PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Nettles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tauno Tasalakki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Nettles has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nettles
vs
Tasalakki

175 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Nettles!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Tasalakki!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nettles misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tasalakki is looking to land body kicks.

Tasalakki closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nettles pushes Tasalakki off looking to stand but Tasalakki dives back in and keeps control.

Nettles kicks Tasalakki off and gets back to his feet.

Tasalakki moves into the clinch successfully.
Tasalakki keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nettles's efforts to push away.
Tasalakki lands with a left to the head.

Tasalakki lands a takedown into guard.
Tasalakki with a flurry of punches that miss.

Tasalakki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Nettles is looking to stand up but Tasalakki isn't so interested in that idea.
Nettles being controlled here, momentarily.
Nettles is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasalakki thows a big elbow that misses.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nettles scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Tauno Tasalakki has been cut.

Tasalakki fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nettles sprawls well initially but Tasalakki persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tasalakki thows a huge punch but Nettles dodges it nicely.
Nettles on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nettles tries to get out of the position.
Nettles won't allow Tasalakki to pass to mount.
Tasalakki prevents Nettles from standing back up.
Tasalakki trying to pass the guard but Nettles defending well.
Tasalakki not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nettles is not content to let Tasalakki control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki stops Nettles from getting back to his feet.
Tasalakki works his way into full mount!
Tasalakki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nettles is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tasalakki takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tasalakki with shots to the head and body - Nettles looks very uncomfortable down there.
Tasalakki wants to control the pace but Nettles is squirming around nicely.

Tasalakki working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nettles is trying to stand.
Tasalakki lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Tasalakki controlling his opponent.
Nettles is trying to stand up.
Tasalakki takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tasalakki won't let Nettles get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Nettles is squirming around, avoiding Tasalakki's attempts to control the action.

Tasalakki working for a guillotine from mount but Nettles is in no mood to give up.
Tasalakki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Tasalakki is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Nettles has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Tasalakki looks gassed!
Tasalakki trying to control but Nettles is having none of it.

Tasalakki working for a submission but Nettles is keeping him at bay.
Tasalakki tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tasalakki won't let Nettles get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Tasalakki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tauno Tasalakki's cut.
That's time! Nettles's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nettles doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tasalakki counters with a shoot takedown. Nettles fights it but they end up in guard.
Tasalakki postures up in Nettles's guard and throws a big left but Nettles blocks it.
Tasalakki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nettles's head.
Nettles keeping moving, preventing Tasalakki from controlling successfully.
Nettles wants to get back to his feet but Tasalakki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nettles trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Tasalakki trying to control but Nettles is working from the bottom.
Tasalakki scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nettles wants to stand up but Tasalakki is controlling him.
Tasalakki's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nettles is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tasalakki is controlling him.

Tasalakki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tasalakki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tasalakki wants to control from the top but Nettles keeps moving.

Tasalakki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tasalakki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tasalakki is breathing heavily.
Nettles is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tasalakki moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Tasalakki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tasalakki wants to control from the top but Nettles keeps moving.
Nettles wants to stand up but Tasalakki is controlling him.
Tasalakki is in close to Nettles's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tasalakki trying to control but Nettles is working from the bottom.
Tasalakki won't allow Nettles to get back to his feet.
Tasalakki trying to control but Nettles is working from the bottom.
Tasalakki with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tasalakki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nettles as he avoids it easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tasalakki.

Tasalakki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nettles, who protects the arm well.
Nettles pushes Tasalakki away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Tasalakki gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Tasalakki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nettles keeps working.
Nettles wants to get back to his feet but Tasalakki drags him back down.
Nettles knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tasalakki on the ground.
Tasalakki trying to control the position but Nettles is working away.
Nettles tries to escape but Tasalakki is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tasalakki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tasalakki lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Nettles down.

Tasalakki is trying to get an arm triangle but Nettles is defending well.
Tauno Tasalakki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tasalakki trying to control the position but Nettles is working away.
Nettles is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Tasalakki is controlling him well.
Tasalakki working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Tasalakki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nettles keeps working.
Nettles defending against the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Tasalakki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tauno Tasalakki's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tasalakki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nettles as he avoids it easily.
Nettles works the jab nicely.
Tasalakki throws a leg kick but Nettles sees it coming and moves out of range.

Tasalakki moves into the clinch.
Nettles dodges an elbow strike from Tasalakki.

Tasalakki gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Nettles looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tasalakki trying to control from half guard but Nettles is working away.
Tasalakki prevents Nettles from standing back up.
Tasalakki is trying to control. Nettles wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nettles tries to clinch up.
Nettles takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tasalakki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nettles.
Tasalakki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nettles.
Nettles throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Tasalakki looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Tasalakki is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Nettles looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tasalakki has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tasalakki trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nettles's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Tasalakki moves to the back position.
Tasalakki cracks Nettles with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Nettles from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Tasalakki has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Nettles is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Tasalakki tries to get the hooks in deep but Nettles pushed the leg off.
Nettles is trying to stand back up.

Tasalakki is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Nettles with him. Nettles is trying to defend but Tasalakki has an arm under the chin now! Nettles grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tauno Tasalakki!
Tauno Tasalakki is the new welterweight champion!