PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Urho Kekkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tauno Tasalakki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kekkonen
vs
Tasalakki

185 cm
21
182 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
170 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Urho Kekkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Tasalakki!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tasalakki feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tasalakki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tasalakki looking to pass the guard.
Tasalakki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tasalakki won't allow Kekkonen to get back to his feet.
Tasalakki looking to pass the guard.
Tasalakki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tasalakki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tasalakki looking to sit in guard and control but Kekkonen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kekkonen being controlled here momentarily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tasalakki keeps the fight on the outside.
Tasalakki is looking to land body kicks.
Tasalakki has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kekkonen finds it's way round the side to connect with Tasalakki's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tasalakki. Kekkonen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tasalakki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kekkonen throws a leg kick which misses Tasalakki's front leg but catches the back leg as Tasalakki tries to avoid it.
Kekkonen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kekkonen misses with a hook to the body
and Tasalakki counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kekkonen's knee momentarily.
Tasalakki shoots in for a double leg but Kekkonen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tasalakki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Tasalakki unloads with some shots from mount but Kekkonen bucks and avoids them well.
Tasalakki throwing strikes here but Kekkonen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Tasalakki throws some wild stikes that Kekkonen manages to avoid easily.
Tasalakki looking to finish with strikes here!
Tasalakki can't control as he wanted to and Kekkonen manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tasalakki in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Kekkonen's thigh. Kekkonen counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Tasalakkiis looking to pass into half guard but Kekkonen pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kekkonen is in guard.
Tasalakki working a defensive guard here.
Kekkonen tries to stand but Tasalakki is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Kekkonen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Urho Kekkonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tasalakki avoids the head kick by Kekkonen.
Tasalakki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kekkonen avoids it really well and circles away.
Urho Kekkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tauno Tasalakki.
Tasalakki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kekkonen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tasalakki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kekkonen.
Kekkonen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tasalakki throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tasalakki thuds a left hand into Kekkonen's body.
Kekkonen lands with a right hand.
Kekkonen tries to clinch up but Tasalakki circles away and keeps his distance.
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 Urho Kekkonen will probably get the nod.
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.

Tasalakki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kekkonen circles away quickly and effectively.
Tasalakki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tasalakki slips under a jab from Kekkonen.
Urho Kekkonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick lands from Tasalakki.
Urho Kekkonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tasalakki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kekkonen counters with a left to the body.
Kekkonen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tasalakki tries to clinch up.
Tasalakki drops his hands momentarily and Kekkonen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kekkonen throws a head kick that misses.
Jab from Tasalakki.
Kekkonen throws a right and a left that Tasalakki avoids nicely.
Kekkonen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tasalakki throws a lazy body kick
enabling Kekkonen to counter with a crisp jab.
Kekkonen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kekkonen throws a jab but it's blocked by Tasalakki.
Tasalakki takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tasalakki keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasalakki on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Tasalakki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tasalakki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kekkonen.
Kekkonen throws a wild body kick that Tasalakki sees coming a mile off.
Tasalakki chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kekkonen can pounce on him.
Tasalakki misses with a double jab.
Kekkonen throws a head kick but Tasalakki moves out of range.
Tasalakki throws a low kick, looking for Kekkonen's leg but Kekkonen calmly moves out of range.
Kekkonen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kekkonen wants it to stay on the feet.
Tasalakki works Kekkonen's body with a nice hook.
Kekkonen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Tasalakki has Kekkonen up against the cage in a clinch.
Kekkonen lands a hook that snaps the head of Tasalakki backwards.

Kekkonen breaks from the clinch.
Tasalakki misses with a series of wild punches.
Kekkonen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tasalakki lands a jab to Kekkonen's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki misses with a head kick.
Tasalakki throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kekkonen.
Nice cross by Tasalakki.
Kekkonen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kekkonen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Tasalakki tries to clinch but Kekkonen is having none of it.

Tasalakki instigates a clinch.
Tasalakki looking to stall.
Kekkonen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kekkonen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Kekkonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tasalakki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tasalakki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kekkonen ducks under a wild hook from Tasalakki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kekkonen dodges the punch combination from Tasalakki.
Tasalakki swats away the attempt to clinch by Kekkonen.
Kekkonen jabs at Tasalakki's body.
Kekkonen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tasalakki lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kekkonen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tasalakki. Tasalakki circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A head kick misses from Tasalakki.
Kekkonen doesn't manage to clinch there - Tasalakki circles away.
A good leg kick by Kekkonen.
Kekkonen lands with a nice body punch.
Kekkonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tasalakki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tasalakki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kekkonen is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kekkonen forces Tasalakki back against the cage and clinches.
Tasalakki lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Kekkonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Donk. Tasalakki catches Kekkonen right on the button with a cross.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tasalakki, right into the meat.
Good exchange - Kekkonen coming out on top.
Tasalakki swats away the attempt to clinch by Kekkonen.
Tasalakki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kekkonen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tasalakki moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kekkonen lands with a cross.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tasalakki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kekkonen connects with the punch.
Kekkonen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kekkonen scores with a hook to the body. Tasalakki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urho Kekkonen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tasalakki blocks the body kick.
Kekkonen misses with a looping right.
Urho Kekkonen is winning the standup battle so far.
Kekkonen throws a looping overhand right but Tasalakki ducks down to avoid it.
Kekkonen throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Tasalakki misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kekkonen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kekkonen tests Tasalakki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tasalakki misses with a few strikes there.
Tasalakki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kekkonen lands with a kick to the temple. Tasalakki shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kekkonen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Tasalakki closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tasalakki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kekkonen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tasalakki misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasalakki sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kekkonen is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Tasalakki misses with the ground and pound.
Tasalakki wants to control but Kekkonen is keeping him busy.
Tasalakki in side control lands a decent elbow.
Tauno Tasalakki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Tasalakki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Tasalakki throws a strike aimed at the side of Kekkonen's head but Kekkonen avoids it well.

Tasalakki tries for a kimura but Kekkonen is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tasalakki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kekkonen, who protects the arm well.
Tasalakki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kekkonen parries the strikes from Tasalakki easily there. Tasalakki is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kekkonen to escape.
Tasalakki trying to control the action but Kekkonen is working from the bottom.

Tasalakki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Urho Kekkonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tasalakki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kekkonen keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kekkonen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kekkonen throws a combination that misses
and Tasalakki counters with a series of strikes. Kekkonen will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kekkonen throws a sloppy head kick and Tasalakki moves out of range easily.
Tasalakki on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Urho Kekkonen.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kekkonen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Urho Kekkonen!