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 157.6lbs 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. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Connors
vs
Tasalakki

174 cm
22
163 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

175 cm
29
170 lbs
16 - 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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Connors!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Tasalakki!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tasalakki scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Tasalakki feints a jab promting Connors to slip. Tasalakki then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Connors slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Tasalakki throws a big shot that misses.
Tasalakki shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Connors eats them both and turns towards Tasalakki to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Tasalakki throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Connors was covering up waiting for the punch and Tasalakki finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Connors looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tasalakki is one step ahead there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tasalakki controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connors not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Tasalakki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tasalakki content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki won't allow Connors to sweep him here.
Tasalakki showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tasalakki connects with a solid leg kick.

Connors gets caught napping as Tasalakki dives in and scores a takedown. Connors manages to retain guard.
Tasalakki sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Connors controls Tasalakki momentarily but Tasalakki frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tasalakki showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Connors looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tasalakki is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Connors darts in trying to clinch
letting Tasalakki counter with a right hand.
Tasalakki goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Tasalakki has taken the fight to the clinch.

Tasalakki breaks from the clinch.
Connors has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tasalakki finds it's way round the side to connect with Connors's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tasalakki connects with a nice looking jab.
Connors slips a jab and a cross from Tasalakki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Connors misses with a takedown attempt - Tasalakki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tasalakki misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Connors takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tasalakki misses with a double jab.
Connors misses with a takedown attempt
and Tasalakki counters with a low kick, right behind Connors 's knee.
Tasalakki throws a body punch but Connors moves out of range.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Tasalakki lands with a cross.
Daniel Connors is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Connors misses with a takedown
and Tasalakki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Connors. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tasalakki looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Connors wants to control but Tasalakki is keeping busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tasalakki in particular looking to stall.
Connors wants to improve his position but Tasalakki is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connors trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Connors misses with a takedown

and Tasalakki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tasalakki.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tasalakki looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Tauno Tasalakki has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Connors swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Connors working a defensive guard here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tasalakki throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Connors fails with the takedown
and Tasalakki counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tasalakki swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Connors.
Tasalakki ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Connors takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Tasalakki.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tasalakki scores a takedown into full mount!
Tasalakki raining down shots from the mount!
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.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Connors misses with a takedown

and Tasalakki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Tasalakki wants to work for an arm triangle but Connors is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tasalakki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Tasalakki wants to work for an arm triangle but Connors is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tasalakki passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Connors!
Connors tries to hold on but Tasalakki postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasalakki is landing with some decent strikes but Connors is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Connors is trying to escape the mount.
Connors tries to hold on but Tasalakki pushes him away.
Tasalakki landing strikes from the mount and Connors is in trouble!

Connors is rocked!
Tasalakki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tasalakki looking to control and managing it successfully.
Oh Connors is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki with good strikes from the mount here!
Tasalakki dominating with strikes here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Connors really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tasalakki looking to control and managing it successfully.
Connors seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connors is trying to escape the mount.
Connors wants to hold on but Tasalakki pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Connors can't escape the position.

Tasalakki looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Connors tries to hold on but Tasalakki postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tasalakki controlling the position easily from mount.
Daniel Connors has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tauno Tasalakki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tasalakki raining down hammerfists from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tauno Tasalakki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tasalakki 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Tauno Tasalakki!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Tauno Tasalakki!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Tauno Tasalakki!

Tauno Tasalakki wins by unanimous decision!