PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Patton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Patton has chosen Marilyn Manson - Born Villain as his entrance music. Seppo Taalasmaa had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Taalasmaa
vs
Patton

170 cm
32
160 lbs
38 - 18 - 0

175 cm
29
162 lbs
26 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

5th Round Clothing
Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

Perkele!

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 38 - 18 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Seppo Taalasmaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Patton!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Patton moves out of range as Taalasmaa strikes.
Taalasmaa fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Patton has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Taalasmaa attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Patton lands a nice looking body shot.
Patton misses with a few strikes there.
Taalasmaa fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Patton has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Taalasmaa slips under a jab from Patton.
Patton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Patton throws a leg kick but Taalasmaa moved away.
Taalasmaa connects with a right hand. Patton shakes it off.
Taalasmaa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Patton 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.
Taalasmaa jabs Patton to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Taalasmaa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Patton takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Taalasmaa throws a leg kick but Patton checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Patton checks a low kick from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Taalasmaa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Taalasmaa throws a leg kick but Patton sees it coming and moves out of range.
Taalasmaa feints and then cracks Patton's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Patton down.
Taalasmaa shoots for a double leg takedown but Patton sprawls well. He's pushed Taalasmaa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Taalasmaa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nice jab there from Patton.
Michael Patton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taalasmaa misses with a looping left.
Taalasmaa ducks under a wild hook from Patton.
Patton moves out of range of the body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A punch lands to the side of Taalasmaa 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Patton walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Taalasmaa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Taalasmaa clinches up with Patton and pushes him back against the cage.

Taalasmaa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taalasmaa's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Patton connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Taalasmaa scrambles back to his feet.
Taalasmaa moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Taalasmaa moves into the clinch.

Patton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Patton checks a low kick from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Patton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taalasmaa blocks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Patton.

Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Patton napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Patton is looking to reverse the position.
Taalasmaa sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Patton is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes but Patton manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Taalasmaa is looking for a sweep.
Taalasmaa is trying to control Patton's posture but Patton avoids it.
Taalasmaa regains half guard.
Taalasmaa wants to improve his position but Patton is controlling well.

Patton gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taalasmaa connects with a crisp jab.
Patton comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A head kick misses from Patton.
Patton tries a head kick but it misses.
Seppo Taalasmaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Patton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taalasmaa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from Patton finds it's way through Taalasmaa's defenses.
Patton closes the distance but Taalasmaa moves to the side
and Taalasmaa counters with a low kick, right behind Patton 's knee.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Patton takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Patton sizes up Taalasmaa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Patton will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Taalasmaa connects with a right hand. Patton shakes it off.
Patton chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Taalasmaa thumps Patton with a low kick.
Patton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taalasmaa moves away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Taalasmaa.
Patton finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Patton throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Taalasmaa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice takedown defense from Patton. No joy for Taalasmaa on that attempt.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Patton.
Patton motions for Taalasmaa to come forward. Patton throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Patton ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Patton misses with a shot to the body
letting Taalasmaa counter with a right hand.
Patton throws a sloppy head kick and Taalasmaa moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patton fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Taalasmaa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Taalasmaa gets a double leg takedown into Patton's guard.
Taalasmaa is standing up over Patton. Patton looks to escape but Taalasmaa dives into side control.
Taalasmaa creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Patton sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Patton takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Taalasmaa controlling from side mount.
Taalasmaa tries to advance to mount but Patton denies him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Patton tries to bench press Taalasmaa off him but Taalasmaa keeps the position.
Taalasmaa working the body and head with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Patton sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Taalasmaa is trying to control the action in half guard but Patton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Taalasmaa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Patton gets back to full guard.
Taalasmaa throws a strike but Patton rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Patton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Taalasmaa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Patton has managed to get both his arms back between Taalasmaa's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patton engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Taalasmaa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Patton looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patton wants to get up but he can't break Taalasmaa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Taalasmaa keeping full guard, as Patton tries to pass.
Patton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Taalasmaa is looking for a triangle here but Patton uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Taalasmaa is trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taalasmaa is working hard here to advance position.

Patton decides to stand up, so the ref orders Taalasmaa to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Patton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Taalasmaa checks a low kick from Patton.
Patton walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Patton defending well as Taalasmaa loads up on a big left hand.
Taalasmaa scores with a nice right hand.
Taalasmaa scores with a jab. Patton acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nice body kick there by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Taalasmaa lands a jab-cross combination.
Taalasmaa throws a push kick but Patton slaps the foot to one side.
Taalasmaa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Patton is looking to clinch.
Patton lands a nice looking body kick.
Patton avoids the body shot from Taalasmaa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patton cracks Taalasmaa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Patton lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Patton lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Taalasmaa has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Taalasmaa and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Patton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown but Patton shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Taalasmaa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Patton.
Taalasmaa lands a right hook to the body.
Patton takes a swing at Taalasmaa's ribcage but misses.
Patton feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Taalasmaa's calf.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Patton throws a right and a left that both miss.
Patton lands with a nice combination. Taalasmaa backs away looking to recover.
Taalasmaa attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Michael Patton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Patton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Patton jabs at Taalasmaa's body.
Taalasmaa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Patton slips a straight right by Taalasmaa.
A big left from Taalasmaa misses.
Taalasmaa throws a low kick but it's checked well by Patton.
Taalasmaa throws a leg kick that misses.
Taalasmaa throws a shot to the body.
Patton misses with a body shot.
Patton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A decent looking cross lands there for Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa misses with a combination
and Patton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Patton.
Taalasmaa blocks a head kick by Patton.
Taalasmaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Patton was well out of range. Poor timing from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa shoots for a takedown but Patton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Taalasmaa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Patton. Patton circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Taalasmaa throws a big shot that misses.
Seppo Taalasmaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Patton checks a leg kick.
Patton plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Patton takes a swing at Taalasmaa's ribcage but misses.
Taalasmaa misses with a low kick.
Taalasmaa misses with the combination.
Patton is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Taalasmaa rather than just go for the knockout.
Taalasmaa blocks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patton throws a nice head kick!
Michael Patton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice sprawl there from Patton as Taalasmaa shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Seppo Taalasmaa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taalasmaa throws a body kick that misses.
Patton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taalasmaa walks into a stiff left hand from Patton.
Patton moves in looking to clinch but Taalasmaa pushes him off.
Taalasmaa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Patton circles away.
Taalasmaa fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taalasmaa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Patton.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Patton scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Patton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Patton winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Patton!
Our winner, Michael Patton, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.