PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Herberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Seppo Taalasmaa could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Johan Herberg's chin.

Taalasmaa
vs
Herberg

170 cm
24
167 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

160 cm
26
167 lbs
10 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Seppo Taalasmaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Johan Herberg!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Seppo Taalasmaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taalasmaa misses with a hook.
A swing and a miss from Herberg.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa lands an elbow.
Herberg on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Taalasmaa sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Herberg is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Taalasmaa working the body and head with strikes.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Taalasmaa scoring with punches and elbows.
Taalasmaa lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Herberg down.
Herberg is trying to get back to half guard.
Herberg on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Herberg is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taalasmaa fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Taalasmaa crashes against the mat.
Taalasmaa scores with punches from side control.
Herberg is looking to reverse the position.
Herberg takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Herberg is trying to improve his position.
The strikes coming from Taalasmaa are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Herberg can't do much from the bottom here.

Taalasmaa tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Taalasmaa cracks Herberg with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Herberg is avoiding damage well.

Taalasmaa goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Herberg rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Taalasmaa's guard! Nice work there by Herberg!
Herberg is working Taalasmaa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taalasmaa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Herberg postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taalasmaa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taalasmaa has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Taalasmaa pulls Herberg in close to prevent any damage.
Herberg must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Herberg landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herberg is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Taalasmaa looking to control.
Taalasmaa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Taalasmaa looking for a sweep. Not yet Taalasmaa, not yet.

Taalasmaa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Herberg doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Herberg manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Taalasmaa is breathing heavily.
Herberg is looking to work some ground and pound but Taalasmaa has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Herberg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Herberg with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Herberg wants to control from the top but Taalasmaa keeps moving.

Herberg avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taalasmaa looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Taalasmaa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Taalasmaa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Herberg.
Herberg preventing the sweep.
Herberg scoring with punches to the head and body.
Herberg pushes down on Taalasmaa's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Taalasmaa is staying active underneath Herberg, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Herberg stalling.
Taalasmaa is looking to control Herberg's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taalasmaa avoid being mounted?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taalasmaa is refusing to be controlled, as Herberg sits in half 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. Herberg connects with a nice short shot to Taalasmaa's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Taalasmaa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Taalasmaa with a nice cross.
Herberg on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Taalasmaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Herberg misses with a hook.
Taalasmaa lands a glancing blow to the side of Herberg's head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taalasmaa is defended easily by Herberg.

Taalasmaa scores with a takedown into Herberg's guard.
Taalasmaa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taalasmaa wants to pass the guard but Herberg is keeping the position.
Herberg wants to hit a switch here but Taalasmaa passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Herberg there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa working Herberg over with strikes here.
Seppo Taalasmaa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Herberg tries to reverse the position but Taalasmaa maintains control.
Taalasmaa is landing with some decent strikes but Herberg is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taalasmaa lands a nice shot to the head.
Taalasmaa controlling the position easily from mount.
Taalasmaa with shots to the head and body - Herberg looks very uncomfortable down there.
Herberg is trying desperately to improve position.
Herberg takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Taalasmaa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Taalasmaa lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taalasmaa working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Herberg keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Taalasmaa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Herberg?
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Taalasmaa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taalasmaa landing strikes from the mount and Herberg is in trouble!
Herberg is still in real trouble! Can Taalasmaa finish him?
Taalasmaa looking to ground and pound but Herberg is blocking nicely.
Herberg seems to have recovered his senses.
Herberg is working to get back to half guard.
Taalasmaa looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herberg tries to hold on but Taalasmaa postures up.

Herberg defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa landing strikes from the mount.
Herberg tries to hold on but Taalasmaa postures up.
Herberg tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Taalasmaa landing punches.
Taalasmaa scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Taalasmaa raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herberg tries to hold on but Taalasmaa postures up.
Herberg is breathing heavily.
Herberg is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Herberg is bucking up trying to escape but Taalasmaa cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Taalasmaa lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Herberg tries to reverse the position but Taalasmaa maintains control.

Taalasmaa is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Herberg has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Taalasmaa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Herberg?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Herberg in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Taalasmaa dominated that second round.
That's time! Taalasmaa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Taalasmaa scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Taalasmaa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Taalasmaa, right into the meat.
A jab from Taalasmaa misses.
Taalasmaa throws a body kick that misses.
Taalasmaa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Taalasmaa scores with a leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Taalasmaa. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa throws a hook but Herberg blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taalasmaa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Taalasmaa closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Taalasmaa tries for a takedown but Herberg sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Herberg looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taalasmaa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Taalasmaa trying to control the action but Herberg is working from the bottom.
Herberg struggling a bit here.
Taalasmaa is looking to take a break and control but Herberg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Herberg is looking for a sweep.
Herberg manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Taalasmaa trying to mount his opponent but Herberg defends it.
Taalasmaa controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa wants to take a breather but Herberg is having none of it.
Taalasmaa slips a nice elbow through Herberg's hands, connecting with Herberg's forehead.
Herberg is looking to improve his position.
Taalasmaa trying to control from half guard but Herberg is working away.
Taalasmaa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Herberg knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Taalasmaa seems to be working for a kimura but Herberg defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Herberg stuffs the takedown attempt from Taalasmaa. Taalasmaa gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Seppo Taalasmaa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herberg keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taalasmaa.
Nice cross by Taalasmaa.
Herberg swats away the attempt to clinch by Taalasmaa.
Herberg misses with a jab to the body
letting Taalasmaa counter with a right hand.
Nice takedown defense from Herberg. No joy for Taalasmaa on that attempt.
Herberg gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Taalasmaa counters with a takedown into side control.
Herberg is looking to reverse the position.
Herberg keeps Taalasmaa under control for a moment.
Seppo Taalasmaa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herberg is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Taalasmaa content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Taalasmaa trying to control the action but Herberg is working from the bottom.
Herberg can't do much from the bottom here.
Herberg is trying to escape the position but Taalasmaa is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:26
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26

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