PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harry Alonzo Longabaugh (ranked 43 p4p, 224 weight class) and Paavo Talvela (ranked 8 p4p, 31 weight class). Talvela is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: For Heavy Metal we will die!. Paavo Talvela has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Longabaugh
vs
Talvela

180 cm
29
175
19 - 9 - 0

178 cm
32
175
24 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Conviction
NARCOS

NARCOS

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 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harry Alonzo Longabaugh!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paavo Talvela!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Longabaugh takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Talvela scoring well with a low kick there.
Longabaugh takes one to the side of the head.
Longabaugh throws a big shot that misses.
A little jabbing left from Talvela on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Longabaugh misses with an uppercut.
Talvela ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice uppercut there from Longabaugh.
Nice defenses there by Longabaugh.
Longabaugh connects with a body shot that sends Talvela's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talvela slips a jab from Longabaugh.
Talvela doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Talvela on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Longabaugh with a hook.
We've been told by Longabaugh's head coaches at New York Public Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Longabaugh is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longabaugh scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Talvela doesn't seem bothered though.
Talvela has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Talvela avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Longabaugh throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Longabaugh getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Longabaugh misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Talvela.
Longabaugh throws a body punch but Talvela moves out of range.
Longabaugh takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Harry Alonzo Longabaugh is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Talvela avoids the body shot from Longabaugh.
Longabaugh misses with a straight left.
It seemed like Talvela was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Longabaugh throws an off balance right hand
and Talvela counters with a nice low kick that buckles Longabaugh's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Longabaugh tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Talvela was well out of range. Poor timing from Longabaugh.
Longabaugh waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Talvela.
Longabaugh backing away here, and Talvela unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Talvela fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Longabaugh misses the jab.
A swing and a miss from Longabaugh.
Talvela swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Talvela missing with a left hand there. Longabaugh was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Talvela gets cracked there but stands up to it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Longabaugh misses with a wild body shot.
Longabaugh takes a swing at Talvela's ribcage but misses.
Longabaugh throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Talvela counters with a nice double leg into side control. Longabaugh won't be happy with that.
Longabaugh is looking to regain half guard here but Talvela keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Longabaugh's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talvela tries to move to mount but Longabaugh blocks the move with his legs.
Talvela looks up at the clock and then as Longabaugh takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Talvela smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Talvela fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Talvela creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Longabaugh sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Talvela cracks Longabaugh with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Talvela lands an elbow.
Talvela scoring with punches and elbows.
Talvela wants to lay and pray for a moment but Longabaugh keeps working.
Longabaugh taking a bit of punishment here - Talvela scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talvela throws a strike aimed at the side of Longabaugh's head but Longabaugh avoids it well.
Longabaugh is looking for a sweep.
Longabaugh taking a bit of punishment here - Talvela scoring with strikes.

Talvela thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Talvela scores with punches from side control.
Talvela lands some shots froms side control.
Longabaugh can't do much from the bottom here.
Talvela wants to control but Longabaugh is keeping him busy.
Longabaugh sneaks back into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Longabaugh is looking for a sweep. Talvela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Harry Alonzo Longabaugh will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Talvela stuns Longabaugh with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Longabaugh misses with a right hand
and Talvela counters with a stiff right hand.
Longabaugh throws a right hand that misses
and Talvela counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Talvela throws a sloppy head kick and Longabaugh moves out of range easily.
Longabaugh falls off balance throwing a combination
and Longabaugh takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Talvela defending well as Longabaugh loads up on a big left hand.
Talvela moves away from the strike by Longabaugh.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Longabaugh jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Talvela gets the takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Longabaugh takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Talvela is trying to get an arm triangle but Longabaugh is defending well.
Longabaugh tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longabaugh is working hard here to advance position.
Longabaugh takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Talvela is working Longabaugh over with some ground and pound from side control.
Talvela in side control, throwing shots but Longabaugh defends.
Talvela sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Longabaugh is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Longabaugh is looking for a sweep.
Longabaugh is trying to control Talvela's posture but Talvela avoids it.
Paavo Talvela has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Talvela crashes against the mat.
Longabaugh sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Longabaugh avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Talvela.
Talvela seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Longabaugh does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Talvela not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Talvela seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Longabaugh tries to get to full guard but Talvela has control of the leg.
Talvela missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Longabaugh is positioning himself well to prevent Talvela advancing to mount.
Talvela throwing shots but Longabaugh is blocking nicely.
Talvela landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talvela missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Longabaugh has his hands clasped together around Talvela's back. He's all about the action.
Longabaugh trying to control but Talvela postures up.
Talvela working the head and body with strikes.
Longabaugh trying to control but Talvela postures up.
Longabaugh keeping hold of Talvela's head, controlling as best he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Longabaugh tries to roll over but Talvela keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Talvela throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Longabaugh is trying to maintain the position but Talvela is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Talvela lands a nice short elbow.
Talvela slips a nice elbow through Longabaugh's hands, connecting with Longabaugh's forehead.
Talvela uses his free foot to push down on Longabaugh's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Longabaugh.
Talvela has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Talvela dominating with strikes here.
Talvela pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Longabaugh is rocked!
Talvela connects with a bit shot that sees Longabaugh covering up! More strikes from Talvela and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Talvela is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Paavo Talvela!
Paavo Talvela is the new welterweight champion!
After winning the bout, Paavo Talvela thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.