PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jarkko Rautavaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rautavaara
vs
Taalasmaa

169 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very confident

HARDCORE Fighting Brand

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jarkko Rautavaara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rautavaara rushes Taalasmaa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rautavaara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rautavaara has taken the fight to the clinch.
Taalasmaa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rautavaara just stands there and leans against the cage.

Rautavaara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rautavaara moves in looking to clinch but Taalasmaa pushes him off.
Rautavaara tries to clinch but Taalasmaa moves out of range.
Rautavaara connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Taalasmaa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rautavaara fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rautavaara as he avoids it easily.
Rautavaara throws a series of punches but Taalasmaa avoids them all with ease.
Nice takedown defense from Rautavaara. No joy for Taalasmaa on that attempt.
Jarkko Rautavaara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rautavaara circles away.

Rautavaara scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Taalasmaa gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa is looking to control Rautavaara's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taalasmaa avoid being mounted?
Rautavaara content to control rather than advance.
Taalasmaa is trying to get back to full guard.
Rautavaara knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taalasmaa on the ground.
Taalasmaa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rautavaara slows the pace down in half guard.
Rautavaara prevents Taalasmaa from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rautavaara stalling.

Taalasmaa is defending against the submission attempts here by Rautavaara.
Rautavaara is breathing heavily.
Taalasmaa is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Taalasmaa wants to improve his position but Rautavaara is controlling well.
Taalasmaa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Taalasmaa.
Rautavaara seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rautavaara prevents Taalasmaa from getting back to his feet.
Rautavaara showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rautavaara has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rautavaara won't allow Taalasmaa to sweep him here.
Taalasmaa is trying to control the position but Rautavaara postures up.
Taalasmaa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rautavaara is one step ahead there.

Taalasmaa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa looking for a sweep. Not yet Taalasmaa, not yet.
Taalasmaa throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Taalasmaa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Taalasmaa is trying to control the position but Rautavaara postures up.
Rautavaara preventing the sweep.
Taalasmaa controls Rautavaara momentarily but Rautavaara frees himself.
Rautavaara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taalasmaa is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarkko Rautavaara dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rautavaara shoots in and bounces Taalasmaa off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rautavaara lands a couple of digs.

Rautavaara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rautavaara has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Taalasmaa is proving hard to escape from.
Taalasmaa tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Taalasmaa throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rautavaara escapes and throws Taalasmaa's legs to the side, diving into side control!
You can see the frustration on Taalasmaa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taalasmaa sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rautavaara wants to pass to mount but Taalasmaa is defending the position.
Taalasmaa tries to roll over but Rautavaara keeps him under control.
Rautavaara wants to control but Taalasmaa is keeping him busy.
Rautavaara prevents Taalasmaa from improving his position.
Taalasmaa throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Taalasmaa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Taalasmaa.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rautavaara preventing the sweep.
Taalasmaa working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rautavaara moves out of range as Taalasmaa throws a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Taalasmaa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rautavaara moves into the clinch.
Taalasmaa drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rautavaara gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rautavaara wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Taalasmaa breaks from the clinch.
Taalasmaa shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rautavaara misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taalasmaa shoots and misses
and Rautavaara counters with a head kick.
Jarkko Rautavaara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Taalasmaa.
Nice sprawl there from Rautavaara as Taalasmaa shoots in.
Rautavaara misses with a head kick.

Rautavaara drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Taalasmaa controlling Rautavaara's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa is looking to sweep but instead, Rautavaara has passed into half guard.
Taalasmaa tries to get to full guard but Rautavaara has control of the leg.
Rautavaara seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Taalasmaa is looking to improve his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rautavaara connects with a nice short shot to Taalasmaa's temple.
Rautavaara is thwarting Taalasmaa's attempts to control the position.
Taalasmaa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Taalasmaa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rautavaara's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rautavaara's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rautavaara rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rautavaara gets back to full guard.
Rautavaara pulls Taalasmaa in close to prevent any damage.
Rautavaara throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rautavaara is trying to keep Taalasmaa in close.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Rautavaara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taalasmaa won't allow Rautavaara to sweep him here.
Rautavaara pulls Taalasmaa in to control the position.

Taalasmaa drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rautavaara dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarkko Rautavaara dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Taalasmaa takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Taalasmaa shoots and misses

and Rautavaara counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Rautavaara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taalasmaa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rautavaara counters with a stiff right hand.

Taalasmaa rushes Rautavaara and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rautavaara breaks the clinch.
Taalasmaa keeps the fight on the outside.
Taalasmaa misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rautavaara tries to clinch there but Taalasmaa circles away.
Taalasmaa falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rautavaara moves into the clinch.

Taalasmaa gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rautavaara regains guard.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Rautavaara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rautavaara keeping full guard, as Taalasmaa tries to pass.
Taalasmaa preventing the sweep.
Taalasmaa looking to sit in guard and control but Rautavaara gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Taalasmaa has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Rautavaara doesn't defend quickly enough and Taalasmaa has managed to lock this one up! Can Rautavaara escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Taalasmaa on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Seppo Taalasmaa!