PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Santino (ranked 1785 p4p, 1586 weight class) and Paavo Talvela (ranked 238 p4p, 215 weight class). Santino comes to the cage accompanied by Daddy Why You Die?. Talvela has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. 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.

Santino
vs
Talvela

186 cm
27
174
9 - 4 - 1

178 cm
26
175
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conviction

Heavy Metal Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Bobby Santino!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paavo Talvela!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santino throws a looping overhand right but Talvela ducks down to avoid it.
Talvela pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Santino half committed to a counter leg kick.
Santino moves out of range of the strikes.
Santino swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice shot by Talvela.
A solid body kick from Talvela.
Santino ducks under a wild hook from Talvela.
Santino throws a big counter combination but Talvela scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Santino throws a head kick that misses.
Santino walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Santino takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Talvela dives in for a single leg takedown but Santino sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Santino went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
The crowd cheers as Talvela lands an impressive looking overhand right. Santino doesn't seem phased though.
Talvela misses with a low kick.
A jab lands there for Talvela.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Talvela shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Santino's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Talvela accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Talvela accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Talvela throwing strikes but missing.
Talvela wants to pass the guard but Santino is keeping the position.
Santino keeping moving, preventing Talvela from controlling successfully.
Santino utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Talvela loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Talvela landing some decent shots from guard.
Talvela is working Santino over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talvela pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santino is keeping the position for now.
Santino knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Talvela on the ground.
Talvela throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Santino on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Santino tries to get out of the position.
Talvela lands a couple of digs.
Santino avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Talvela with a flurry of punches that miss.
Talvela throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Santino wants to get back to his feet but Talvela is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Santino avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Talvela landing with the ground and pound.
Santino utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talvela postures up in Santino's guard and throws a big left but Santino blocks it.
Talvela throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santino works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Santino wants to get back to his feet but Talvela is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Talvela has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Santino keeping moving, preventing Talvela from controlling successfully.
Talvela throwing strikes from guard but Santino blocks nicely.
Santino working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Talvela.
Talvela trying to control but Santino is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Santino utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Talvela working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Talvela sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Santino lands a nice hook to Talvela's body. Talvela takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Talvela lands a really nice looking cross but Santino seems unphased.
Santino throws a front kick aimed at Talvela's knee but Talvela avoids it well.
Talvela throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A shot to the liver by Santino. Beautiful body shot.
Talvela misses with a combination
and Santino counters with a stiff right hand.
Talvela swings widly with a right hand
and Santino counters with a nice body kick.
Santino thows a left - swing and a miss!
Talvela dodges the punch combination from Santino.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Talvela dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Talvela misses with an uppercut
and Santino counters with a straight right hand.
Talvela throws a right hand that Santino ducks under and follows up with a left that Santino also avoids with ease.
Santino on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Talvela fails with a takedown attempt.
Santino thows a leg kick but Talvela checks it
and Talvela counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Talvela throws a right and a left that Santino avoids nicely.
Santino wants to land a leg kick but Talvela is out of range.
Talvela is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Santino throws a leg kick which misses Talvela's front leg but catches the back leg as Talvela tries to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talvela shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santino as he avoids it easily.
Talvela tries for a takedown but Santino circles away easily
and Santino counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bobby Santino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paavo Talvela.
A head kick misses from Talvela.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Talvela.
Talvela rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Talvela takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Paavo Talvela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Talvela getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Santino takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Santino tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Talvela throws a leg kick
and Santino counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Talvela thinking.
Santino throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Talvela darts in looking for a takedown but Santino gets double underhooks and turns Talvela into the cage.
Santino is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Santino slips under a jab from Talvela.
Santino swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Talvela's coach down at Heavy Metal was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Talvela's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Santino throws a sloppy head kick and Talvela moves out of range easily.
Talvela takes one to the chin there.
Bobby Santino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A solid leg kick lands there for Talvela.
Talvela pulls out of a head kick attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Talvela throws a series of strikes that have Santino backpedaling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santino swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Santino staying out of range there.
Talvela moves out of range of the body kick from Santino.
Talvela tries a head kick but it misses.
Talvela has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Talvela throws a lazy right hand but Santino sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Talvela throws a hook but Santino avoids it easily.
Santino fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Talvela manages to avoid it.
Talvela throws a shot from downtown. Santino moves away and avoids it.
Santino scores with a sloppy right hand. Talvela should have avoided that one.
Santino moves out of range of the strikes.
Santino looks to throw the jab but Talvela is out of range.
A good leg kick by Talvela.
Santino avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santino throws a quick counter kick to the body but Talvela avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santino moves out of range as Talvela strikes.
Talvela throws a nice outside leg kick.
Santino throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Santino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Santino takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Santino jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Talvela throws out a loose jab but Santino uses good head movement to avoid it.
Santino half committed to a counter leg kick.
Talvela throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Santino on the side of the head.
Talvela throws a head kick that misses.
Santino avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santino throws a big counter combination but Talvela scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The fighters circling - Talvela throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Santino is looking to counter punch.
Talvela rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Santino counters with a good, hard body kick but Talvela shrugs it off.
Talvela shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santino as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santino misses with a body shot.
Santino bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Talvela's head backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santino misses with a few strikes there.
Talvela with the counter takedown but Santino avoids it easily.
Santino checks a low kick from Talvela.
Talvela lands a head shot.
Paavo Talvela seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Santino motions for Talvela to come forward. Santino throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Talvela throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
enabling Santino to counter with a crisp jab.
Santino getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Talvela lands a glancing blow to the side of Santino's head.
Talvela with the inside leg kick.
Santino throws a leg kick but Talvela checks it.
Talvela swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Talvela throws a right hand that Santino ducks under and follows up with a left that Santino also avoids with ease.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paavo Talvela will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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.

Talvela lands with a thumping leg kick.
Santino throws a leg kick but Talvela checks it.
Talvela throws a good cross that connects.
Santino drops his hands momentarily and Talvela takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A head kick misses from Talvela.
Talvela throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A good leg kick by Talvela.
Santino throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Talvela.
Talvela tests Santino's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Talvela looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Santino has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Talvela off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talvela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santino.
A cross from Talvela lands.
Talvela looks to land a left hand but Santino moved out of range nicely.
Santino misses with a jab, cross combination.
Talvela connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Talvela drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Talvela throwing strikes but missing.
Santino keeping moving, preventing Talvela from controlling successfully.
Talvela throwing strikes from guard but Santino blocks nicely.
Santino has momentary wrist control but Talvela slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talvela throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Talvela with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Santino wants to stand and escape but Talvela is having none of it.
Talvela loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Talvela passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Talvela scoring with punches from side control.
Talvela cracks Santino with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Talvela controlling from side mount.
Talvela creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Santino sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talvela throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Santino parries the strikes from Talvela easily there. Talvela is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Santino to escape.
Talvela connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Santino some visible discomfort.
Talvela looks up at the clock and then as Santino takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Talvela smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Santino is trying to get back to his feet.
Talvela creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Talvela wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santino, who protects the arm well.
Talvela moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Talvela crashes against the mat.
Talvela throws a strike aimed at the side of Santino's head but Santino avoids it well.
Talvela misses with the ground and pound.
Santino dodges the ground and pound from Talvela.
Talvela creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Santino sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Santino defending against the ground and pound.
Santino taking punishment in the form of punches.
Talvela is looking to take a break and control but Santino is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Talvela tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Talvela has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Talvela really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Talvela looks to land a combination but Santino avoids it well.
Santino blocks a low kick nicely.
Santino throwing a counter right hand but Talvela manages to avoid it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Talvela.
Santino takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Talvela looks to throw the jab but Santino is out of range.
Santino went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Talvela connects with a nice looking jab.
Talvela misses with a head kick.
Talvela uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Santino.
A nice inside leg kick there by Talvela. That's going to slow Santino down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talvela throws a right hand that misses
and Santino counters with a solid body kick.
Santino throws a right and a left that both miss.
Talvela throws a sloppy head kick
and Santino counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santino lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talvela misses with an uppercut.
Good exchange - Talvela coming out on top.
Santino swings for the body but Talvela moves out of range.
Talvela feints a jab promting Santino to slip. Talvela then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Santino slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Santino throws a right hand that Talvela ducks under and follows up with a left that Talvela also avoids with ease.
Santino looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A combination from Talvela does no damage.
Santino avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santino throws a counter high kick but Talvela was just alert enough to avoid it.
Talvela connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Talvela cracks Santino with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Talvela throws a head kick that misses.
Nice cross by Santino.
Santino blocks the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santino avoids a punch combination nicely.
Talvela moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Talvela scores with a hook.
Talvela shoots in for a takedown but Santino shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A quick step to the side and Santino tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Santino scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Talvela scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Talvela pivots, looking for a leg kick but Santino is out of range and Talvela settles back down.
It looked like Santino wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Talvela tries to land a front kick but Santino steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Santino connects with a right hand. Talvela shakes it off.
Bobby Santino is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Talvela lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talvela is looking to chop away at Santino's legs.
Santino throws out a loose jab but Talvela uses good head movement to avoid it.
Talvela misses with a straight left.
Talvela lands with a right hand.
Talvela swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Talvela throws a hook but Santino avoids it easily.
Santino looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A left lands for Santino.
Santino is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
No joy there for Santino, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Talvela steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Santino.
Santino misses with a low kick as Talvela jumps back.
Santino throws a looping overhand right but Talvela ducks down to avoid it.
Santino misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talvela feints a jab promting Santino to slip. Talvela then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Santino slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Talvela throws a low kick but Santino avoids it.
Santino fires out a quick counter leg kick but Talvela just manages to avoid it.
Santino walks into a straight right hand from Talvela.
Talvela lands the left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice body punch from Talvela.
Santino avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santino jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Talvela misses with a straight left.
A leg kick checked by Talvela.
Talvela with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Talvela buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Talvela pivots, looking for a leg kick but Santino is out of range and Talvela settles back down.
Santino quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Santino bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Talvela fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Santino went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Talvela dominated that fourth round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Santino moves into range and connects with a jab.
Santino moves away from the strike by Talvela.
It looked like Santino wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Talvela throws a lazy uppercut
and Santino counters with a nice body shot.
Talvela fails with the takedown
and Santino connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Talvela connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Santino momentarily.
Talvela misses with a lunging right hand
and Santino counters with a head kick. That will keep Talvela thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Talvela looks to throw the jab but Santino is out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Santino. Those never looked like landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santino stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Talvela.
No joy there for Santino, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Talvela throws a solid leg kick but Santino takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Talvela.
Talvela lands with an uppercut that bounces Santino off the cage and back into range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santino uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Talvela.
Talvela scores with a body shot.
Talvela lands a nice shot that snaps Santino's head back.
Talvela throws a lazy right hand but Santino sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Talvela avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Santino throws a poor cross that misses
and Talvela counters with a left and a right that stings Santino.
Talvela misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Talvela throws a looping overhand right but Santino ducks down to avoid it.
Talvela throws a wild body kick that Santino sees coming a mile off.
Talvela throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A solid leg kick lands there for Talvela.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santino throws a lazy right hand but Talvela sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Talvela stuns Santino with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Santino throws a nice inside leg kick.
Talvela ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Santino moves away.
As Talvela looks to move away, Santino throws a big counter combo but Talvela just gets out of the way.
Santino walks into a jab.
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!
Talvela moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Santino takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Talvela closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Talvela lands in his opponent's guard.

Santino pushes Talvela off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Santino blocks a jab.
Santino was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talvela showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Santino.
Santino attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Talvela throws a jab when Santino was well out of range.
Talvela scores with a jab to the body.
Talvela misses with a head kick.
Santino lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Talvela circles away quickly and effectively.

Talvela drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Talvela throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santino works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Talvela wants to control from the top but Santino keeps moving.
Bobby Santino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talvela throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santino works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Talvela is looking to work some ground and pound but Santino has wrist control.
Talvela lands a couple of elbows.
Talvela connects with a couple of short punches.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Santino is looking for a triangle but Talvela pushes his legs off easily.
Talvela stays in close to Santino's body and controls the position.
Talvela works over Santino with some ground and pound from guard.
Santino being controlled here, momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paavo Talvela comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Talvela has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 45:50
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 45:50
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paavo Talvela!
Paavo Talvela is the new welterweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Paavo Talvela thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.