PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Urho Itaniemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taalasmaa comes to the cage accompanied by J.Karjalainen - Missä se Väinö on?. Itaniemi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Volbeat - Still Counting. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Urho Itaniemi enters the cage!

Taalasmaa
vs
Itaniemi

185 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
208 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

2KMMA Ultimate Nutrition 144 Quality $20 Sale!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Taalasmaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Urho Itaniemi!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Itaniemi tries to bum rush Taalasmaa with a series of wild strikes but Taalasmaa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taalasmaa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Itaniemi drops Taalasmaa with a big left hand and mounts him. Taalasmaa is in big trouble!

Taalasmaa is rocked!

It looks like Seppo Taalasmaa has been cut.
Itaniemi controlling from the full mount.
Oh Taalasmaa is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Taalasmaa seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Itaniemi 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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Urho Itaniemi just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taalasmaa scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Itaniemi misses with a looping left.
Taalasmaa works Itaniemi's body with a nice hook.
Itaniemi misses with a series of wild punches.
Itaniemi throws a predictable looking body shot
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Taalasmaa.
Itaniemi misses with a double jab
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice body shot.
Itaniemi throws a jab when Taalasmaa was well out of range.
Taalasmaa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Taalasmaa slips a straight right by Itaniemi.
Itaniemi swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Taalasmaa counter with a right hand.
Taalasmaa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Itaniemi.
Itaniemi misses with a wild body shot.
Taalasmaa ducks under a wild hook from Itaniemi.
Taalasmaa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Itaniemi.
Itaniemi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Taalasmaa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Itaniemi throws out the jab.
Nice uppercut there from Itaniemi.
Jab by Taalasmaa.
Itaniemi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itaniemi lands a two punch combo.
Itaniemi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice body shot.
Taalasmaa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Itaniemi misses with an uppercut.
Taalasmaa looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nice defenses there by Taalasmaa.
Itaniemi misses with a wild combination.
Itaniemi cracks Taalasmaa with a right hand to the side of the head.
Taalasmaa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Itaniemi waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Taalasmaa.
Itaniemi tries a head kick but it misses.
Taalasmaa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Itaniemi throws a lazy right hand but Taalasmaa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Itaniemi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Itaniemi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Itaniemi looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Itaniemi takes a kick to the side of the head.
Itaniemi throws a predictable looking body shot
and Taalasmaa counters with a head kick. That will keep Itaniemi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Taalasmaa throws a half hearted mid kick.
Taalasmaa connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Itaniemi throws out a loose jab but Taalasmaa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Itaniemi shoots in for a double leg but Taalasmaa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taalasmaa moves out of range of the strikes.
Taalasmaa lands a really nice looking cross but Itaniemi seems unphased.
Itaniemi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Itaniemi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Taalasmaa scores with a nice strike.
Itaniemi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Itaniemi might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taalasmaa throws out a powerful jab.
Urho Itaniemi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Taalasmaa has Itaniemi up against the cage in a clinch.
Itaniemi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Taalasmaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
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 Seppo Taalasmaa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Seppo Taalasmaa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Itaniemi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taalasmaa counters with a stiff right hand.
Taalasmaa slips under a jab.
Taalasmaa connects with a nice looking jab.
Taalasmaa cracks Itaniemi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Taalasmaa misses with a double jab.
Itaniemi misses the jab.
Itaniemi throws a shot from downtown. Taalasmaa moves away and avoids it.
Taalasmaa misses with a body kick.
Taalasmaa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Itaniemi throws out the jab.
Itaniemi misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Itaniemi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taalasmaa counters with a series of strikes. Itaniemi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Taalasmaa defending well as Itaniemi loads up on a big left hand.
Itaniemi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Taalasmaa scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itaniemi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Taalasmaa's corner calls for a 1-2. Taalasmaa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Taalasmaa moves out of range of the strikes.
Taalasmaa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Itaniemi.
Taalasmaa lands a nice hook to Itaniemi's body. Itaniemi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The fighters circle momentarily. Itaniemi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Itaniemi throws the left hand but Taalasmaa avoids the punch easily.
Urho Itaniemi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Itaniemi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Itaniemi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Taalasmaa slips under a jab.
Seppo Taalasmaa is winning the standup battle so far.
Taalasmaa works over Itaniemi's head and body with a nice combination.
Itaniemi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Itaniemi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taalasmaa.
Itaniemi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Itaniemi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itaniemi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Taalasmaa gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Itaniemi.
Itaniemi misses with a hook. Taalasmaa ducked under it nicely.
Itaniemi misses with a hook. Taalasmaa ducked under it nicely.
Itaniemi misses with a double jab
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice uppercut.
Itaniemi is breathing heavily.
Taalasmaa jabs at Itaniemi's body.
Jab from Taalasmaa.
Itaniemi looks to land a right hand but Taalasmaa moved out of range.
Taalasmaa lands a really nice looking cross but Itaniemi seems unphased.
Itaniemi swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Taalasmaa to counter with a crisp jab.
Taalasmaa throws out a powerful jab.
Taalasmaa getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Itaniemi missing with a left hand there. Taalasmaa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Itaniemi throws a hook to the side of Taalasmaa's head but Taalasmaa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itaniemi misses with a double jab
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice uppercut.
Taalasmaa ducks under a wild hook from Itaniemi.
Urho Itaniemi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Itaniemi misses with a double jab
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice body kick.
Taalasmaa goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Itaniemi throws a hook but Taalasmaa blocks it.
Itaniemi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Itaniemi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Itaniemi throws an overhand right that lands on Taalasmaa's shoulder, as Taalasmaa tries to avoid the shot.
Taalasmaa scores with a jab to the jaw.
Taalasmaa throws a series of punches but Itaniemi moves out of range.
Itaniemi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Itaniemi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Itaniemi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Taalasmaa forces Itaniemi back against the cage and clinches.
Itaniemi is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itaniemi prevents the takedown attempt.
Itaniemi wants to break free but Taalasmaa has control.
Itaniemi trying to stall but Taalasmaa improves his position.
Taalasmaa keeps control of Itaniemi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Itaniemi breaks from the clinch.
Itaniemi throws a lazy right hand but Taalasmaa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Itaniemi throws a looping overhand right but Taalasmaa ducks down to avoid it.
Itaniemi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Itaniemi throws a looping overhand right but Taalasmaa ducks down to avoid it.
Taalasmaa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Itaniemi throws a big shot that misses.
Itaniemi misses with a straight right.
Itaniemi tries to land a body kick
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice low kick that buckles Itaniemi's knee momentarily.
Taalasmaa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Itaniemi throws a lazy head kick
and Taalasmaa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Taalasmaa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Taalasmaa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Seppo Taalasmaa's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Itaniemi misses with a straight right.
Itaniemi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Itaniemi avoids the head kick by Taalasmaa.
Itaniemi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Itaniemi throws a combination that misses
and Taalasmaa counters with a solid body kick.
Taalasmaa looks to land a combination. Itaniemi sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Taalasmaa moves away from the strike by Itaniemi.
Itaniemi misses with a shot to the body
and Taalasmaa counters with a leg kick.
Itaniemi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taalasmaa counters with a right hand to the body.
Itaniemi throws a jab when Taalasmaa was well out of range.
Taalasmaa lunges at Itaniemi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Itaniemi's hand.
Taalasmaa scores with a push kick.
Nice cross by Taalasmaa.
Itaniemi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Itaniemi throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Itaniemi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Taalasmaa throws a body kick that misses.
A nice combination there by Itaniemi.
Taalasmaa shoots in for a double leg but Itaniemi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Itaniemi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taalasmaa counters with a stiff right hand.
Taalasmaa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taalasmaa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Itaniemi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Itaniemi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taalasmaa drops his hands momentarily and Itaniemi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Taalasmaa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Itaniemi throws out a loose jab but Taalasmaa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Itaniemi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Taalasmaa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Taalasmaa.
Itaniemi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A choreographed right hand from Itaniemi misses the target.
Taalasmaa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Taalasmaa lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Taalasmaa blocks a jab.
Taalasmaa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Itaniemi as Taalasmaa shoots in.
Itaniemi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Taalasmaa bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Itaniemi's head backwards.
Taalasmaa lands a nice looking body shot.
Itaniemi slow jab from Taalasmaa misses its intended target.
Nice straight punches there by Taalasmaa. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Taalasmaa.
Urho Itaniemi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itaniemi misses with a hook.
Itaniemi waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa scores with a punch to the head.
Itaniemi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Taalasmaa tries a head kick but it misses.
Itaniemi misses with a double jab
and Taalasmaa counters with a straight right hand.
Taalasmaa lands a nice looking kick to the body. Itaniemi takes a step back to recover.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taalasmaa.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Seppo Taalasmaa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taalasmaa lands a front kick.
Itaniemi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Taalasmaa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itaniemi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Itaniemi misses with a combination
and Taalasmaa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Itaniemi scores with a jab. Taalasmaa acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Itaniemi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A combination from Taalasmaa does no damage.

Taalasmaa takes the fight into the clinch.
Itaniemi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Itaniemi can't break the clinch.
Itaniemi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Taalasmaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taalasmaa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Itaniemi's head.
Itaniemi misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo Taalasmaa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taalasmaa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

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