PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valdemar Friman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Friman has chosen Metallica - Damage Inc. as his entrance music. Valdemar Friman told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Taalasmaa
vs
Friman

170 cm
26
160 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

168 cm
29
160 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 19 - 8 - 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 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valdemar Friman!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Friman lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Taalasmaa throws the left hand but Friman avoids the punch easily.
Friman closes the distance but Taalasmaa moves to the side
and Taalasmaa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Friman misses with a head kick.
Taalasmaa throws a series of punches but Friman moves out of range.
Friman ducks right into an uppercut from Taalasmaa.
Friman takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Friman closes the distance but Taalasmaa moves to the side
and Taalasmaa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Friman misses with a lunging right hand

and Taalasmaa counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Taalasmaa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Taalasmaa postures up.

Friman has his foot on Taalasmaa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taalasmaa works his way back into a safe position though.
Taalasmaa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taalasmaa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Friman controls Taalasmaa momentarily but Taalasmaa frees himself.
Friman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Taalasmaa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Taalasmaa trying to control but Friman is working from the bottom.
Taalasmaa postures up in Friman's guard and throws a big left but Friman blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Friman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taalasmaa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Taalasmaa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taalasmaa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Taalasmaa working some strikes from top position.
Taalasmaa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taalasmaa postures up in Friman's guard and throws a big left but Friman blocks it.
Taalasmaa looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taalasmaa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Taalasmaa tries to free his leg and advance position but Friman is retaining full guard.
Friman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Taalasmaa is looking to work some ground and pound but Friman has wrist control.
Taalasmaa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Friman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes but missing.
Friman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Friman is working from the bottom.
Friman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taalasmaa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Friman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Taalasmaa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Friman working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Taalasmaa's head.

Taalasmaa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Friman defends it easily.
Taalasmaa can't keep his opponent in guard - Friman advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Friman passes to full mount!
Friman avoids the attempt from Taalasmaa to control.
Taalasmaa is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Friman on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Taalasmaa. Taalasmaa obviously looking to wear him down.
Taalasmaa scores with a nice right hand.
Taalasmaa misses with a looping left.
Friman lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Taalasmaa fails to land the takedown.
Friman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taalasmaa throws out the jab.
Taalasmaa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Friman.
Friman moves to clinch but Taalasmaa breaks away
and Taalasmaa finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman checks a leg kick nicely.
Friman throws a leg kick
and Taalasmaa counters with a right hand to the body.
Taalasmaa lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Friman throws a head kick that misses.
Taalasmaa lands with an uppercut that bounces Friman off the cage and back into rage.
Friman tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Taalasmaa counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Friman darts in trying to clinch

and Taalasmaa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Friman!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa raining down hammerfists from mount.
Taalasmaa wants to control the pace but Friman is squirming around nicely.
Friman tries to reverse the position but Taalasmaa maintains control.
Friman is bucking up trying to escape but Taalasmaa cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
A nice elbow there by Taalasmaa.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taalasmaa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Friman is in all sorts of trouble here.
Taalasmaa landing strikes from the mount and Friman is in trouble!
Friman is squirming around, avoiding Taalasmaa's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa landing strikes from the mount and Friman is in trouble!
Taalasmaa is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Taalasmaa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Taalasmaa landing shots from mount.
Taalasmaa pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Taalasmaa breaks from Friman's wrist control and lands an elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taalasmaa landing strikes from the mount and Friman is in trouble!

Friman is rocked!

Taalasmaa is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Friman has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Friman is still in real trouble! Can Taalasmaa finish him?
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 scoring with strikes but Friman is staying in there.
Taalasmaa postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Friman badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Taalasmaa around the waist but Taalasmaa pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Taalasmaa is the winner by TKO! Taalasmaa jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Seppo Taalasmaa!