PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paavo Talvela (ranked 701 p4p, 1432 weight class) and Benjamin Noeigati (ranked 90 p4p, 183 weight class). Talvela comes to the cage accompanied by For Heavy Metal we will die!. Noeigati has chosen Cremation of Sam McGee as his entrance music. Paavo Talvela could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Benjamin Noeigati's chin.

Talvela
vs
Noeigati

178 cm
27
175
11 - 2 - 0

182 cm
28
172
11 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Heavy Metal Drugs
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

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 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paavo Talvela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Benjamin Noeigati!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Talvela lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Talvela throws a combination. Noeigati tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Benjamin Noeigati has been cut.
Talvela turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A left lands for Talvela.
Talvela has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Heavy Metal in the buildup to the fight.
Talvela throws out a powerful jab.
Talvela throws a body shot but no joy.
A slow jab from Noeigati misses its intended target.
A telegraphed right hand from Talvela misses the target.
A nice side step and Noeigati releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Noeigati checks a low kick from Talvela.
Paavo Talvela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Talvela tries to score with a low kick but Noeigati moves his leg out of the way.
Noeigati throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Talvela sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Talvela as he connects with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Noeigati misses with a straight right.
Talvela darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Talvela lands with a slapping head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talvela swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Noeigati.
Talvela dips to his left and cracks Noeigati with an uppercut!
Talvela misses with a body shot.
Talvela throws a head kick that misses.
Benjamin Noeigati is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Talvela connects with an inside leg kick.
Talvela lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Talvela misses the jab.
Noeigati swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Talvela swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A nice side step and Noeigati releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Talvela scores with a nice strike.
Talvela throws the left hand but Noeigati avoids the punch easily.
Noeigati flicks out a counter leg kick but Talvela steps away.
Noeigati plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Talvela misses the jab.

Talvela manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Noeigati on his heels. He'll look to pass Noeigati's guard now, I'm sure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Talvela trying to control but Noeigati is working from the bottom.
Talvela loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Talvela loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Talvela stands up over Noeigati, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Noeigati working a defensive guard here.
Talvela wants to control from the top but Noeigati keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Noeigati preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Talvela throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talvela's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Talvela postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Noeigati keeping moving, preventing Talvela from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Talvela stays in close to Noeigati's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Noeigati lands a glancing blow to the side of Talvela's head.
Talvela turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A jab from Talvela misses.
Noeigati swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Noeigati just misses with a punch to the body.
Talvela wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talvela just misses with a punch to the body.
Talvela works Noeigati's body with a nice hook.
Noeigati misses with a kick to the body.
Talvela moves out of range as Noeigati strikes.
Talvela half committed to a counter leg kick.
A low kick from Talvela is predictable there
and Noeigati cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Talvela uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Talvela moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
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!
Jab, jab by Talvela - just one landing.
Noeigati misses with a low kick as Talvela jumps back.
Talvela half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Noeigati takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Noeigati checks a leg kick.
Noeigati lands with a straight right. Talvela didn't see that one coming.
Talvela throws out a loose jab but Noeigati uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Talvela dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Benjamin Noeigati's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Noeigati takes one on the button.
Talvela looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Talvela misses with a takedown
letting Noeigati counter with a right hand.
Talvela throws a shot from downtown. Noeigati moves away and avoids it.
Talvela throws a jab but it's blocked by Noeigati.
Noeigati appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Noeigati checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Talvela throws a one two combo.
Talvela lands the left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talvela ducks under a wild hook from Noeigati.
Paavo Talvela is winning the standup battle so far.
Talvela displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Talvela throws a combination that misses
and Noeigati counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Talvela looks to throw the jab but Noeigati is out of range.
Noeigati doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talvela staying out of range there.
Noeigati misses with a low kick as Talvela jumps back.
It looked like Talvela wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Talvela throws a nice outside leg kick.
Talvela is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Noeigati can do to turn this around?
Talvela connects with the punch.
Talvela shoots in looking for a takedown. Noeigati tries to sprawl out of it but Talvela keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Noeigati manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Talvela.
Noeigati ducks right into an uppercut from Talvela.
Talvela looks to land a right hand but Noeigati moved out of range.
Noeigati keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Talvela.
Talvela scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Noeigati blocks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Talvela tenderised Noeigati's leg. Noeigati is trying to keep his angry face on.
Talvela pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Noeigati back to the cage. Talvela follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Talvela throws a leg kick but Noeigati sees it coming and moves out of range.
Noeigati is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Talvela with a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Talvela shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paavo Talvela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big right from Talvela misses.
Talvela misses with a body kick.
Noeigati appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Talvela fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Noeigati.
Talvela jabs Noeigati to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Noeigati takes one to the chin there.
Talvela throws a left and a right that both miss
and Noeigati counters with a straight right hand.
Talvela uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Noeigati.
Talvela slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Noeigati throws a body punch but Talvela moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Noeigati misses the target.
Noeigati on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Noeigati keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Noeigati was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
A looping hook to the body misses from Talvela. Noeigati does a little dance to reset his feet.
Noeigati follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Noeigati misses with a looping right.
Talvela appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Noeigati swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Talvela's corner calls for a 1-2. Talvela obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Talvela connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Noeigati needs to keep his hands up - Talvela had a free shot at his head there.
Talvela throws the left hand but Noeigati avoids the punch easily.
Talvela scores with a jab to the jaw.
Noeigati misses with a wild body shot.
Talvela swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talvela fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Noeigati manages to avoid it.
Noeigati thows a body kick. Talvela tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Talvela looks to land a right hand but Noeigati moved out of range.
Noeigati is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Talvela with a body shot.
A big left from Talvela misses.
Noeigati shapes to counter with a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Talvela swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Talvela lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Talvela.
A cross from Talvela lands.
Talvela fails with a takedown attempt.
Talvela throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Noeigati to counter with a crisp jab.
Noeigati's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Noeigati throws a nice inside leg kick.
Noeigati throws a leg kick but Talvela sees it coming and moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Talvela dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Benjamin Noeigati's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

An inside leg kick from Talvela misses.
A shot to the liver by Noeigati. Beautiful body shot.
Talvela lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Noeigati loads up on a big right hand but Talvela slips the punch.
Noeigati misses with a hook. Talvela ducked under it nicely.
Talvela throws a poor cross that misses
and Noeigati counters with a stiff right hand.
Talvela throws a right and a left that both miss.
As Talvela backs off Noeigati throws a huge counter combo but Talvela manages to avoid it all.
Noeigati lands a glancing blow to the side of Talvela's head.
Noeigati tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talvela scores with a jab to the jaw.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Talvela, as that shot connected.
Talvela fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Talvela connects with a right hand. Noeigati shakes it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talvela uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Noeigati has time to react.
A swing and a miss from Talvela.
Noeigati thinks about the counter body kick.
Talvela rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Noeigati counter with a right hand.
Noeigati misses with a low kick.
Talvela scores with a nice right hand.
Talvela loads up on a big right hand but Noeigati slips the punch.
Talvela connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Talvela bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Talvela lands a lovely overhand right.
Talvela swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Noeigati appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Noeigati avoids the body shot from Talvela.
Noeigati throws a hook but Talvela avoids it easily.
Benjamin Noeigati has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noeigati bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Talvela throws a body punch but Noeigati moves out of range.
Noeigati is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Noeigati swings widly with a right hand

and Talvela counters with a takedown into side control.
Noeigati stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Noeigati is trying to control Talvela's posture but Talvela avoids it.
Talvela misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Talvela staying calm.
Talvela trying to control the action but Noeigati is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talvela in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Talvela is looking to take a break and control but Noeigati is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Noeigati manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Talvela thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Noeigati's head.
Talvela thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Talvela with the ground and pound but Noeigati uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Noeigati is controlling Talvela's posture.
Talvela throwing strikes but missing.
Talvela is working Noeigati over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Talvela got a little sloppy there for a moment and Noeigati has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Talvela has managed to get both his arms back between Noeigati's legs - danger averted.
Talvela throws a big right hand that misses.
Talvela trying to move into half guard but instead Noeigati has managed to sweep!

Noeigati wants to pass the guard but Talvela is keeping the position.
Paavo Talvela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Noeigati won't allow Talvela to sweep him here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paavo Talvela showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Talvela has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

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