PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arska Varsineekeri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arska Varsineekeri struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.6lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Arska Varsineekeri has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Taalasmaa
vs
Varsineekeri

170 cm
18
155 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
165 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

recos laboratory

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 5 - 0 - 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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Arska Varsineekeri!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa slow jab from Varsineekeri misses its intended target.
A choreographed right hand from Taalasmaa misses the target.
Varsineekeri takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Taalasmaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Taalasmaa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Varsineekeri!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Varsineekeri regains half guard.

Varsineekeri actively working from the bottom here.
Taalasmaa tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Varsineekeri.
Varsineekeri is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Taalasmaa tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Varsineekeri is looking for a sweep. Taalasmaa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ground and pound from Taalasmaa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varsineekeri wants to improve his position but Taalasmaa is controlling well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Taalasmaa fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Varsineekeri checks it well.
Taalasmaa scores with a jab.
Varsineekeri with a lazy takedown attempt
and Taalasmaa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Taalasmaa pushes Varsineekeri up against the cage in a clinch.
Varsineekeri tries to score a body lock takedown but Taalasmaa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A body shot lands from Taalasmaa.
Varsineekeri looks gassed!
A short body shot lands from Taalasmaa as the two fighters clinch.
Taalasmaa lands a nice shot to the body.
Taalasmaa scores with a shot to the side of Varsineekeri's head.
Varsineekeri 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.
Taalasmaa throws an elbow that misses.

Taalasmaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taalasmaa throws a leg kick that misses.
Taalasmaa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Varsineekeri.
Seppo Taalasmaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Taalasmaa.
Crunch! Taalasmaa slams his shin into Varsineekeri's torso.
Nice body punch from Taalasmaa.
Varsineekeri defending well as Taalasmaa loads up on a big left hand.
Taalasmaa misses with an uppercut.
Taalasmaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taalasmaa in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Taalasmaa lands with some strikes.

Varsineekeri is rocked!

Taalasmaa has control of Varsineekeri's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Varsineekeri regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Varsineekeri is still in real trouble! Can Taalasmaa finish him?

Taalasmaa stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Varsineekeri seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice cross by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa works Varsineekeri's body with a nice hook.
Taalasmaa lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Taalasmaa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Varsineekeri slips under a jab from Taalasmaa.
Varsineekeri slips under a jab.
Taalasmaa misses with a hook.
Taalasmaa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Taalasmaa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Taalasmaa misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa misses with an uppercut. Varsineekeri saw that one coming.
Taalasmaa connects with a single shot there.
Taalasmaa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Varsineekeri manages to avoid it.
Taalasmaa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Varsineekeri shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Taalasmaa counter with a right hand.
Seppo Taalasmaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arska Varsineekeri.
Taalasmaa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Varsineekeri. Varsineekeri circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Taalasmaa lunges at Varsineekeri with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Varsineekeri's hand.
Varsineekeri slips under a jab from Taalasmaa.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taalasmaa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taalasmaa throws a shot from downtown. Varsineekeri moves away and avoids it.
No joy there for Taalasmaa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fighters circling - Taalasmaa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Varsineekeri doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Taalasmaa counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Taalasmaa misses with a straight right.
Taalasmaa throws a good cross that connects.
Taalasmaa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Varsineekeri.
Taalasmaa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Varsineekeri.
Taalasmaa scores with a jab to the head.
Taalasmaa scores with a jab to the body.
Varsineekeri doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Taalasmaa counters with a three punch combo that has Varsineekeri backing up. Varsineekeri nods at Taalasmaa to acknowledge the strikes.
Varsineekeri is breathing heavily.

Taalasmaa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varsineekeri avoiding damage as Taalasmaa throws knees to the body.
Taalasmaa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Varsineekeri.

Taalasmaa lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Taalasmaa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Varsineekeri is just riding it out for now. Taalasmaa eventually gives up the hold.
Taalasmaa wants to pass to mount but Varsineekeri is defending the position.
Varsineekeri is staying active underneath Taalasmaa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Taalasmaa works his way into side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Taalasmaa has hold of Varsineekeri's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Varsineekeri seems comfortable defending it but Taalasmaa has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Varsineekeri is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Varsineekeri is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Taalasmaa couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Seppo Taalasmaa!