PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paavo Talvela (ranked 38 p4p, 64 weight class) and Jakob Rolf (ranked 6 p4p, 12 weight class). Talvela comes to the cage accompanied by For Heavy Metal we will die!. Rolf is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by AVGN Theme Song. Jakob Rolf has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Paavo Talvela's chin.

Talvela
vs
Rolf

178 cm
30
175
21 - 7 - 0

180 cm
31
169
22 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

NARCOS
Shadow Realm Apparel

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 21 - 7 - 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 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jakob Rolf!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Talvela doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Talvela walks into a stiff left hand from Rolf.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rolf.
Talvela tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Talvela gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rolf is keen to just control but Talvela is a slippery customer.
Talvela works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rolf wants to control from the top but Talvela keeps moving.
Rolf forces his way into half guard.
Talvela is refusing to be controlled, as Rolf sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rolf is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Talvela is staying active underneath Rolf, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rolf is looking to advance position but Talvela won't allow it.
Rolf has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Rolf is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Talvela can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Talvela working to try and regain half guard.

Rolf goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Talvela is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talvela won't allow Rolf to sweep him here.
Talvela postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Talvela working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Talvela keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rolf's head.
Talvela controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Our spies down at at Marty Robbin's Fight Ranch inform us that Rolf has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Rolf wants to hit a sweep here but Talvela passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Rolf there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolf tries to reverse the position but Talvela maintains control.
Talvela working the ground and pound effectively.
Rolf tries to hold on but Talvela postures up.
Rolf manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Talvela working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rolf is looking for a sweep. Talvela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Talvela.
Rolf wants to get back to full guard.
Rolf trying to hold on to Talvela's head to control him but Talvela postures up.
Rolf is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Talvela is nestled in close to Rolf, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rolf wants to sweep but Talvela has passed to side control!
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 Paavo Talvela will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Talvela displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rolf throws out the jab.
Rolf scores with a body shot.
Rolf moves away from the strike by Talvela.
Decent striking displayed by Talvela there.
Rolf connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Talvela throws a leg kick
letting Rolf counter with a right hand.
Talvela moves out of range as Rolf strikes.
Talvela swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rolf.
Rolf ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Rolf darts in and clinches Talvela up against the cage.
Rolf misses with a hook to the ribs.

Talvela breaks from the clinch.
Rolf bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rolf. Talvela does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rolf fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rolf misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Talvela.
Rolf swings for the body but Talvela moves out of range.
Rolf misses the body punch
and Talvela counters with a two punch combo.
Talvela thumps Rolf with a low kick.
Rolf changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rolf misses the shot to the body.

Rolf gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Talvela gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rolf.

Talvela pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Talvela tries a head kick but it misses.
Rolf throws a jab when Talvela was well out of range.
Talvela half committed to a counter leg kick.
Rolf misses with a hook
and Talvela counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rolf avoids the head kick by Talvela.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rolf looks to land a right hand but Talvela moved out of range.

Rolf looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Talvela controls Rolf momentarily but Rolf frees himself.
Rolf passes Talvela's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Talvela wants to improve his position but Rolf is controlling well.
Talvela won't allow Rolf to pass to mount.
Talvela is looking for a sweep. Rolf is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Talvela is working hard here to advance position.
Talvela works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolf slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Rolf wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Talvela, who protects the arm well.
Rolf advances to mount.
Rolf wants to control the pace but Talvela is squirming around nicely.
Talvela working to try and regain half guard.
Rolf looking to control but Talvela is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talvela slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rolf wants to take a breather but Talvela is having none of it.
Jakob Rolf has got the better of the ground game so far.
Talvela wants to control but Rolf is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Talvela wants to improve his position but Rolf is controlling well.
Rolf trying to pass the guard but Talvela defending well.
Rolf is trying to control. Talvela wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jakob Rolf showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rolf's corner calls for a 1-2. Rolf obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rolf blocks a low kick nicely.

Talvela gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Talvela looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rolf trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Talvela escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rolf gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rolf tries to free his leg and advance position but Talvela is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rolf drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Talvela dives on top into guard.

Rolf is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rolf wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Talvela is now in half guard.
Rolf is looking for a sweep. Talvela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rolf controlling the position for now.

Talvela moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Rolf.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rolf is looking to regain half guard here but Talvela keeps moving and retains side control.
Rolf wants to control but Talvela postures up.
Talvela working the head and body with strikes.
Rolf is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Talvela working the ground and pound from side control.
Talvela lands an elbow.
Rolf manages to work his way to half guard, despite Talvela's best efforts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolf wants to control but Talvela is keeping busy.
Talvela prevents Rolf from improving his position.
Rolf keeping hold of Talvela's head, controlling as best he can.

Rolf looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rolf has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Talvela is working away from the top position though.

Rolf is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Talvela pulls his head out easily.

Rolf looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rolf is trying to get back to full guard.
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. Talvela connects with a nice short shot to Rolf's temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paavo Talvela.
I think Talvela 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Paavo Talvela!
A very excited looking Paavo Talvela rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
Jakob Rolf was interviewed post fight and said 'ASS!!! (https://youtu.be/c2ia8T4E2Mc)'.