PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Vaahtolaaksonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vaahtolaaksonen kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Pantera - Fucking Hostile Live. The key to victory for Seppo Vaahtolaaksonen has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Vaahtolaaksonen
vs
Russel

173 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

179 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Plays chess

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Vaahtolaaksonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cody Russel!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vaahtolaaksonen tries to work over Russel's front leg with a kick but Russel checks it.
Vaahtolaaksonen is looking to slow Russel down with leg kicks.
Russel lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Vaahtolaaksonen sprawling to the canvas. Russel follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Vaahtolaaksonen hang on?

Vaahtolaaksonen is rocked!

It looks like Seppo Vaahtolaaksonen has been cut.
Russel content to control rather than advance.
Oh Vaahtolaaksonen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Vaahtolaaksonen seems to have got his legs back now.
Vaahtolaaksonen is breathing heavily.
Russel prevents Vaahtolaaksonen from standing back up.
Russel is taking a breather. Vaahtolaaksonen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Russel scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russel works his way into side control.
Vaahtolaaksonen on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Vaahtolaaksonen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Russel scoring with punches and elbows.
Russel working the ground and pound.
Russel creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Vaahtolaaksonen is trying to escape the position but Russel is controlling the position.
Russel in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Russel cracks Vaahtolaaksonen with a big right hand but Vaahtolaaksonen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Vaahtolaaksonen is trying to buck Russel off.
Russel staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaahtolaaksonen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Russel working the head with strikes.
Russel is working Vaahtolaaksonen over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russel controls the position.
Russel landing a few strikes.
Russel working the head and body with strikes.
Russel creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Russel has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Russel tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Russel putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel controlling from mount.
Russel is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Russel tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Cody Russel just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vaahtolaaksonen scoring well with a low kick there.
Vaahtolaaksonen wants to clinch up but Russel keeps it at a distance.
Russel takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Russel's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Russel duly obliges.
Vaahtolaaksonen checks a low kick from Russel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaahtolaaksonen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Russel takes a swing at Vaahtolaaksonen's ribcage but misses.
Vaahtolaaksonen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Russel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Russel keeps the fight on the outside.
Vaahtolaaksonen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Vaahtolaaksonen defending well as Russel loads up on a big left hand.
Vaahtolaaksonen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Vaahtolaaksonen lunges at Russel with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Russel's hand.
Russel throws a leg kick
and Vaahtolaaksonen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Russel's knee momentarily.
Russel is looking to chop away at Vaahtolaaksonen's legs.
Vaahtolaaksonen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Russel checks it well.
Russel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Russel throws a low kick but Vaahtolaaksonen avoids it.
Russel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Russel looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Russel checks a leg kick.
Vaahtolaaksonen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russel motions for Vaahtolaaksonen to come forward. Russel throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Good work by Russel as he checks the leg kick.
Russel fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Vaahtolaaksonen checks it well.
Vaahtolaaksonen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Russel feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Vaahtolaaksonen sprawling to the canvas! Vaahtolaaksonen rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Russel finish him?!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
A punch combination from Russel misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Russel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Seppo Vaahtolaaksonen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vaahtolaaksonen misses with a low kick.
Russel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Seppo Vaahtolaaksonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vaahtolaaksonen avoids a kick to the body.
Vaahtolaaksonen tries to land a leg kick but Russel saw it coming and moves away.
Vaahtolaaksonen takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Russel drives through and clinches with Vaahtolaaksonen against the cage.
Vaahtolaaksonen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Russel lands with a left to the head.
Russel prevents Vaahtolaaksonen from breaking the clinch.
Vaahtolaaksonen has had enough of the clinch but Russel keeps him there for the moment.
Vaahtolaaksonen is trying to break free.
Vaahtolaaksonen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Vaahtolaaksonen wants to get back to striking at distance but Russel won't allow it.
Vaahtolaaksonen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vaahtolaaksonen can't break the clinch.
Russel is trying to break free.

Russel breaks from the clinch.
Russel tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vaahtolaaksonen moves out of range of the body kick from Russel.
Cody Russel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vaahtolaaksonen misses with a low kick.

Russel pushes Vaahtolaaksonen up against the cage in a clinch.
Russel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vaahtolaaksonen wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaahtolaaksonen can't break the clinch.
Russel is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Russel breaks the clinch.
Russel bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Russel lands with a shot to the body.
Vaahtolaaksonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Russel tries to land a leg kick but Vaahtolaaksonen saw it coming and moves away.
Russel misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Russel misses.
Russel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vaahtolaaksonen can pounce on him.
Seppo Vaahtolaaksonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Russel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Russel connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Vaahtolaaksonen's hands.
Vaahtolaaksonen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Russel throws a body kick that misses.
Russel wants to land a leg kick but Vaahtolaaksonen is out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Vaahtolaaksonen lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Russel has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Russel and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Russel misses with a double jab.
Russel scores with a three punch combo!
A slapping leg kick lands for Vaahtolaaksonen.
Vaahtolaaksonen throws a series of strikes that have Russel backpedaling.
Vaahtolaaksonen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Russel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vaahtolaaksonen.
Vaahtolaaksonen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Russel backs up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaahtolaaksonen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Vaahtolaaksonen throws a low kick but Russel avoids it.
Russel throws a leg kick but Vaahtolaaksonen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Vaahtolaaksonen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Russel throws a leg kick
and Vaahtolaaksonen counters with a good low kick that Russel was not able to check.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vaahtolaaksonen misses with a two punch combination.
Russel's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Vaahtolaaksonen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A right-left combo lands from Vaahtolaaksonen.
Vaahtolaaksonen feints and then cracks Russel's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Russel down.
Danga de danga de dang - Russel scores with a four punch combination!
Vaahtolaaksonen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Russel. That did some damage!
A low kick from Russel misses
and Vaahtolaaksonen counters with a low kick, right behind Russel 's knee.
Russel misses with a two punch combination.
Vaahtolaaksonen misses with a low kick.
Russel tries to clinch up but Vaahtolaaksonen circles away and keeps his distance.
Good work by Russel as he checks the leg kick.
Russel shoots in looking for a takedown. Vaahtolaaksonen tries to sprawl out of it but Russel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vaahtolaaksonen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Russel misses with a wild body shot.
Vaahtolaaksonen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Russel. That did some damage!
Russel misses with a leg kick
and Vaahtolaaksonen counters with an outside leg kick.
Vaahtolaaksonen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Russel to score with a decent uppercut.
Vaahtolaaksonen throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel lands with an overhand left.
Russel cracks Vaahtolaaksonen with a big right hand and Vaahtolaaksonen goes down!
Russel stays in close to Vaahtolaaksonen's body and controls the position.
Russel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Russel landing with the ground and pound.
Russel chips away with some ground and pound.
Russel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Russel distracts Vaahtolaaksonen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Russel tries to free his leg and advance position but Vaahtolaaksonen is retaining full guard.
Vaahtolaaksonen wants to get back to his feet but Russel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Russel is looking to advance position but Vaahtolaaksonen has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel tries to lock up and control but Vaahtolaaksonen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Russel manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Russel manages to get to full guard.
Russel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vaahtolaaksonen wants to get up but he can't break Russel's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Vaahtolaaksonen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vaahtolaaksonen wants to stand but Russel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Russel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Seppo Vaahtolaaksonen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Some bone on bone action there as Vaahtolaaksonen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
An inside leg kick lands from Vaahtolaaksonen.
Russel checks the leg kick nicely there.
Vaahtolaaksonen checks a leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by Vaahtolaaksonen there.
Russel throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Vaahtolaaksonen tries a low kick but Russel avoids it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Vaahtolaaksonen.
Vaahtolaaksonen misses with a low kick.
Russel throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Vaahtolaaksonen is looking to chop away at Russel's legs.

Russel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Vaahtolaaksonen has had enough of the clinch but Russel keeps him there for the moment.
Vaahtolaaksonen wants to get back to striking at distance but Russel won't allow it.
Vaahtolaaksonen tries to land a knee to the head but Russel blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Russel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Russel throws a head kick but Vaahtolaaksonen moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russel throws out a leg kick but Vaahtolaaksonen moves out of range and Russel only half commits.
Russel checks the leg kick.
Russel throws a lazy head kick
and Vaahtolaaksonen counters with a leg kick.
Russel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Vaahtolaaksonen tries to keep at a distance but Russel has taken the fight into the clinch.
Vaahtolaaksonen can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Russel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Russel takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A punch combination from Russel misses.
Vaahtolaaksonen misses with a two punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Vaahtolaaksonen.
Russel wants to slow Vaahtolaaksonen down by chopping away at his legs.
Vaahtolaaksonen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Russel.
Vaahtolaaksonen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Russel cracks Vaahtolaaksonen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Vaahtolaaksonen checks the leg kick.

Russel moves into the clinch successfully.
Vaahtolaaksonen wants to break the clinch but can't.

Russel breaks from the clinch.
Cody Russel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vaahtolaaksonen avoids the head kick by Russel.
Vaahtolaaksonen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A clash of legs there as Vaahtolaaksonen blocks the low kick.
A good leg kick by Vaahtolaaksonen.
Vaahtolaaksonen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Russel counters with a leg kick.
Vaahtolaaksonen tries to clinch up but Russel circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Vaahtolaaksonen.
Vaahtolaaksonen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Russel counters with a stiff right hand.
Russel looks for the body kick but Vaahtolaaksonen saw that one coming.
Vaahtolaaksonen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Vaahtolaaksonen doesn't manage to clinch there - Russel circles away.
Vaahtolaaksonen checks a leg kick.
Russel throws a right hand that Vaahtolaaksonen ducks under and follows up with a left that Vaahtolaaksonen also avoids with ease.
Russel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Russel checks the leg kick nicely there.
Vaahtolaaksonen blocks the body kick.
Russel throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Russel attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Russel throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A leg kick checked by Vaahtolaaksonen.
Russel changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Russel lands a with a good body shot.
A right-left combo lands from Russel.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Russel walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Vaahtolaaksonen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Russel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Russel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vaahtolaaksonen swinging wilding here.
Russel throws a leg kick but Vaahtolaaksonen checks it.
Vaahtolaaksonen punishes Russel's body with a nice straight punch.
Vaahtolaaksonen moves in looking to clinch but Russel pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaahtolaaksonen tries to land a leg kick but Russel saw it coming and moves away.
Vaahtolaaksonen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A low kick from Russel misses
and Vaahtolaaksonen counters with a good low kick that Russel was not able to check.
Vaahtolaaksonen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Russel avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Russel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vaahtolaaksonen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Russel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vaahtolaaksonen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Vaahtolaaksonen cracks the inside of Russel's front leg.
Russel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Russel drives through and clinches with Vaahtolaaksonen against the cage.

Russel pulls guard.
Russel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Russel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Russel has his hands on Vaahtolaaksonen's head, controlling the position.

Russel is working an open guard so Vaahtolaaksonen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Russel misses with a low kick as Vaahtolaaksonen jumps back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaahtolaaksonen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Russel on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vaahtolaaksonen. Vaahtolaaksonen obviously looking to wear him down.
Vaahtolaaksonen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Vaahtolaaksonen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Vaahtolaaksonen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Vaahtolaaksonen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Russel thows a leg kick but Vaahtolaaksonen checks it
and Vaahtolaaksonen counters with a thumping low kick.
Vaahtolaaksonen closes the distance but Russel moves to the side
and Russel counters with a two punch combo.
Some bone on bone action there as Vaahtolaaksonen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Vaahtolaaksonen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick by Russel misses
and Vaahtolaaksonen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Vaahtolaaksonen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Vaahtolaaksonen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Russel throws a leg kick
and Vaahtolaaksonen counters with a thumping low kick.
Vaahtolaaksonen is looking to chop away at Russel's legs.
Russel tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vaahtolaaksonen cracks the inside of Russel's front leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Russel throws a body punch but Vaahtolaaksonen moves out of range.
Russel tries to score with a low kick but Vaahtolaaksonen moves his leg out of the way.
Seppo Vaahtolaaksonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vaahtolaaksonen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Russel lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Russel.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cody Russel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Russel 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cody Russel!