PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Zuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Taalasmaa
vs
Zuev

190 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Seppo Taalasmaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Zuev!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taalasmaa lands an overhand right.
Taalasmaa looks to land a combination but Zuev avoids it well.
Taalasmaa misses with a series of wild punches.
Good exchange - Taalasmaa coming out on top.
Zuev shoots in looking for a takedown but Taalasmaa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zuev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zuev shoots in looking for a takedown. Taalasmaa tries to sprawl out of it but Zuev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taalasmaa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Taalasmaa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zuev.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zuev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Seppo Taalasmaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Zuev.
Taalasmaa punishes Zuev's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Taalasmaa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Taalasmaa tests Zuev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Taalasmaa throws a sloppy body shot

and Zuev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taalasmaa won't be happy with that.
Taalasmaa is letting Zuev control him for a moment.
Taalasmaa is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
An elbow from Zuev crashes against the mat.
Zuev controlling from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa is looking to get back to his feet here but Zuev is keeping cool and he's managed to take Taalasmaa's back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taalasmaa is trying to get back to his feet but Zuev has full control of the position and if anything, Taalasmaa has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa is breathing heavily.

Zuev is persistently looking for the submission but Taalasmaa is defending it well.
Zuev scores with punches and elbows.
Taalasmaa is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Taalasmaa is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Zuev.
Taalasmaa controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Zuev is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zuev shoots in and drives through. Taalasmaa sprawls well.

Taalasmaa tries to sprawl but Zuev drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Zuev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Let's hope that Zuev has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nick Zuev was stalling too much, according to the referee.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Taalasmaa enables Zuev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Taalasmaa manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Taalasmaa will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taalasmaa is wriggling around but Zuev manages to pass to half guard.
Zuev is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa is looking to get back to is feet but Zuev passes into side control.
Zuev landing strikes.
Taalasmaa wants to get back to his feet but Zuev is dominant here and he's now got Taalasmaa's back!
Zuev lands shots from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuev lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zuev biding his time, controlling Taalasmaa.
Zuev is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Zuev gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Zuev gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Zuev apologises and we restart here on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuev advances to half guard.
Zuev controlling the action here.
Taalasmaa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Zuev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Taalasmaa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zuev is standing up over Taalasmaa. Taalasmaa looks to escape but Zuev dives into side control.
Taalasmaa bucks up and tries to throw Zuev off but instead Zuev has got his back!
What can Taalasmaa do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuev scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Taalasmaa is looking for a way out.
Zuev is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nick Zuev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nick Zuev hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Taalasmaa misses with the combination.
Taalasmaa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Zuev looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Taalasmaa!
Zuev controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Zuev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zuev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 26:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Zuev!