PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lalli Venemies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Tauer (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.

Venemies
vs
Tauer

160 cm
28
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
33
156 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lalli Venemies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Max Tauer!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tauer paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Venemies fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tauer throws a hook but Venemies blocks it.

Venemies shoots in and gets a takedown into Tauer's guard.
Venemies might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Venemies drops back looking for a leg! Tauer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tauer manages to kick Venemies off! Venemies jumps back into Tauer's guard.
Tauer controls Venemies momentarily but Venemies frees himself.
Tauer wants to sweep here but Venemies controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venemies trying to control but Tauer is working from the bottom.
Venemies is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Venemies drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Venemies jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tauer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Venemies is one step ahead there.
Venemies trying to control the position from guard on top but Tauer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Venemies thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tauer is pulling down on Venemies's head to control his posture.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Venemies drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Venemies jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Venemies drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tauer looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tauer looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tauer!

Tauer taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tauer tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Tauer is looking to take a break and control but Venemies is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Venemies can't do much from the bottom here.
Venemies tries to improve position but can't.
Venemies is trying to escape the position but Tauer is controlling the position.
Venemies is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Tauer is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Venemies tries to lock up and control but Tauer gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Venemies can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tauer tries to control but Venemies wriggling away.
Venemies is desperately trying to improve his position but Tauer has a good base and remains in mount.
Tauer controlling from mount.
Venemies is trying desperately to improve position.
Tauer tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Venemies is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Venemies slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Tauer wants to pass to mount but Venemies is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Venemies is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tauer pulls his head out easily.
Tauer seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Tauer is trying to control the action in half guard but Venemies is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tauer wants to stand up but Venemies has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Venemies moves into full guard.
Venemies pulls Tauer in close to prevent any damage.

Venemies looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Venemies looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Tauer dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Venemies darts in and clinches Tauer up against the cage.
Tauer misses with the head strike.
Tauer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Venemies has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Tauer regains guard immediately.
Venemies trying to control but Tauer is working from the bottom.
Venemies pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tauer is keeping the position for now.
Venemies wants to control from the top but Tauer keeps moving.
Tauer is trying to control the position but Venemies postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venemies trying to control but Tauer is working from the bottom.
Venemies is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tauer is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Tauer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Venemies is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venemies trying to control but Tauer is working from the bottom.
Venemies slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A head kick from Tauer lands but Venemies takes it in his stride.
Venemies fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lalli Venemies is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Venemies takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Venemies avoids the body shot from Tauer.
Venemies moves out of range as Tauer throws a body kick.

Venemies fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tauer, pushing him back against the cage.

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

Venemies scores with a takedown into Tauer's guard.
Tauer keeping moving, preventing Venemies from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tauer is looking to stand up but Venemies isn't so interested in that idea.
Venemies trying to control but Tauer is working from the bottom.
Tauer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Venemies controls the pace.
Tauer keeping moving, preventing Venemies from controlling successfully.

Venemies is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tauer looking to control.
Venemies passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tauer is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Venemies is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tauer tries to improve position but can't.
Tauer is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Venemies is controlling him well.

Venemies tries for a kimura but Tauer is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Tauer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tauer is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tauer is still trying to improve position.

Venemies looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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.

Venemies looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Venemies is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tauer is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Venemies is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tauer has escaped the position, nice work there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tauer is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lalli Venemies dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Venemies dives in and grabs Tauer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tauer pushes down on Venemies's head and hops out.

Venemies shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tauer manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Venemies trying to control but Tauer is working from the bottom.
Tauer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Venemies. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Venemies postures up.
Tauer keeping full guard, as Venemies tries to pass.
Tauer keeping moving, preventing Venemies from controlling successfully.
Venemies preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tauer keeping moving, preventing Venemies from controlling successfully.

Venemies is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tauer is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tauer has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tauer has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Venemies is proving hard to escape from.

Venemies looking for subs off his back but Tauer has passed one foot through into half guard.
Venemies wants to control but Tauer is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tauer is keen to just control but Venemies is a slippery customer.

Tauer decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Venemies tries to clinch but Tauer is having none of it.
Tauer defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Venemies.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Venemies is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tauer sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lalli Venemies. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Venemies takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Tauer keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Tauer lands a glancing blow to the side of Venemies's head.

Venemies is rocked!
Venemies tries to clinch but Tauer moves away
and Tauer counters with a huge left! Venemies is in big trouble! He's backing up but Tauer isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Venemies from any more damage. A dominating finish by Tauer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Max Tauer!
Max Tauer thanked the fans post fight for their support.