PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taz Devil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerome Kabasla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Devil
vs
Kabasla

175 cm
28
156 lbs
20 - 13 - 1

158 cm
25
146 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Taz Devil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gerome Kabasla!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Devil tries a low kick but Kabasla avoids it.
Kabasla takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kabasla bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Devil's head backwards.

Devil instigates a clinch.
Kabasla pressing his opponent against the cage.

Devil breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Devil throws a head kick that misses.
Kabasla gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Devil counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Devil bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kabasla lands a body shot.
Devil lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Devil scores with a nice right hand.
Kabasla scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Devil missing with a left hand there. Kabasla was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Devil does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Devil fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kabasla manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kabasla shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Devil manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kabasla trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kabasla throws a strike but Devil rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kabasla trying to keep a closed guard but Devil is proving a slippery customer.
Devil will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kabasla is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kabasla looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kabasla had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Devil defends it easily.
Kabasla has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Devil has passed into side control.
Devil wants to stand but Kabasla has his arm trapped.
Kabasla tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Devil wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devil working away.
Kabasla is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Devil stands up.

Devil closes the distance and clinches.
Kabasla tries to land a knee to the head but Devil blocks with his arms.

Devil breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gerome Kabasla seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kabasla clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kabasla pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Devil slips a jab from Kabasla.
A slapping leg kick lands for Devil.
Kabasla walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Devil checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Taz Devil is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kabasla shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Devil as he avoids it easily.
Devil lands with a kick to the ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kabasla's corner calls for a 1-2. Kabasla obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Devil misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kabasla.
Kabasla throws a leg kick
and Devil counters with a one-two to the body.
Devil throws a head kick that misses.
Devil swings for the body but Kabasla moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kabasla has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Devil.
Kabasla shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Devil defends it nicely.
Taz Devil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerome Kabasla.
Devil connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kabasla. Kabasla circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
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 Taz Devil will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Devil lands with a cross.
Devil is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kabasla takes a swing at Devil's ribcage but misses.
Taz Devil is winning the standup battle so far.
Kabasla works the jab nicely.
Kabasla loads up on a big right hand but Devil slips the punch.
Kabasla fails to land the takedown.
Nice body punch from Devil.
Devil works the jab nicely.
Devil thows a body shot but no joy.
Devil looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gerome Kabasla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kabasla throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Devil misses with a wild combination.
Devil looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Devil scores with a nice right hand.

Kabasla takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Devil manages to break the clinch.
Kabasla shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Devil as he jumps to the side.

Devil closes the distance and clinches.
Devil lands a body punch.
Devil is trying to push Kabasla away but Kabasla has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Devil escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kabasla on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Devil thows a body shot but no joy.
Kabasla on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Kabasla is rocked!

Kabasla looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kabasla is still in real trouble! Can Devil finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kabasla loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kabasla seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kabasla is looking to work some ground and pound but Devil has wrist control.
Devil wants to stand up but Kabasla is controlling him.
Kabasla has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kabasla in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kabasla throwing strikes but missing.
Kabasla throws a big elbow that misses.
Kabasla missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kabasla trying to control but Devil is working from the bottom.
Devil utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kabasla is looking to work some ground and pound but Devil has wrist control.
Devil preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kabasla chips away with some ground and pound.

Devil pushes Kabasla off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kabasla throws a series of punches but Devil moves out of range.
Devil is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kabasla lands with a right hand.
Devil swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kabasla fails with a takedown attempt.
Taz Devil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerome Kabasla.
Nice shot by Devil.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devil keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kabasla is looking to clinch but Devil is avoiding it.
A low kick from Kabasla is predictable there
and Devil counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kabasla throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Devil connects with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kabasla uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Devil.
Devil scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kabasla in his tracks.
Devil delivers a nice body kick.
Kabasla fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kabasla shoots for a takedown but Devil saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kabasla is breathing heavily.
Devil scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kabasla takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Good leg kick by Devil there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Devil throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kabasla.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taz Devil dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Devil scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A solid leg kick lands there for Devil.
Kabasla tries to clinch but Devil moves away
and Devil counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kabasla changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Devil tries to avoid it but Kabasla manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Devil to the ground. Devil escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kabasla takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Kabasla looks to land a combination but Devil avoids it well.
Kabasla throws a jab but it's blocked by Devil.
Nice uppercut there from Devil.
Kabasla fails with the takedown.
Kabasla swings widly with a right hand
and Devil counters with a left to the body.
Kabasla takes one to the chin there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Devil bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kabasla's head backwards.
Good shot there by Devil.
Kabasla tries to land a front kick but Devil steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Devil throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kabasla takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kabasla throws a left and a right that both miss
and Devil finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Devil misses the shot to the body.
Devil fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kabasla shoots in for a takedown but Devil shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Taz Devil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerome Kabasla.
Devil pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kabasla fails with an attempt to clinch.
A jab from Devil does it's job there.
Kabasla scores with a nice strike.
Devil throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kabasla misses with a jab, cross combination.
Devil connects with a looping right hand.
Kabasla throws a combination that misses
and Devil counters with a thumping low kick.

Devil drops Kabasla with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Kabasla looks back up at him and smiles so Devil waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Devil ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Devil, right into the meat.
Devil throws an overhand right that drops Kabasla like a sack of potatoes! Devil dives in to finish the fight with more strikes and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Taz Devil!
Taz Devil took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, KINGDOM for their support in the buildup to the fight.