PBP Commentary

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

Salo
vs
Taalasmaa

175 cm
24
165 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

170 cm
25
167 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

BALCO MMA ELITE
M/S Paint Fightwear **Laundry service**

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Esko Salo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Salo counters with a straight right hand.
Taalasmaa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Salo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Salo swings for the body but Taalasmaa moves out of range.
Taalasmaa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taalasmaa lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Salo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Taalasmaa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salo.
Taalasmaa is looking to score with low kicks.
Jab, jab by Taalasmaa - just one landing.
Salo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Salo misses with a straight right.
Taalasmaa scores with a leg kick.
Salo jabs Taalasmaa right on the nose. Taalasmaa blinks but takes it well.
Salo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taalasmaa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Salo moves into the clinch successfully.
Taalasmaa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Salo has Taalasmaa pressed against the cage, preventing Taalasmaa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa wants a takedown.
Taalasmaa wants to stall.
Salo tries to land knees in the clinch but Taalasmaa avoids the damage to the body.
Taalasmaa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Salo tries to land a knee to the head but Taalasmaa blocks with his arms.
Taalasmaa throws a head punch that misses.
Nice body punch from Taalasmaa - that landed with a thud.
Taalasmaa jumps guard but Salo stands there with Taalasmaa around his waist. Taalasmaa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Salo lands with a short shot to the head.
Taalasmaa has had enough of the clinch but Salo keeps him there for the moment.
Taalasmaa is trying to stall.
Taalasmaa is trying to push Salo away but Salo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Taalasmaa tries for a takedown but Salo manages to get underhooks.
Esko Salo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Taalasmaa.
Salo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Salo tries a knee to the head but Taalasmaa blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taalasmaa.
Salo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Taalasmaa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Taalasmaa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Salo lands with a right to the head.
Salo lands an elbow that stopped Taalasmaa in his tracks for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salo lands an elbow just above Taalasmaa 's eye.
Salo scores with a hook to the body.
Still in the clinch, Salo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Taalasmaa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Salo walks away with a smile on his face. Taalasmaa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Esko Salo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Salo tries to clinch there but Taalasmaa circles away.
Salo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Salo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taalasmaa moves away.
Taalasmaa fails to land with a series of punches.

Salo has closed the distance and engaged Taalasmaa in a clinch.
Taalasmaa lands a body shot in the clinch.
Taalasmaa drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Salo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Salo misses with a punch to the body.
Taalasmaa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Salo backwards.
Taalasmaa tries to stall but Salo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nice body punch from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa blocks an elbow strike.
Taalasmaa takes an elbow to the forehead.

Taalasmaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A bone on bone clash there as Taalasmaa blocks the leg kick.

Salo closes the distance and pushes Taalasmaa back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa successfully pulls guard.
Salo tries to stand but Taalasmaa is controlling from the bottom.
Salo wants to control from the top but Taalasmaa keeps moving.
Taalasmaa has his hands on Salo's head, controlling the position.
Taalasmaa working a defensive guard here.
Salo wants to control from the top but Taalasmaa keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Esko Salo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A low kick from Taalasmaa misses
and Salo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Taalasmaa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Salo takes a swing at Taalasmaa's ribcage but misses.
Taalasmaa throws an off balance right hand
letting Salo counter with a right hand.
Salo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Taalasmaa thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Salo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taalasmaa pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Salo back to the cage. Taalasmaa follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Taalasmaa misses with a low kick.
Taalasmaa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taalasmaa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Salo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Salo but Salo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Salo moves out of range as Taalasmaa strikes.
Taalasmaa misses with an uppercut. Salo saw that one coming.
Salo throws a hook but Taalasmaa avoids it easily.
Salo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Taalasmaa's head.
Salo misses with a straight right.
Taalasmaa throws a leg kick that is checked
and Salo counters with a nice leg kick.
Salo wants to clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Taalasmaa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
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 Esko Salo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Salo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Taalasmaa sizes up Salo with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Salo throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Taalasmaa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa throws a strike but Salo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Taalasmaa is on top in guard.
Taalasmaa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Salo keeping moving, preventing Taalasmaa from controlling successfully.
Taalasmaa thows a big elbow that misses.
Taalasmaa throws a big right hand that misses.
Taalasmaa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taalasmaa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salo trying to control the position.
Taalasmaa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taalasmaa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Taalasmaa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Taalasmaa distracts Salo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salo keeping moving, preventing Taalasmaa from controlling successfully.
Taalasmaa looking to sit in guard and control but Salo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Taalasmaa trying to keep a closed guard but Salo is proving a slippery customer.
Salo stopping the sweep attempt from Taalasmaa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Salo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Taalasmaa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Salo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Salo trying to control the position from guard on top but Taalasmaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salo's corner is telling him to maintain position.

We're going to have a standup here because Esko Salo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Salo swings widly with a right hand
and Taalasmaa counters with a slapping leg kick.
Taalasmaa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Salo misses with a body punch
and Salo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Taalasmaa throws a solid leg kick but Salo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Taalasmaa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Salo throws a head kick that misses.
Salo looks to land a left hand but Taalasmaa moved out of range nicely.
Salo connects with a crisp jab.
Salo misses with a hook
and Taalasmaa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Salo misses with a body shot.

Salo forces Taalasmaa back against the cage and clinches.
Taalasmaa throws a head punch that misses.
Taalasmaa takes a shot to the head.
Taalasmaa working aggressively here.
Stalling in the clinch from Taalasmaa.
Salo prevents the takedown attempt.
Salo misses with some punches.
Taalasmaa slowing the pace effectively.
Salo lands a left hand.

Taalasmaa gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Salo regains guard.
Taalasmaa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes but missing.
Taalasmaa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa wants to control from the top but Salo keeps moving.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes from guard but Salo blocks nicely.
Salo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Taalasmaa throws and elbow that misses. Salo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Taalasmaa's guard. Nice move by Salo!

Taalasmaa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Salo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Salo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Salo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Taalasmaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Taalasmaa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Salo counter with a right hand.
Salo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Taalasmaa finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Taalasmaa shoots in for a double leg but Salo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Salo takes a swing at Taalasmaa's ribcage but misses.
Salo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Salo connects with a nice looking jab.
Taalasmaa slips under a jab from Salo.
A nice leg kick lands there from Salo.
Taalasmaa misses with an uppercut
and Salo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Taalasmaa's knee momentarily.
Taalasmaa shoots in but Salo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taalasmaa ducks under a wild hook from Salo.
A punch combination from Salo misses.
Taalasmaa misses with a hook
and Salo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Salo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
No joy there for Taalasmaa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salo misses with a body shot.
Salo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Salo takes a swing at Taalasmaa's ribcage but misses.
Taalasmaa blocks a jab.
Salo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Taalasmaa misses with a right hand
and Salo counters with a nice body shot.
Taalasmaa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Salo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Salo scores with a one two! Taalasmaa had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Salo is looking to clinch.
Taalasmaa misses with a double jab
enabling Salo to counter with a crisp jab.
Salo misses the shot to the body.
Taalasmaa shoots in looking for a takedown. Salo tries to sprawl out of it but Taalasmaa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Salo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Esko Salo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Salo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Salo throws a body kick that misses.
Taalasmaa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Taalasmaa slips under a jab from Salo.
Salo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taalasmaa works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Salo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa misses with an attempted mid kick.
Good shot there by Salo.
Salo throws a series of strikes that have Taalasmaa backpedaling.
Taalasmaa shoots in but no luck this time.
Salo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Salo misses with a hook.
Salo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Salo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taalasmaa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jab by Salo.
Salo blocks the body kick.
Taalasmaa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salo tries a low kick but Taalasmaa avoids it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Taalasmaa. That's going to slow Salo down.
Taalasmaa throws a leg kick but Salo moved away.
Taalasmaa is looking to chop away at Salo's legs.
Taalasmaa with a jab.
Salo takes a swing at Taalasmaa's ribcage but misses.
Taalasmaa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Salo circles away.
Salo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Salo connects with a solid leg kick.
Taalasmaa throws a leg kick but Salo checks it.
Taalasmaa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Salo.
Salo connects with a right hand. Taalasmaa shakes it off.
Esko Salo is winning the standup battle so far.
Salo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Taalasmaa slips a jab and a cross from Salo.
A solid leg kick lands there for Salo.
Salo checks a low kick from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa shoots in for a double leg but Salo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taalasmaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taalasmaa throws a low kick, looking for Salo's leg but Salo calmly moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salo scores with a sloppy right hand. Taalasmaa should have avoided that one.
Salo swings for the body but Taalasmaa moves out of range.
Salo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Salo throws a series of punches but Taalasmaa avoids them all with ease.
Taalasmaa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salo.
A big right from Taalasmaa misses.
Salo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Salo throws a hook but Taalasmaa avoids it easily.
Taalasmaa lands a head shot.
Salo swings for the body but Taalasmaa moves out of range.
Taalasmaa thows a body shot but no joy.
Salo thows a body shot but no joy.
Salo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Salo throws a leg kick that misses.
Taalasmaa blocks a jab.
Salo scores with a hook.
Taalasmaa wants to slow Salo down by chopping away at his legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esko Salo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Salo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esko Salo!