PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between EA Poe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lasse Alatalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). EA Poe had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.8lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. EA Poe has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Poe
vs
Alatalo

181 cm
27
187 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

177 cm
20
176 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, EA Poe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lasse Alatalo!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poe tries to bum rush Alatalo with a series of wild strikes but Alatalo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've been told by Poe's head coaches at Bobby B's Gem that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Poe scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Alatalo throws a shot to the body.

Poe throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Alatalo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Poe is in Alatalo's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alatalo is controlling Poe's posture.
Poe wants to stand but Alatalo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Alatalo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poe trying to control the position from guard on top but Alatalo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alatalo has control of Poe's left arm, preventing Poe from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poe trying to control but Alatalo is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Poe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Poe lands a right hook to the body.
Alatalo scores with a shot to the body.
Alatalo takes a jab right on the kisser.
A punch combination from Poe misses.
Poe stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Alatalo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Poe.
Poe takes a swing at Alatalo's ribcage but misses.
Alatalo throws a poor cross that misses
and Poe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Alatalo avoids the body shot from Poe.
Poe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Alatalo tries to avoid it but Poe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Alatalo to the ground. Alatalo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
It seemed like Alatalo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poe throws a sloppy body shot
and Alatalo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Alatalo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Poe on the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice cross by Alatalo.
Poe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alatalo as he jumps to the side.
Alatalo scores with the left hand. Poe knows he should have avoided that one.
Alatalo scores with a punch to the head.
A combination from Alatalo does no damage.
Alatalo missing with a left hand there. Poe was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Poe paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lasse Alatalo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alatalo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Alatalo misses with an uppercut

and Poe counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Poe slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alatalo keeping moving, preventing Poe from controlling successfully.
Alatalo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Alatalo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Poe trying to control but Alatalo is working from the bottom.
Alatalo is adopting a defensive guard.
Alatalo has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Poe has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Poe controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alatalo swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Poe to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice shot lands for Alatalo.
Poe missing with a left hand there. Alatalo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Poe swings widly with a right hand
and Alatalo counters with a straight right hand.
EA Poe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alatalo lands a jab.
Alatalo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Alatalo misses the shot to the body.
Alatalo throws a shot from downtown. Poe moves away and avoids it.
Poe throws an overhand right that lands on Alatalo's shoulder, as Alatalo tries to avoid the shot.
Poe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
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 EA Poe will probably get the nod.
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.

Poe looks to score with a jab to the body but Alatalo is just out of range.
Poe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alatalo as he jumps to the side.
Nice body punch from Alatalo.
Poe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Alatalo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Poe blocks a jab.
Poe misses with a lunging right hand
and Alatalo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Alatalo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Poe doesn't seem bothered though.
Poe misses with a straight right.
Alatalo throws out a counter right but Poe avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alatalo scores with a nice strike.
Poe connects with a nice looking jab.
Poe throws a right hand that misses
and Poe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Alatalo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Poe to score with a decent uppercut.
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!
Alatalo connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alatalo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alatalo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Poe misses with an uppercut.
Poe misses the jab.
Alatalo connects with a body shot.
A jab from Alatalo misses.
Lasse Alatalo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alatalo jabs at Poe's body.
Alatalo has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Poe scores with a decent looking hook.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Poe.
Alatalo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Poe feinted with a counter takedown.
Nice cross by Alatalo.
Poe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Alatalo throws a hook but Poe avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alatalo stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for EA Poe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Poe wants to clinch.
Alatalo throws a jab but it's blocked by Poe.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poe walks into a left hand.
Alatalo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Poe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alatalo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Poe.
Poe attempts a counter takedown but Alatalo avoids it well and moves away.
Alatalo throws a jab when Poe was well out of range.
Alatalo misses with the combination.
Poe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Poe misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alatalo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Poe missing with a left hand there. Alatalo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Poe has a takedown stuffed.
Alatalo scores with a hook to the body. Poe takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice shot by Alatalo.
Poe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alatalo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Alatalo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Poe.
Poe ducks under a wild hook from Alatalo.
Alatalo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Poe.
Poe on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Alatalo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Poe throws a lazy body kick
and Alatalo counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poe takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Poe throws a combination that misses
enabling Alatalo to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Poe cracks Alatalo with an open hand slap.
Alatalo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Poe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Alatalo blocks a head kick by Poe.
Alatalo let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Poe shoots in but Alatalo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alatalo digs a good body shot into Poe's ribs.
Alatalo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Poe doesn't seem bothered though.
Poe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Alatalo lands a nice shot to the body.
A big left from Poe misses.
Alatalo let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Poe feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasse Alatalo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Poe doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Alatalo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Poe swings widly with a right hand
letting Alatalo counter with a right hand.
Alatalo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Poe is looking to land body kicks.
Alatalo dips to his left and cracks Poe with an uppercut!
Alatalo scores with the left hand. Poe knows he should have avoided that one.

Poe is rocked!
Alatalo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Poe moves forwards but Alatalo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Oh Poe is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Donk. Alatalo catches Poe right on the button with a cross.
Alatalo lands a hook that stumbles Poe back into the cage. Alatalo follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping Poe to the canvas! Alatalo pounces and lands several unanswered shots - Poe has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Lasse Alatalo!
Lasse Alatalo thanked the fans post fight for their support.