PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Patton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Patton's entrance music is Marilyn Manson - Born Villain . A fine choice. 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.

Patton
vs
Taalasmaa

175 cm
30
162 lbs
30 - 10 - 0

170 cm
33
160 lbs
42 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

Perkele!
Unique Wear and Custom Design

Perkele!
Hardcore Nutrition

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 30 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Patton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 42 - 20 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taalasmaa moves into the clinch.
Taalasmaa blocking some punches.
Patton can't find room to land a body shot as Taalasmaa controls the action.
Patton lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa misses with a knee strike.
Patton blocks an uppercut.
Patton lands a body punch.
Patton doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A bit of stalling here from Taalasmaa.
Patton tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Taalasmaa's elbow.
Taalasmaa prevents a body shot from Patton.
Taalasmaa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taalasmaa.
Patton tries to throw a body punch but Taalasmaa avoids it by throwing Patton back against the cage.
Taalasmaa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Taalasmaa can't find room to land a body shot as Patton controls the action.
A nice right hand lands inside from Taalasmaa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Patton.
Taalasmaa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Patton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Taalasmaa stalling the fight.
Taalasmaa tries to pull guard but Patton holds him up against the cage and eventually Taalasmaa drops back down to his feet.
Patton misses with a punch to the body.
Patton is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Michael Patton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Taalasmaa.
Good body shot from Patton.

Patton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taalasmaa takes a swing at Patton's ribcage but misses.
Taalasmaa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Patton.
Patton missing with a left hand there. Taalasmaa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Taalasmaa thows a body shot but no joy.
Patton loads up on a big right hand but Taalasmaa slips the punch.
Patton takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Taalasmaa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Patton moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taalasmaa fails with the takedown.
Patton connects with a body shot that sends Taalasmaa's belly button to the back.
Taalasmaa looks winded!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice body punch from Patton.
Patton goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nice takedown defense from Patton. No joy for Taalasmaa on that attempt.
Taalasmaa checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Patton slips a jab and a cross from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Patton throws out the jab.
Taalasmaa lands a front kick.
Patton stuns Taalasmaa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A telegraphed right hand from Taalasmaa misses the target.
Patton misses with a leg kick.
Patton lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Taalasmaa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Patton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Patton lands a big head kick that sends Taalasmaa tumbling to the mat! Patton takes a step backwards and waves Taalasmaa back to his feet - he wants the finish!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A thudding body kick lands there by Patton!
Nice sprawl there from Patton as Taalasmaa shoots in.
Taalasmaa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Patton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taalasmaa.
Patton throws a front kick that sends Taalasmaa stumbling back into the cage.
Patton throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taalasmaa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Patton as he jumps to the side.
Taalasmaa looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A leg kick checked by Patton.
Patton throws a leg kick which misses Taalasmaa's front leg but catches the back leg as Taalasmaa tries to avoid it.
Patton chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Patton lands a jab to Taalasmaa's midsection.
Taalasmaa walks into a jab.
Patton throws a shot to the body.
Taalasmaa is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Patton rather than just go for the knockout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Patton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Patton fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Taalasmaa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Patton's corner calls for a 1-2. Patton obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Patton dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Patton throws a sloppy head kick and Taalasmaa moves out of range easily.
Taalasmaa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Taalasmaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Patton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taalasmaa throws an off balance right hand
and Patton counters with an outside leg kick.
Patton looks to score with a jab to the body but Taalasmaa is just out of range.
Patton throws a hook but Taalasmaa avoids it easily.
A big right from Patton misses.

Taalasmaa bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Patton tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Taalasmaa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Patton defending against the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Patton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Taalasmaa is trying to ground and pound but Patton uses the momentary lack of control by Taalasmaa to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Patton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Taalasmaa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Patton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taalasmaa.
Patton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Taalasmaa is stalling in the full guard.
Patton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Patton keeping moving, preventing Taalasmaa from controlling successfully.
Taalasmaa passes Patton's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Taalasmaa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Patton's head.
Taalasmaa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Patton gets back to full guard.
Taalasmaa tries to free his leg and advance position but Patton is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes but missing.

Patton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Taalasmaa is aware though and is defending well.
Taalasmaa postures up in Patton's guard and throws a big left but Patton blocks it.
Taalasmaa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taalasmaa looking to sit in guard and control but Patton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Patton not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Patton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Patton is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Patton preventing the sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Patton tries to free his leg and advance position but Taalasmaa is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Seppo Taalasmaa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Taalasmaa lands with an overhand left.
Taalasmaa thows a leg kick but Patton checks it
and Patton counters with a low kick, right behind Taalasmaa 's knee.
Taalasmaa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
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 ducks right into an uppercut from Patton.
Taalasmaa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Patton looks to land a combination but Taalasmaa avoids it well.
Patton misses with a body shot.
Patton misses with an uppercut.
Taalasmaa throws a leg kick but Patton sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Taalasmaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Patton lands with a good body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taalasmaa is defended easily by Patton.
A shot to the liver by Patton. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa lands a leg kick that knocks Patton off balance momentarily.
Taalasmaa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Patton avoids it really well and circles away.
Michael Patton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Taalasmaa.

Patton lands a big head kick that sends Taalasmaa tumbling to the mat! Patton takes a step backwards and waves Taalasmaa back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Taalasmaa is rocked!
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!
Patton throws a head kick that misses.
Patton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Patton throws the left hand but Taalasmaa avoids the punch easily.
Patton connects with a leg kick. Taalasmaa looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Taalasmaa throws the kick towards the body but Patton avoids it.
Taalasmaa misses with a takedown attempt - Patton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa fails with a takedown attempt.
Patton fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Taalasmaa checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Patton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taalasmaa moves away.
Patton misses with a leg kick.
Patton cracks Taalasmaa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Taalasmaa tries to work over Patton's front leg with a kick but Patton checks it.
Taalasmaa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Taalasmaa moves out of range as Patton strikes.
Patton throws a body punch but Taalasmaa moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patton throws a head kick but Taalasmaa moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Taalasmaa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Taalasmaa tries to clinch but Patton is having none of it.
Taalasmaa looks to score with a jab to the body but Patton is just out of range.
Patton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taalasmaa moves away.
Taalasmaa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Patton stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Patton misses with a head kick.
Crunch! Taalasmaa slams his shin into Patton's torso.
Taalasmaa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Patton.
Taalasmaa misses with a kick to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Michael Patton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taalasmaa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Patton. Taalasmaa does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Patton misses.
Taalasmaa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Patton circles away.
Taalasmaa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Patton defends it nicely.
Taalasmaa throws a jab when Patton was well out of range.
Taalasmaa takes one to the side of the head.
Patton avoids a punch combination nicely.
Patton misses with a body punch
and Taalasmaa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taalasmaa moves out of range as Patton strikes.
Taalasmaa misses with a wild combination.
Taalasmaa connects with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Patton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Patton has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Patton!
A very excited looking Michael Patton made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.