.
Hatfield tries a body shot but Taavitsainen blocks it.

Hatfield escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hatfield throws a sloppy head kick
and Taavitsainen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Taavitsainen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hatfield connects with a body shot that sends Taavitsainen's belly button to the back.
Hatfield lands a slapping body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hatfield just misses with a punch to the body.
Taavitsainen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hatfield swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taavitsainen throwing a counter right hand but Hatfield manages to avoid it.
Hatfield swings widly with a right hand
and Taavitsainen counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Hatfield there.
Hatfield scores with a decent looking hook.
Taavitsainen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Hatfield misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hatfield throws a head kick that misses.
Hatfield throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Taavitsainen misses with an uppercut. Hatfield saw that one coming.
A little jabbing left from Hatfield on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Taavitsainen shoots in and gets a takedown into Hatfield's guard.

Hatfield pushes Taavitsainen off and scrambles back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hatfield works Taavitsainen's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taavitsainen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hatfield lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hatfield misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Taavitsainen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Taavitsainen throws a body punch but Hatfield moves out of range.
Hatfield throws out a counter right but Taavitsainen avoids it with no problem.
Hatfield misses with a lunging right hand
and Taavitsainen counters with a stiff right hand.
Taavitsainen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hatfield. Hatfield obviously looking to wear him down.
A low kick from Hatfield misses
and Taavitsainen counters with a stiff right hand.
Hatfield takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hatfield lands with a good body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Riley Hatfield dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Taavitsainen throws a body punch but Hatfield moves out of range.
Hatfield misses with a right hand
and Taavitsainen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hatfield misses with a body punch
and Hatfield takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd cheers as Taavitsainen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hatfield doesn't seem phased though.
Hatfield throws a poor cross that misses
and Hatfield takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hatfield misses with a right hand
and Taavitsainen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Taavitsainen takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatfield bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hatfield throws a lazy head kick
and Taavitsainen counters with a right hand to the body.
Taavitsainen misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatfield missing with a left hand there. Taavitsainen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Riley Hatfield is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taavitsainen scores with a jab to the head.
Hatfield throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Taavitsainen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hatfield lands a nice shot to the body.
Hatfield misses with a double jab
and Taavitsainen counters with a nice uppercut.
Hatfield rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Taavitsainen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taavitsainen misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taavitsainen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hatfield will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hatfield buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hatfield misses with a left hand
and Taavitsainen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Riley Hatfield seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hatfield throws an off balance right hand
enabling Taavitsainen to counter with a crisp jab.
Hatfield throws out a leg kick but Taavitsainen moves out of range and Hatfield only half commits.
Taavitsainen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hatfield attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hatfield throws a lazy uppercut
and Hatfield takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Taavitsainen blocks a leg kick.
Hatfield misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatfield swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Taavitsainen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hatfield misses with a head kick.
Hatfield rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Taavitsainen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Teppo Taavitsainen is winning the standup battle so far.
Hatfield misses the body punch
letting Taavitsainen counter with a right hand.
Taavitsainen lands with a nice body punch.
Hatfield is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taavitsainen.
Taavitsainen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hatfield is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Hatfield displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taavitsainen throws out the jab.
Hatfield throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hatfield takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hatfield throws a right hand that misses
and Taavitsainen counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatfield throws a poor cross that misses
and Taavitsainen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hatfield throws a leg kick
and Taavitsainen counters with a nice body shot.
Hatfield misses with a hook
and Hatfield takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taavitsainen with a jab.
Taavitsainen walks into a stiff left hand from Hatfield.
Hatfield jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hatfield falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taavitsainen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hatfield throws a hook but Taavitsainen avoids it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Teppo Taavitsainen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Hatfield rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Taavitsainen to counter with a crisp jab.
Taavitsainen misses with a straight left.
Hatfield misses with a left hand
and Taavitsainen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hatfield fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Taavitsainen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A low kick lands for Hatfield.
Taavitsainen throws a body shot but no joy.
Hatfield appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatfield fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Taavitsainen is out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Taavitsainen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hatfield misses with a low kick as Taavitsainen jumps back.
Hatfield throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatfield throws a body shot but no joy.
Taavitsainen blocks a jab.
Taavitsainen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hatfield swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taavitsainen appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Taavitsainen avoids the body shot from Hatfield.
Taavitsainen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hatfield throws a head kick but Taavitsainen moves out of range.
Taavitsainen avoids a kick to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Taavitsainen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hatfield misses with a left hand
and Taavitsainen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hatfield throws a hook but Taavitsainen blocks it.
Hatfield lands with a straight right. Taavitsainen didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatfield throws an off balance right hand
and Taavitsainen counters with a left to the body.
Taavitsainen tries for a takedown but Hatfield circles away easily
and Hatfield counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Taavitsainen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hatfield.
Hatfield lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Taavitsainen avoids the head kick by Hatfield.
Taavitsainen is looking for a counter combo.
Hatfield misses with a right hand
and Taavitsainen counters with a stiff right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hatfield lands a body shot.
Taavitsainen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hatfield's waist but Hatfield gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taavitsainen off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatfield with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Taavitsainen to score with a decent uppercut.
Hatfield throws a lazy right hand but Taavitsainen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hatfield swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hatfield misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Taavitsainen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hatfield connects with a body shot.

Hatfield lands a left and a right that send Taavitsainen crashing to the mat, dazed. Hatfield thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Taavitsainen is rocked!

It looks like Teppo Taavitsainen has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hatfield lands hard precision jab right on the jaw that stiffens Taavitsainen up and sends him tumbling to the mat! The ref grabs Hatfield from behind before he can pounce. Some folks in the crowd didn't like that stoppage, but I saw Taavitsainen's eyes roll way back in his head, he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Riley Hatfield!
Riley Hatfield seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.