PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cain Mir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kari Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mir comes into the arena with Sub-Mission blaring out of the sound system. Taalasmaa has chosen Jore Marjaranta - Tunteisiin as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mir
vs
Taalasmaa

185 cm
21
190 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

184 cm
24
202 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Grappling Pro Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Cain Mir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Kari Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mir gets the takedown into side control.
Mir working the ground and pound from side control.
Taalasmaa gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Taalasmaa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mir tries to pass the half guard into mount. Taalasmaa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Taalasmaa is looking to control Mir's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taalasmaa avoid being mounted?
Mir 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.
Taalasmaa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Mir trying to control the position from guard on top but Taalasmaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mir throws a big right hand that misses.
Mir is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mir wants to control from the top but Taalasmaa keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mir is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mir accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mir landing some decent shots from guard.
Mir trying to control but Taalasmaa is working from the bottom.
Taalasmaa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mir trying to control but Taalasmaa is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Taalasmaa misses with a hook.
Taalasmaa misses with the combination.
Mir sizes up Taalasmaa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Mir shoots in but no luck this time.
Taalasmaa lands with a shot to the body.
Mir uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taalasmaa.
Mir scores with a crisp jab that stopped Taalasmaa in his tracks.
Taalasmaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mir moves away.
Mir slips under a jab from Taalasmaa.
Nice defenses there by Mir.
No luck for Mir with that takedown attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mir shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mir looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Taalasmaa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taalasmaa is trying to control but can't.
Mir is trying to control. Taalasmaa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mir is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Taalasmaa reverses the position - he's now on top in Mir's guard.
Mir looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taalasmaa forces his way into half guard.
Mir has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taalasmaa is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mir's head.
Mir is pressing down on Taalasmaa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mir working a defensive guard but Taalasmaa manages to pass into side control anyway.
Taalasmaa is chipping away with strikes.
Mir is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Taalasmaa off and has taken his back!
Mir trying to control.
Taalasmaa manages to reverse the position and now he's in Mir's guard. Nice work there by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cain Mir will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mir throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Mir drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taalasmaa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mir tries to free his leg and advance position but Taalasmaa is retaining full guard.
Taalasmaa wants to stand up but Mir is controlling him.

Mir drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Taalasmaa manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Mir has Taalasmaa in his guard.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Mir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mir bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taalasmaa's guard.
Mir trying to control but Taalasmaa is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir preventing the sweep.
Mir trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Taalasmaa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mir wants to control from the top but Taalasmaa keeps moving.
Mir trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mir lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mir pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taalasmaa is keeping the position for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mir moves away from the strike by Taalasmaa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Taalasmaa checks a low kick from Mir.
Mir scores with a hook to the body. Taalasmaa takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mir feints and then cracks Taalasmaa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Taalasmaa down.

Taalasmaa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mir to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mir wants to control from the top but Taalasmaa keeps moving.
Taalasmaa wants to sweep here but Mir controlling him for the moment.
Mir passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mir creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Taalasmaa staying busy and making it hard for Mir to control.
Taalasmaa can't escape the position.
Mir lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Taalasmaa hold on?!
Taalasmaa trying to get back to his feet but Mir is in full control for now.

Taalasmaa is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Mir gets his way!

Mir is looking for a rear naked choke here but Taalasmaa reverses the position brilliantly into Mir's guard!
Mir wants to sweep here but Taalasmaa controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes from guard but Mir blocks nicely.

Mir is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Taalasmaa rolls with it to try and escape but Mir cranks on the arm and Taalasmaa is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Cain Mir!