PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko comes to the cage accompanied by You are the best around. Taalasmaa has chosen Smurffit - Tunteisiin as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Emelianenko
vs
Taalasmaa

180 cm
28
183 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

172 cm
29
162 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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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 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andrei Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko misses with a body kick.
Emelianenko with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Emelianenko paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Taalasmaa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Emelianenko is looking for a sweep. Taalasmaa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa prevents Emelianenko from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taalasmaa wants to pass the guard but Emelianenko is defending well.
Emelianenko trying to control but Taalasmaa postures up.
Emelianenko is not content to let Taalasmaa control the position.
Taalasmaa throws a strike but Emelianenko avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emelianenko 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.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Taalasmaa content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Emelianenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taalasmaa is one step ahead there.

Emelianenko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Emelianenko looking to control.
Emelianenko can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Taalasmaa controls the pace.
Taalasmaa pushes down on Emelianenko's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Emelianenko gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa wants to pass the guard but Emelianenko is keeping the position.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.

Emelianenko looking for a guillotine here but Taalasmaa defends easily.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Taalasmaa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Emelianenko controls Taalasmaa momentarily but Taalasmaa frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Andrei Emelianenko wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Taalasmaa misses with a body shot.
Emelianenko cracks Taalasmaa with a right hand to the side of the head.
Emelianenko lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Emelianenko throws a sloppy head kick and Taalasmaa moves out of range easily.
Taalasmaa moves away from the strike by Emelianenko.
Taalasmaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taalasmaa moves away from the strike by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko swings for the body but Taalasmaa moves out of range.
Emelianenko lands a leg kick that knocks Taalasmaa off balance momentarily.
Taalasmaa moves out of range of the body kick from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko swings for the body but Taalasmaa moves out of range.
Emelianenko shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Taalasmaa throws a hook but Emelianenko blocks it.
Emelianenko avoids the body shot from Taalasmaa.
Emelianenko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taalasmaa throws out the jab.
Taalasmaa looks to score with a jab to the body but Emelianenko is just out of range.
Taalasmaa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Emelianenko's waist but Emelianenko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taalasmaa off to one side.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taalasmaa lands a slapping body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taalasmaa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
No luck for Taalasmaa with that takedown attempt.
Emelianenko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Seppo Taalasmaa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Emelianenko thuds a left hand into Taalasmaa's body.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that Taalasmaa semi-blocks.
Taalasmaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Emelianenko looks for the body kick but Taalasmaa saw that one coming.
Emelianenko misses with a two punch combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taalasmaa. Emelianenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Taalasmaa is having none of it.
Taalasmaa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Emelianenko.
Taalasmaa jabs Emelianenko to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Emelianenko catches Taalasmaa with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Taalasmaa lands with a cross.
A lazy left from Taalasmaa finds it's target.
Taalasmaa misses with a body shot.
Taalasmaa misses with a right hand
and Emelianenko counters with a nice body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Emelianenko misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko misses with a head kick.
Emelianenko takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Emelianenko throws a leg kick which misses Taalasmaa's front leg but catches the back leg as Taalasmaa tries to avoid it.
Taalasmaa throws a predictable looking body shot
and Emelianenko counters with a left to the body.
Emelianenko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa closes the distance and clinches up with Emelianenko, looking for a takedown. Taalasmaa pushes Emelianenko against the cage but Emelianenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Emelianenko connects with a right hand. Taalasmaa shakes it off.
Taalasmaa connects with a looping right hand.
Taalasmaa connects with a jab.
Taalasmaa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Jab, jab by Emelianenko - just one landing.
Nice defenses there by Emelianenko.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Emelianenko slips a jab from Taalasmaa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko throws a sloppy head kick and Taalasmaa moves out of range easily.
Andrei Emelianenko is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Emelianenko.
Taalasmaa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Emelianenko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a hook but Taalasmaa avoids it easily.
Taalasmaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taalasmaa takes a swing at Emelianenko's ribcage but misses.
Taalasmaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Emelianenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Emelianenko throws a nice head kick!
Taalasmaa tests Emelianenko's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Taalasmaa blocks the leg kick.
Good leg kick by Emelianenko there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Taalasmaa thows a body shot but no joy.
Taalasmaa misses with a hook.
A punch lands to the side of Taalasmaa 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Taalasmaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Emelianenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa misses the body punch
and Emelianenko counters with an inside leg kick.
Emelianenko misses with a body kick.
Nice defenses there by Taalasmaa.
Emelianenko throws a jab when Taalasmaa was well out of range.
Taalasmaa avoids the body shot from Emelianenko.
A right-left combo lands from Taalasmaa.
Emelianenko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Emelianenko throws a leg kick but Taalasmaa sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Emelianenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Emelianenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taalasmaa was well out of range. Poor timing from Emelianenko.
Taalasmaa blocks a leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taalasmaa comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Emelianenko slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Emelianenko throws a push kick but Taalasmaa slaps the foot to one side.
Taalasmaa moves out of range of the strikes.
Emelianenko misses with a low kick.
Emelianenko takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taalasmaa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Taalasmaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taalasmaa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
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.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Taalasmaa throws out a loose jab but Emelianenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Emelianenko is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Emelianenko slips under a jab from Taalasmaa.
A swing and a miss from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa slips a straight right by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Taalasmaa's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Taalasmaa duly obliges.

It looks like Andrei Emelianenko has been cut.
Taalasmaa scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Emelianenko pivots, looking for a leg kick but Taalasmaa is out of range and Emelianenko settles back down.
Taalasmaa throws a hook but Emelianenko blocks it.
Taalasmaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Emelianenko misses with a hook
and Taalasmaa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Taalasmaa stuns Emelianenko with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Emelianenko blocks a jab.
Taalasmaa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Emelianenko.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Taalasmaa. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Taalasmaa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Emelianenko manages to avoid it.
Emelianenko throws a body kick that misses.
Taalasmaa misses the body punch
and Emelianenko counters with a nice low kick that buckles Taalasmaa's knee momentarily.
Emelianenko swings widly with a right hand
and Taalasmaa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Taalasmaa misses with a hook.
Taalasmaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Emelianenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa throws a shot from downtown. Emelianenko moves away and avoids it.
Emelianenko looks to land a left hand but Taalasmaa moved out of range nicely.
Taalasmaa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Emelianenko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taalasmaa connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Emelianenko's hands.
Taalasmaa misses with a looping right.
Taalasmaa looks to score with a jab to the body but Emelianenko is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Emelianenko needs to keep his hands up - Taalasmaa had a free shot at his head there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Emelianenko.
Taalasmaa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taalasmaa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Emelianenko.
A good leg kick by Emelianenko.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Emelianenko closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Emelianenko tries to move into range but Taalasmaa moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Emelianenko looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Emelianenko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Taalasmaa throws a body punch but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Taalasmaa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Taalasmaa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Taalasmaa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Emelianenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Emelianenko misses.
Emelianenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taalasmaa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taalasmaa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Seppo Taalasmaa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Emelianenko gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Taalasmaa.
Emelianenko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Emelianenko throws the kick towards the body but Taalasmaa avoids it.
Decent striking displayed by Taalasmaa there.
Horrible takedown by Taalasmaa or perhaps it was just good defense by Emelianenko which made him look bad.
Emelianenko misses with a head kick.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Taalasmaa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taalasmaa dives in and grabs Emelianenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Emelianenko pushes down on Taalasmaa's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The crowd cheers as Taalasmaa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Emelianenko doesn't seem phased though.

Taalasmaa manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Emelianenko on his heels. He'll look to pass Emelianenko's guard now, I'm sure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taalasmaa trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Taalasmaa tries to free his leg and advance position but Emelianenko is retaining full guard.

Emelianenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Emelianenko is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taalasmaa tries to free his leg and advance position but Emelianenko is retaining full 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

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