PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Soljah Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kari Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kari Taalasmaa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hart
vs
Taalasmaa

225 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

155 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Soljah Hart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kari Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hart slips under a jab.

Taalasmaa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Taalasmaa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hart 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 trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Kari Taalasmaa has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Taalasmaa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Taalasmaa slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hart avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kari Taalasmaa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Taalasmaa closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hart did well to prevent Taalasmaa getting side control.
Taalasmaa perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Taalasmaa is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hart!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taalasmaa looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Taalasmaa controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa working Hart over with strikes here.
Taalasmaa content just to control the position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Taalasmaa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hart uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taalasmaa.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taalasmaa.

Taalasmaa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hart wants to stand back up but Taalasmaa manages to pass into side control.
Taalasmaa moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa moves into full mount!
Taalasmaa looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Taalasmaa controlling the position easily from mount.
Kari Taalasmaa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taalasmaa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hart looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa controlling the pace for now.
Taalasmaa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa looking to finish Hart with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hart!
Taalasmaa looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Taalasmaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Taalasmaa drives through with a takedown into Hart's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Taalasmaa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hart can't keep his opponent in guard - Taalasmaa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Taalasmaa with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hart looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Let's hope that Taalasmaa 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. Kari Taalasmaa was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Taalasmaa manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hart on his heels. He'll look to pass Hart's guard now, I'm sure.
Soljah Hart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa content to stall in guard here.
Hart is looking to stand up but Taalasmaa isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taalasmaa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Taalasmaa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

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

Taalasmaa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hart!
Taalasmaa looking to control and managing it successfully.
Taalasmaa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hart?
Taalasmaa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa stands up from mount. Strange move.
Kari Taalasmaa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taalasmaa throws a hook but Hart blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kari 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 26:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 26:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 25:30

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