PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tauno Tasalakki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sys Rq (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.

Tasalakki
vs
Rq

175 cm
32
170 lbs
18 - 17 - 0

174 cm
27
152 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

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 18 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tauno Tasalakki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sys Rq!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rq takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rq throws a combination that misses
and Tasalakki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tasalakki lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Rq misses with a hook to the body
and Tasalakki counters with a stiff right hand.
Tasalakki throws a lazy uppercut
and Rq counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tasalakki keeps the fight on the outside.
Sys Rq seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tasalakki throws a hook but Rq blocks it.
Tasalakki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tasalakki throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rq avoids the head kick by Tasalakki.
Rq lands with an overhand left.
Tasalakki throws a lazy right hand but Rq sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tasalakki misses with a takedown attempt - Rq sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasalakki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rq punishes Tasalakki's body with a nice straight punch.
A big right from Rq misses.
Rq misses with a wild body shot.
Rq lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tasalakki at a distance.
Rq swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rq punishes Tasalakki's body with a nice straight punch.
Rq moves out of range as Tasalakki strikes.
Tasalakki misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rq lands a body shot.
Sys Rq is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slow jab from Rq misses its intended target.
Rq throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tasalakki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tasalakki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rq was well out of range. Poor timing from Tasalakki.
Rq lands a body shot.
Rq is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tasalakki rather than just go for the knockout.
Tasalakki misses with a hook.
Rq connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tasalakki momentarily.
Rq throws a body punch but Tasalakki moves out of range.
Rq misses with a straight left.
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!
Tasalakki loads up on a big right hand but Rq slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Rq as Tasalakki shoots in.
Rq thows a body shot but no joy.
Rq ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tasalakki moves away.
Rq walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tasalakki has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rq finds it's way round the side to connect with Tasalakki's head.
Rq ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tasalakki moves away.
Tasalakki throws a low kick, looking for Rq's leg but Rq calmly moves out of range.
Rq slips a straight right by Tasalakki.
Rq connects with a looping right hand.
Rq moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rq, as that shot connected.
Rq misses the shot to the body.
Tasalakki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rq lands a head shot.
Rq throws an overhand right that lands on Tasalakki's shoulder, as Tasalakki tries to avoid the shot.
Tasalakki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tasalakki slips under a jab.
Rq keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tauno Tasalakki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rq tests Tasalakki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rq cracks Tasalakki with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sys Rq dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rq has managed to clinch.
Tasalakki lands a shoulder strike.
Rq misses with a punch to the body.
Tasalakki is looking to break free of the clinch but Rq has double underhooks.

Tasalakki is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rq can't fight it off and eventually Tasalakki manages to take the fight to the floor. Rq looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tasalakki trying to control the position from guard on top but Rq is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tauno Tasalakki.
Rq connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tasalakki momentarily.
Rq checks a low kick from Tasalakki.
Tasalakki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice sprawl there from Rq as Tasalakki shoots in.
Tasalakki walks into a straight right hand from Rq.
Rq jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tasalakki misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rq throws a good cross that connects.
Rq scores with a jab to the jaw.
Tasalakki will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Tasalakki misses with a straight right.
Rq lands a jab.
A big right from Tasalakki misses.
Rq throws a big shot that misses.
Tasalakki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rq.
Rq tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rq fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sys Rq seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rq scores with a jab to the body.
Tasalakki is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Tasalakki lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rq at a distance.
Rq slips under a jab from Tasalakki.
Rq misses with a hook.
Rq misses with an uppercut. Tasalakki saw that one coming.
Rq getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Tasalakki looks for the body kick but Rq saw that one coming.
The fighters circling - Tasalakki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rq throws a body punch but Tasalakki moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rq misses with a right hand
and Tasalakki counters with a stiff right hand.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rq.
Tasalakki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tasalakki shoots for a takedown but Rq saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tauno Tasalakki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice shot lands for Rq.
Rq avoids the head kick by Tasalakki.
A telegraphed right hand from Tasalakki misses the target.
Rq avoids the body shot from Tasalakki.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tasalakki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rq scores with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rq cracks Tasalakki with a right hand to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sys Rq showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rq throws a body punch but Tasalakki moves out of range.
Tasalakki misses with a leg kick
and Rq counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tasalakki blocks a jab.
Tasalakki slips a jab from Rq.
Rq swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rq misses with a looping left.
Rq avoids a punch combination nicely.
A decent looking cross lands there for Tasalakki.
Rq scores with a three punch combo!
Rq throws a jab when Tasalakki was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasalakki thows a body shot but no joy.
Tasalakki looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A jab from Rq finds it's way through Tasalakki's defenses.
Rq tries to clinch but Tasalakki is having none of it.
Rq swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rq fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tasalakki manages to avoid it.
Rq thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tasalakki gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rq throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Tasalakki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rq tries to avoid it but Tasalakki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rq to the ground. Rq escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rq avoids a kick to the body.
Tauno Tasalakki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rq gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tasalakki to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Tasalakki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tasalakki throws a strike but Rq rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rq stopping the sweep attempt from Tasalakki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tasalakki has his hands on Rq's head, controlling the position.
Sys Rq is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tauno Tasalakki just wasn't active enough.
Tasalakki throws a right hand that Rq ducks under and follows up with a left that Rq also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rq lands with a good body shot.
Tasalakki on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Tasalakki shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tasalakki showed some decent athleticism there.
Rq moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tasalakki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rq swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tauno Tasalakki.
I think Rq has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sys Rq!