PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve McQueen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kari Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McQueen comes to the cage accompanied by Eazy-E - Real Mothafuckin' G'z . Taalasmaa has chosen Jore Marjaranta - Tunteisiin as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McQueen
vs
Taalasmaa

185 cm
29
197 lbs
21 - 6 - 1

184 cm
28
194 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

[CBK] Smashwear Clothing
Milwaukee's Best Nutrition $50 - 159's

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve McQueen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kari Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa wants to clinch.
Taalasmaa misses with a left hand
and McQueen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McQueen blocks a jab.
Taalasmaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taalasmaa connects with a body shot.
McQueen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Taalasmaa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Taalasmaa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McQueen connects with a leg kick. Taalasmaa looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
McQueen swings widly with a right hand
and Taalasmaa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice uppercut there from McQueen.
McQueen ducks under a wild hook from Taalasmaa.
McQueen misses with a left hand
and Taalasmaa counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taalasmaa gets the takedown into side control.
Taalasmaa tries to advance to mount but can't.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes but McQueen manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Taalasmaa is looking for a sweep.
Taalasmaa is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked McQueen off and has taken his back!
Taalasmaa is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Taalasmaa gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Taalasmaa gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Taalasmaa apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Taalasmaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McQueen was well out of range. Poor timing from Taalasmaa.
McQueen misses with a wild body shot.
McQueen misses with a left hand

and Taalasmaa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McQueen's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McQueen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa looking to pass the guard.
McQueen wants to sweep but no luck.
Taalasmaa wants to pass the guard but McQueen is keeping the position.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but McQueen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taalasmaa wants to pass the guard but McQueen is keeping the position.
McQueen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taalasmaa on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa wants to control from the top but McQueen keeps moving.
Taalasmaa stopping the sweep attempt from McQueen.
Taalasmaa passes McQueen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Taalasmaa works his way into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Taalasmaa lands a heavy elbow.
BOOM! Taalasmaa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
McQueen is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taalasmaa throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Taalasmaa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McQueen is squirming around, avoiding Taalasmaa's attempts to control the action.
Taalasmaa might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McQueen kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Taalasmaa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Taalasmaa smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
McQueen throws a lazy uppercut

and Taalasmaa counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taalasmaa working away.
McQueen is looking to reverse the position.
Taalasmaa works to advance to full mount. McQueen defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Taalasmaa throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Taalasmaa looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

It looks like Steve McQueen has been cut.
Taalasmaa thowing shots but they're missing.
McQueen wants to control but Taalasmaa is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Taalasmaa controlling from mount.
Taalasmaa throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
McQueen sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Taalasmaa is pressing down on McQueen's thigh, looking to free his foot. McQueen is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Taalasmaa controlling the action here.
Taalasmaa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McQueen won't allow Taalasmaa to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa thows a huge punch but McQueen dodges it nicely.
McQueen tries to kick Taalasmaa off but Taalasmaa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Taalasmaa seems to be working for a kimura but McQueen defends the submission attempt.
Taalasmaa stalling.
Taalasmaa not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Taalasmaa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McQueen is refusing to be controlled, as Taalasmaa sits in half guard.
McQueen trying to control here.
Taalasmaa wants to take a breather but McQueen is having none of it.
Taalasmaa has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Taalasmaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve McQueen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Taalasmaa lands a right hook to the body.
McQueen circles away from the clinch attempt.
McQueen cracks Taalasmaa with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
McQueen takes one to the chin there.
McQueen circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taalasmaa swings for the body but McQueen moves out of range.
McQueen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Taalasmaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McQueen was well out of range. Poor timing from Taalasmaa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McQueen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
McQueen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps McQueen thinking.
McQueen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice body shot.
McQueen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taalasmaa is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by McQueen.
McQueen tries to score with a low kick but Taalasmaa moves his leg out of the way.
McQueen drops his hands momentarily and Taalasmaa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Taalasmaa checks a leg kick.
McQueen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
McQueen takes one on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and McQueen counters with a stiff right hand.
Taalasmaa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Taalasmaa throws the left hand but McQueen avoids the punch easily.
Taalasmaa moves out of range as McQueen strikes.
Taalasmaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McQueen moves away.
McQueen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Taalasmaa lands with an overhand left.
Taalasmaa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Taalasmaa misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McQueen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
McQueen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McQueen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
McQueen throws a poor cross that misses
and Taalasmaa counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nice uppercut lands for Taalasmaa. That snapped McQueen's head back.

McQueen tries to keep at a distance but Taalasmaa has taken the fight into the clinch.
McQueen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taalasmaa throws a punch but it's blocked by McQueen.

Taalasmaa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McQueen takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Taalasmaa misses with a wild combination.
Taalasmaa lands with a cross.
McQueen swats away the attempt to clinch by Taalasmaa.
McQueen is looking to score with low kicks.
McQueen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Taalasmaa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Taalasmaa looks to land a right hand but McQueen moved out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Taalasmaa really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve McQueen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taalasmaa lands a jab to McQueen's midsection.
McQueen is looking to score with low kicks.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for McQueen.
McQueen with a nice cross.
Taalasmaa misses with a right hand
and McQueen counters with a stiff right hand.
Taalasmaa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
McQueen swats away the attempt to clinch by Taalasmaa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taalasmaa throws a looping overhand right but McQueen ducks down to avoid it.
McQueen is looking to score with low kicks.
Taalasmaa misses with a combination
and McQueen counters with a good, hard body kick but Taalasmaa shrugs it off.
Taalasmaa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
McQueen throws a nice outside leg kick.
McQueen missing with a left hand there. Taalasmaa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Decent striking displayed by Taalasmaa there.
McQueen misses with a right hand
and Taalasmaa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McQueen slips under a jab.
Taalasmaa walks forward, straight into a front kick from McQueen.
Taalasmaa misses with an uppercut. McQueen saw that one coming.
Taalasmaa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Taalasmaa tries to clinch up.
Jab by Taalasmaa.
Sloppy strikes from McQueen. Those never looked like landing.
McQueen misses with a right hand
letting Taalasmaa counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by McQueen.
McQueen throws a head kick but Taalasmaa moves out of range.
A jab from Taalasmaa finds it's way through McQueen's defenses.
Taalasmaa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taalasmaa is defended easily by McQueen.
Steve McQueen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taalasmaa slips a straight right by McQueen.
McQueen wants to slow Taalasmaa down by chopping away at his legs.
McQueen scores with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throws a hook but McQueen avoids it easily.
McQueen throws a nice outside leg kick.
McQueen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Steve McQueen is winning the standup battle so far.
Taalasmaa lands a body shot.
Taalasmaa throws a right and a left that McQueen avoids nicely.
McQueen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McQueen misses with a hook
and Taalasmaa counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McQueen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Taalasmaa finds it's way round the side to connect with McQueen's head.
McQueen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McQueen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve McQueen had his way with Kari Taalasmaa in that round.
The cut man is working on Steve McQueen's cut.
That's time! McQueen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

McQueen tries to score with a low kick but Taalasmaa moves his leg out of the way.
McQueen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Taalasmaa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Taalasmaa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taalasmaa thuds a left hand into McQueen's body.
Taalasmaa misses with a hook
and McQueen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
McQueen tries a head kick but it misses.
McQueen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from McQueen as Taalasmaa shoots in.
McQueen misses with a shot to the body
and Taalasmaa counters with a three punch combo that has McQueen backing up. McQueen nods at Taalasmaa to acknowledge the strikes.
Taalasmaa misses the body punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McQueen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa misses the shot to the body.
McQueen ducks under a wild hook from Taalasmaa.
McQueen throws a poor cross that misses
and Taalasmaa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Taalasmaa closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. McQueen did well to prevent Taalasmaa getting side control.
Taalasmaa moves into full mount! McQueen won't be happy about that!
Taalasmaa avoids the attempt from McQueen to control.
Poor strikes thrown by Taalasmaa there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Taalasmaa wants to control the pace but McQueen is squirming around nicely.
McQueen tries to hold on but Taalasmaa postures up.
McQueen wants to get back to his feet.
Taalasmaa wants to control the pace but McQueen is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Kari Taalasmaa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taalasmaa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
McQueen really wants to buck Taalasmaa off and get back to his feet.

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.
Taalasmaa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kari Taalasmaa wasn't active enough on the ground.
Taalasmaa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McQueen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kari Taalasmaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Taalasmaa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 46:49
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 46:49
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kari Taalasmaa!
Kari Taalasmaa is the new middleweight champion!