PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eric Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kelly
vs
Taalasmaa

176 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Kobra Clothing Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eric Kelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Kelly or perhaps it was just good defense by Taalasmaa which made him look bad.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa shoots in but no luck this time.
Kelly tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taalasmaa swivels and escapes.
Taalasmaa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kelly tries to avoid it but Taalasmaa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kelly to the ground. Kelly escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Eric Kelly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Taalasmaa.
Kelly shoots in for a takedown but Taalasmaa shows good takedown defense.

Kelly shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Taalasmaa should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Kelly is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Taalasmaa wants to control but Kelly is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taalasmaa works his way to full guard. Good work.
Taalasmaa trying to keep a closed guard but Kelly is proving a slippery customer.
Kelly looking to pass the guard.

Kelly drops back looking for a leg! Taalasmaa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Taalasmaa manages to kick Kelly off! Kelly jumps back into Taalasmaa's guard.
Kelly stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taalasmaa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly stays in close to Taalasmaa's body and controls the position.
Kelly will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kelly looking to pass the guard.
Kelly slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Kelly is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Taalasmaa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kelly tries to advance to mount but can't.

Kelly tries for a kimura but Taalasmaa is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taalasmaa wants to control but Kelly postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly working the head with strikes.
Taalasmaa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kelly. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kelly tries to move to mount but Taalasmaa blocks the move with his legs.

Kelly tries for a kimura but Taalasmaa is defending well.
Kelly is breathing heavily.

Kelly tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kelly has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Taalasmaa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Taalasmaa parries the strikes from Kelly easily there. Kelly is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Taalasmaa to escape.

Kelly thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Taalasmaa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly tries to move into full mount but can't pass Taalasmaa's legs.

Kelly is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Taalasmaa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kelly working away.

Kelly tries for a kimura but Taalasmaa is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taalasmaa is looking to regain half guard here but Kelly keeps moving and retains side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kelly is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Taalasmaa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Kelly dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Taalasmaa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kelly shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taalasmaa as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelly shoots in for a takedown but Taalasmaa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kelly shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Kelly. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kelly lands in his opponent's guard.
Taalasmaa looking to control.
Kelly looking to pass the guard.
Taalasmaa working a defensive guard here.
Taalasmaa wants to sweep here but Kelly controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Taalasmaa is breathing heavily.
Kelly throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kelly trying to control but Taalasmaa is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Taalasmaa working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly looking to pass the guard.
Kelly throwing strikes from guard but Taalasmaa blocks nicely.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Seppo Taalasmaa wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kelly shoots and misses

and Taalasmaa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Taalasmaa is keen to just control but Kelly is a slippery customer.
Kelly is trying to stand back up but Taalasmaa is controlling him
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Kelly kicks off Taalasmaa and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kelly throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taalasmaa was covering up waiting for the punch and Kelly finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kelly pushes down on Taalasmaa's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kelly missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Kelly is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Taalasmaa sees it coming and defends easily.
Taalasmaa trying to hold on to Kelly's head to control him but Kelly postures up.

Kelly is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Taalasmaa is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Eric Kelly!