PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Connors (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tauno Tasalakki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tauno Tasalakki struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.6lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Daniel Connors could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tauno Tasalakki's chin.

Connors
vs
Tasalakki

174 cm
22
163 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

175 cm
29
170 lbs
15 - 15 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Connors!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Tasalakki!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tasalakki lands with a right hand.

Tasalakki gets the takedown into side control.
Connors dodges the ground and pound from Tasalakki.
Tasalakki looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Connors is avoiding damage well.
Check out the look on Tasalakki's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Connors is being controlled here.
Connors can't do much from the bottom here.
Connors is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tasalakki taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasalakki working the ground and pound.
Tasalakki misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A lull in the action here as Tasalakki stalls from top position.
Connors can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connors managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Tasalakki.
Tasalakki takes a little break here. Connors wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Tasalakki cracks Connors with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Connors struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Connors's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Connors tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki in side control lands a decent elbow.
Connors taking punishment in the form of punches.
Tasalakki scoring with punches from side control.
The ground and pound from Tasalakki seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Tasalakki sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Connors is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Tasalakki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Tasalakki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tasalakki lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Connors down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Tasalakki dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tasalakki moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Connors takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Connors has his takedown stuffed
and Connors takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Connors misses with a takedown

so Tasalakki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tasalakki looking to pass the guard.
Tasalakki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tasalakki throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connors is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tasalakki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Let's hope that Tasalakki 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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tauno Tasalakki hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Connors shoots and misses
and Tasalakki counters with a head kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Connors. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tasalakki moves into range and connects with a jab.
Tasalakki cracks Connors with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Connors is rocked!
Connors with a poor takedown

and Tasalakki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Oh Connors is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
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!
Still in half guard, Tasalakki seems content to control.
Connors seems to have got his legs back now.
Tasalakki not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tasalakki in particular looking to stall.
Tasalakki is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki is looking to advance position but Connors won't allow it.

Tasalakki is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Connors sees it coming and defends easily.
Connors is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tauno Tasalakki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tasalakki not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tasalakki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tasalakki scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connors on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Tasalakki seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Tasalakki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tasalakki throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Connors tries for a takedown but Tasalakki circles away easily
and Tasalakki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Tasalakki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tasalakki stands and throws Connors's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tasalakki scores with a couple of short elbows.
Connors is trying to get back to half guard.

Tasalakki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tasalakki in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Connors is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tauno Tasalakki!