PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kari Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juhani Ilves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taalasmaa comes to the cage accompanied by Jore Marjaranta - Tunteisiin. Ilves has chosen Disco Duck as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Taalasmaa
vs
Ilves

184 cm
25
197 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

187 cm
26
197 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kari Taalasmaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Juhani Ilves!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Atkins and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa thows a body shot but no joy.
Ilves shoots in looking for a takedown. Taalasmaa tries to sprawl out of it but Ilves keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taalasmaa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ilves looks for a takedown but Taalasmaa sprawls well.
Kari Taalasmaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ilves takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ilves takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Taalasmaa misses with a wild body shot.
Taalasmaa works the jab nicely.
Taalasmaa misses with the combination.
Ilves misses with a takedown attempt - Taalasmaa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kari Taalasmaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juhani Ilves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa scores with a nice right hand.
Taalasmaa throws a right and a left that Ilves avoids nicely.
Taalasmaa throws a lazy right hand but Ilves sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taalasmaa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ilves.
Taalasmaa lands with a shot to the body.
Taalasmaa throws a series of strikes that have Ilves backpedaling.

It looks like Juhani Ilves has been cut.
Taalasmaa throws the left hand but Ilves avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ilves, pushing him back against the cage.
Ilves takes an elbow to the forehead.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Taalasmaa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice takedown defense from Taalasmaa. No joy for Ilves on that attempt.
Ilves looks gassed!
Taalasmaa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Taalasmaa throws a combination. Ilves tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Taalasmaa lands with a shot to the body.
Taalasmaa scores with the left hand. Ilves knows he should have avoided that one.
Ilves takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Taalasmaa scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Taalasmaa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ilves doesn't seem phased though.
Taalasmaa lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Taalasmaa scores with a jab to the head.
Taalasmaa connects with the punch.
Taalasmaa cracks a nice hook into Ilves's ribs.
Taalasmaa scores with a jab. Ilves acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ilves drops his hands momentarily and Taalasmaa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ilves doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A jab lands there for Taalasmaa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa lands a slapping body shot.
Taalasmaa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ilves takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Taalasmaa lands with a shot to the body.
Taalasmaa jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ilves walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Taalasmaa throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ilves on the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taalasmaa slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Taalasmaa bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ilves's head backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Taalasmaa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Juhani Ilves's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Taalasmaa scores with a shot to the body.
Taalasmaa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ilves doesn't seem bothered though.
Ilves takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ilves takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Taalasmaa lands a lovely overhand right.
Taalasmaa lands a really nice looking cross but Ilves seems unphased.
Ilves takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ilves is breathing heavily.
Ilves takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ilves tries to move into range but Taalasmaa moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa lands a right hand.

Taalasmaa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taalasmaa cracks Ilves with an open hand slap.
Taalasmaa lands a jab to the nose.
Taalasmaa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taalasmaa lands a slapping body shot.
Taalasmaa throws a right hand that Ilves ducks under and follows up with a left that Ilves also avoids with ease.
Taalasmaa lands a nice hook to Ilves's body. Ilves takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ilves has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Taalasmaa closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Taalasmaa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Taalasmaa lands a left hand.
Taalasmaa scores with a shot to the side of Ilves's head.
Ilves on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taalasmaa lands a damaging elbow.
Ilves fails to pull guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taalasmaa is working Ilves over against the cage.
Ilves blocks an elbow strike from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ilves backwards.

Taalasmaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taalasmaa scores with a one two! Ilves had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ilves moves away.
Taalasmaa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ilves can do to turn this around?
Taalasmaa swings for the body but Ilves moves out of range.
Ilves slips a jab and a cross from Taalasmaa.
Ilves gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kari Taalasmaa is winning the standup battle so far.
Ilves fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Taalasmaa scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ilves on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ilves fails with a takedown attempt.
Kari Taalasmaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juhani Ilves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taalasmaa trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ilves's guard.
Taalasmaa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taalasmaa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Taalasmaa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Juhani Ilves's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Taalasmaa displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Taalasmaa lands with a cross.
Ilves moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ilves shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice body shot.
Ilves keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taalasmaa connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Taalasmaa thuds a left hand into Ilves's body.
Ilves takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taalasmaa fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ilves on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa scores with a sloppy right hand. Ilves should have avoided that one.
Taalasmaa lands a nice shot that snaps Ilves's head back.
Taalasmaa lands with a good body shot.
Taalasmaa connects with a nice looking jab.
Taalasmaa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ilves's head.
Taalasmaa looks to throw the jab but Ilves is out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Taalasmaa scores with a four punch combination!
Taalasmaa throws a series of strikes that have Ilves backpedaling.
Ilves uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taalasmaa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Taalasmaa works Ilves's body with a nice hook.
Nice shot by Taalasmaa.
A shot to de liver by Taalasmaa. Beautiful body shot.
Kari Taalasmaa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ilves closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taalasmaa misses the shot to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Taalasmaa!

Taalasmaa clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taalasmaa jabs Ilves right on the nose. Ilves blinks but takes it well.
Ilves is trying desperately to land a takedown but Taalasmaa is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Ilves.
Ilves has his takedown stuffed
and Taalasmaa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ilves doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ilves takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kari Taalasmaa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kari Taalasmaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juhani Ilves.
Taalasmaa lands a nice looking body shot.
Ilves takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Taalasmaa cracks a nice hook into Ilves's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa scores with a takedown into Ilves's guard.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Ilves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ilves working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taalasmaa.
Juhani Ilves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taalasmaa tries to free his leg and advance position but Ilves is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kari Taalasmaa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Taalasmaa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:24
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:24
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kari Taalasmaa!