PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jame Lacaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kari Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kari Taalasmaa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lacaro
vs
Taalasmaa

190 cm
20
192 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
201 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jame Lacaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kari Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taalasmaa misses with a takedown attempt - Lacaro sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Taalasmaa shoots in looking for a takedown. Lacaro tries to sprawl out of it but Taalasmaa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lacaro manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jame Lacaro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kari Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lacaro pinned against the cage. Lacaro gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lacaro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lacaro throws a sloppy head kick and Taalasmaa moves out of range easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taalasmaa.
A big left from Taalasmaa misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lacaro misses with a body shot.
Taalasmaa misses with a series of wild punches.
Horrible takedown by Taalasmaa or perhaps it was just good defense by Lacaro which made him look bad.
Lacaro avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Lacaro is trying to buck Taalasmaa off.
Taalasmaa working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Taalasmaa working the ground and pound but Lacaro is defending the strikes.
Lacaro wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lacaro throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taalasmaa fails with the takedown.
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 Jame Lacaro will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Taalasmaa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lacaro's waist but Lacaro gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taalasmaa off to one side.
Taalasmaa throws a body kick the misses
and Lacaro counters with a nice low kick that buckles Taalasmaa's knee momentarily.
Taalasmaa has his takedown stuffed
and Lacaro counters with an outside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taalasmaa looks to land a combination but Lacaro avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lacaro lands a nice looking kick to the body. Taalasmaa takes a step back to recover.
Taalasmaa is breathing heavily.
Taalasmaa shoots and misses
and Lacaro counters with a nice body kick.
Jame Lacaro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kari Taalasmaa.
An inside leg kick lands from Lacaro.
Taalasmaa sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Lacaro looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lacaro cracks the inside of Taalasmaa's front leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lacaro misses with a head kick.
Lacaro scores with a kick to the body.
Taalasmaa throws a right and a left that Lacaro avoids nicely.
Taalasmaa takes a head kick and keeps coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taalasmaa looks to land a combination but Lacaro avoids it well.
Jame Lacaro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taalasmaa misses with a takedown attempt
and Lacaro counters with a head kick. That will keep Taalasmaa thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacaro scores with a spinning back kick!
Jame Lacaro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lacaro throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Lacaro turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Taalasmaa takes a kick to the side of the head.
Lacaro throws a big shot that misses.
A big right from Taalasmaa misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lacaro counters with a slapping leg kick.
Lacaro dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Taalasmaa. That did some damage!
Lacaro feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Taalasmaa's calf.
Taalasmaa misses with a takedown
and Lacaro counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taalasmaa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jame Lacaro dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lacaro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kari Taalasmaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A good leg kick by Lacaro.
Lacaro scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Taalasmaa fails with the takedown
and Lacaro makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Taalasmaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lacaro is looking to slow Taalasmaa down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lacaro counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A head kick from Lacaro lands but Taalasmaa takes it in his stride.
Lacaro bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Lacaro scores with a nice body kick.
Lacaro connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice body kick from Lacaro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa misses with an uppercut.
Lacaro thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Taalasmaa if he has to take too many more of those.
Lacaro connects with a high kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lacaro thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Taalasmaa if he has to take too many more of those.
Taalasmaa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lacaro counters with a good low kick that Taalasmaa was not able to check.
Jame Lacaro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kari Taalasmaa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacaro throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Taalasmaa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lacaro moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lacaro buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lacaro lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lacaro.
Lacaro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taalasmaa can do to turn this around?
Lacaro connects with a high kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lacaro connects with a solid leg kick.
Lacaro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lacaro circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kari Taalasmaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lacaro moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lacaro throws a head kick that Taalasmaa semi-blocks.
Jame Lacaro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taalasmaa throws a hook but Lacaro blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jame Lacaro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lacaro, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:25
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:25
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jame Lacaro!