PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Teppo Tuska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Taalasmaa's choice of entrance music: Caustik - Herbman. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Tuska
vs
Taalasmaa

180 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teppo Tuska!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tuska will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Taalasmaa feints and as Tuska raises his hands in defense, Taalasmaa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tuska is trying to keep Taalasmaa in close.
Taalasmaa trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tuska's guard.
Taalasmaa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tuska swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taalasmaa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Tuska is working from the bottom.

Tuska looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Tuska is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Taalasmaa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tuska swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Tuska is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuska looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tuska manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Taalasmaa is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tuska really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Taalasmaa throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Taalasmaa defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Tuska.
Tuska looking to control but Taalasmaa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Taalasmaa bucks Tuska off and manages to get back to his feet!
Tuska tries to close the distance and clinch but Taalasmaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuska shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Taalasmaa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tuska is breathing heavily.
Tuska utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tuska looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tuska looking to control.
Tuska keeping moving, preventing Taalasmaa from controlling successfully.
Taalasmaa being controlled here momentarily.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes but missing.

Tuska escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taalasmaa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Taalasmaa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tuska shoots and misses

and Taalasmaa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Teppo Tuska. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taalasmaa landing with the ground and pound.
Taalasmaa passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Tuska tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Taalasmaa decides to stand back up. Taalasmaa steps back and let's Tuska get back to his feet.

Taalasmaa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tuska prevents Taalasmaa from improving position.
Tuska gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Taalasmaa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tuska wants to control but Taalasmaa is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa is looking for a kimura here.
Taalasmaa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Taalasmaa is trying to control the action in half guard but Tuska is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Taalasmaa looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Taalasmaa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tuska with a lazy takedown attempt

and Taalasmaa counters with a takedown into side control.

Taalasmaa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tuska knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tuska tries to buck Taalasmaa off but Taalasmaa is having none of it.
Tuska is trying to escape the position but Taalasmaa is controlling the position.
Tuska is looking to regain half guard here but Taalasmaa keeps moving and retains side control.
Tuska is trying to control Taalasmaa's posture but Taalasmaa avoids it.

Taalasmaa stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Tuska doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Taalasmaa counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tuska's guard now.

Tuska has his foot on Taalasmaa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taalasmaa works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taalasmaa stopping the sweep attempt from Tuska.
Taalasmaa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taalasmaa slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuska sneaks back into half guard.
Tuska gets back to full guard.
Tuska has control of Taalasmaa's left arm, preventing Taalasmaa from doing any damage.
Tuska is trying to keep Taalasmaa in close.
Taalasmaa being controlled here momentarily.
Tuska is trying to control the position but Taalasmaa postures up.
Taalasmaa tries to free his leg and advance position but Tuska is retaining full guard.
Tuska looking to control.

Tuska has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Taalasmaa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuska is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tuska is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Taalasmaa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Teppo Tuska just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Tuska fails to land with a series of punches.

Taalasmaa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Tuska is staying active underneath Taalasmaa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tuska on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Taalasmaa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Tuska looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tuska looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Taalasmaa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuska gets back to full guard.

Tuska has his foot on Taalasmaa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taalasmaa works his way back into a safe position though.

Tuska is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tuska is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tuska is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Tuska stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Taalasmaa to get to his feet.
Tuska tries for a takedown but Taalasmaa circles away easily

and Taalasmaa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Teppo Tuska. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tuska is pressing down on Taalasmaa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Taalasmaa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tuska looking for a guillotine here but Taalasmaa defends easily.
Taalasmaa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Tuska is working from the bottom.

Tuska escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taalasmaa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Taalasmaa gets to his feet. Tuska looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tuska closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Taalasmaa is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Seppo Taalasmaa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tuska shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Taalasmaa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tuska!
Tuska tries to lock up and control but Taalasmaa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
BOOM! Taalasmaa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tuska can't escape the position.

Taalasmaa looking for a guillotine from mount but Tuska is having none of it.
Tuska tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Taalasmaa working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Taalasmaa has hold of Tuska's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Tuska manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taalasmaa throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Tuska because Taalasmaa loaded up on that one.
Seppo Taalasmaa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tuska is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tuska is working hard here to advance position.
Tuska wants to hold on but Taalasmaa pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuska is working to get back to half guard.
Tuska bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Taalasmaa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tuska doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tuska manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tuska trying to control the position from guard on top but Taalasmaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taalasmaa can't keep his opponent in guard - Tuska advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tuska lands a nice short elbow.
Taalasmaa is looking to improve his position.

Taalasmaa is defending against the submission attempts here by Tuska.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa works his way to full guard. Good work.
Tuska advances position into side control!
Tuska working away.
Taalasmaa stops Tuska from passing to mount.
Taalasmaa manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tuska's best efforts.
Tuska wants to pass to mount but Taalasmaa is defending the position.
Taalasmaa gets full guard.
Taalasmaa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tuska is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuska trying to control the position from guard on top but Taalasmaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taalasmaa trying to keep a closed guard but Tuska is proving a slippery customer.
Tuska trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Taalasmaa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Taalasmaa scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tuska is trying to get back to half guard.
Taalasmaa working away.
Tuska tries to buck Taalasmaa off but Taalasmaa is having none of it.

Taalasmaa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa wants to control but Tuska is keeping him busy.
Tuska managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Taalasmaa.

Taalasmaa working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Taalasmaa scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Tuska to see if he's OK.
Taalasmaa controls the position.
Taalasmaa is looking to take a break and control but Tuska is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Teppo Tuska has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tuska wants to control but Taalasmaa postures up.

Taalasmaa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tuska, who protects the arm well.
Tuska regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo Taalasmaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taalasmaa 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seppo Taalasmaa!