PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Rogalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Taalasmaa (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.

Rogalski
vs
Taalasmaa

190 cm
23
215 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

190 cm
21
220 lbs
7 - 1 - 1

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Drugs Galore !!3 DAY 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 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of London, Paul Rogalski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa tries to close the distance and clinch but Rogalski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No joy there for Rogalski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Taalasmaa drops his hands momentarily and Rogalski takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Taalasmaa instigates a clinch.

Rogalski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Taalasmaa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Taalasmaa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Taalasmaa looking to throw knees to the head but Rogalski is blocking nicely.
Taalasmaa is pressed up against the cage. Rogalski has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taalasmaa down to the mat. Taalasmaa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Rogalski closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogalski wants to control for a moment but Taalasmaa uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Rogalski flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Taalasmaa is thwarting Rogalski's attempts to control the position.
Taalasmaa wants to stand up but Rogalski is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taalasmaa postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Rogalski to stand up.
Rogalski misses with a double jab.
Taalasmaa throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rogalski's head.

It looks like Paul Rogalski has been cut.
Rogalski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rogalski throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Taalasmaa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rogalski lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rogalski doesn't manage to clinch there - Taalasmaa circles away.
Rogalski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rogalski wants to clinch up but Taalasmaa keeps it at a distance.
Taalasmaa goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
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!

Taalasmaa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Taalasmaa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Taalasmaa looks gassed!
Rogalski on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taalasmaa misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rogalski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Seppo Taalasmaa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rogalski tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taalasmaa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rogalski takes one on the button.
Rogalski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taalasmaa is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Taalasmaa misses with a head kick.
Rogalski scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Seppo Taalasmaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taalasmaa dodges the punch combination from Rogalski.
Rogalski takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Taalasmaa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rogalski.
Taalasmaa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rogalski.
Rogalski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rogalski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taalasmaa looks to clinch
and Rogalski counters with a three punch combo that has Taalasmaa backing up. Taalasmaa nods at Rogalski to acknowledge the strikes.
Taalasmaa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taalasmaa slips a straight right by Rogalski.
Taalasmaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rogalski misses with a series of wild punches.
Taalasmaa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taalasmaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rogalski lands a glancing blow to the side of Taalasmaa's head.
Rogalski displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rogalski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rogalski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taalasmaa manages to avoid it.
A combination from Taalasmaa does no damage.
Taalasmaa throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rogalski's head.
Taalasmaa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Taalasmaa cracks Rogalski with an open hand slap.
Taalasmaa lands a high kick!

Taalasmaa has closed the distance and engaged Rogalski in a clinch.
Taalasmaa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Taalasmaa scores with a shot to the side of Rogalski's head.
Taalasmaa unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rogalski lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rogalski's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Rogalski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogalski takes one to the chin there.
Rogalski lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taalasmaa circles away quickly and effectively.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rogalski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taalasmaa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rogalski's calf.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Taalasmaa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taalasmaa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taalasmaa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rogalski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rogalski wants to break the clinch but can't.
Taalasmaa landing knees to the body.
Rogalski wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rogalski is looking to break free of the clinch but Taalasmaa has double underhooks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taalasmaa looking to throw knees to the head but Rogalski is blocking nicely.
Knees to the body from Taalasmaa.
Rogalski scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right from Taalasmaa on the inside.
Taalasmaa connects with a knee to the head.
Rogalski misses with some punches.
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 Paul Rogalski will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Paul Rogalski's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rogalski throws a right and a left that Taalasmaa avoids nicely.
Rogalski misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rogalski avoids the head kick by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rogalski connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rogalski ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rogalski cracks Taalasmaa with an open hand slap.
Rogalski lands a body shot.
Rogalski misses with a wild combination.
Taalasmaa darts in trying to clinch
enabling Rogalski to counter with a crisp jab.
Taalasmaa lands a two punch combo.
Paul Rogalski is winning the standup battle so far.
Rogalski lands a jab to the head.
Rogalski shoots in looking for a takedown. Taalasmaa tries to sprawl out of it but Rogalski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taalasmaa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taalasmaa wants to clinch
and Rogalski counters with a three punch combo that has Taalasmaa backing up. Taalasmaa nods at Rogalski to acknowledge the strikes.
Rogalski swats away the attempt to clinch by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rogalski.

Paul Rogalski's cut is getting worse.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogalski keeps the fight on the outside.
Rogalski tries to move into range but Taalasmaa moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rogalski lands a two punch combo.
Taalasmaa throws a head kick that Rogalski semi-blocks.
Taalasmaa misses with the combination.
Rogalski slips under a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taalasmaa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rogalski darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Taalasmaa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogalski throws a strike but Taalasmaa avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rogalski trying to control but Taalasmaa is working from the bottom.
Rogalski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Taalasmaa wants to get back to his feet but Rogalski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rogalski wants to control from the top but Taalasmaa keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rogalski's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rogalski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taalasmaa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rogalski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rogalski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taalasmaa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Taalasmaa throws a head kick that misses.
Rogalski misses the shot to the body.
Rogalski scores with a jab to the head.
Taalasmaa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rogalski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taalasmaa throws a combination that misses
and Rogalski counters with a nice uppercut.
Rogalski has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Taalasmaa clinches but Rogalski breaks the clinch
and Rogalski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rogalski keeps the fight on the outside.
Taalasmaa lands a high kick!
Rogalski looks to land a combination but Taalasmaa avoids it well.
Taalasmaa tries to clinch up but Rogalski circles away and keeps his distance.
Taalasmaa scores with a push kick.
Rogalski needs to keep his hands up - Taalasmaa had a free shot at his head there.
Paul Rogalski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taalasmaa throws a head kick that half lands.
Taalasmaa scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Taalasmaa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Taalasmaa closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rogalski looking to stall.
Taalasmaa misses with a knee strike.
Rogalski tries to score a body lock takedown but Taalasmaa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Taalasmaa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Taalasmaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Paul Rogalski's cut.
That's time! Rogalski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Taalasmaa walks into a straight right hand from Rogalski.
Rogalski shoots for a double leg takedown but Taalasmaa sprawls well. He's pushed Rogalski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Taalasmaa throws a sloppy head kick and Rogalski moves out of range easily.
Rogalski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taalasmaa fails with an attempt to clinch.

Taalasmaa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rogalski, pushing him back against the cage.
Rogalski tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Taalasmaa's elbow.
Taalasmaa landing knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Taalasmaa - that landed with a thud.
Taalasmaa lands a nice knee to the body.
Taalasmaa tries a knee to the head but Rogalski blocks it.
Rogalski misses with a body punch.
Taalasmaa lands a knee to the head.
Rogalski changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Taalasmaa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Rogalski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taalasmaa tries to clinch there but Rogalski circles away.
Taalasmaa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taalasmaa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rogalski swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rogalski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogalski tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taalasmaa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taalasmaa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Taalasmaa lands with a slapping head kick.
Taalasmaa takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A head kick misses from Taalasmaa.
Good shot there by Rogalski.

Rogalski gets a takedown into half guard.
Rogalski is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rogalski looks to land a strike but Taalasmaa avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogalski looking to sit in guard and control but Taalasmaa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rogalski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Taalasmaa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rogalski wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Taalasmaa is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Rogalski to stand up.

Taalasmaa clinches.
Taalasmaa tries to land a knee to the head but Rogalski blocks with his arms.

Rogalski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rogalski tries to clinch there but Taalasmaa circles away.
Rogalski looks to land a combination. Taalasmaa sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Taalasmaa moves out of range as Rogalski throws a body kick.

Taalasmaa instigates a clinch.
Taalasmaa scores a nice knee to the body.
Taalasmaa scores with a knee to the head.
Taalasmaa crunches a lovely knee into Rogalski's ribcage.

Rogalski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taalasmaa lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rogalski misses with a series of wild punches.

Taalasmaa forces Rogalski back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Taalasmaa lands a nice knee to the body.
Taalasmaa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rogalski.
Taalasmaa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rogalski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Taalasmaa misses with a knee strike.
Taalasmaa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rogalski is looking to break free of the clinch but Taalasmaa has double underhooks.
Rogalski is trying to maintain a safe position but Taalasmaa gets an underhook and turns Rogalski into the cage.
Taalasmaa misses with a knee strike.
Taalasmaa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Taalasmaa tries a knee to the head but Rogalski blocks it.
Taalasmaa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A body shot lands from Rogalski.
Rogalski wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taalasmaa with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rogalski is trying to break free.
Taalasmaa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rogalski avoiding damage as Taalasmaa throws knees to the body.
Taalasmaa looking to throw knees to the head but Rogalski is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo Taalasmaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Taalasmaa 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

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