PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joahan Nikkenen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikkenen's entrance music is Tango from Poland. A fine choice. Taalasmaa is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Kokkelivekkulit. Joahan Nikkenen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nikkenen
vs
Taalasmaa

202 cm
26
260 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

173 cm
26
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joahan Nikkenen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Taalasmaa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nikkenen is not content to let Taalasmaa control the position.
Nikkenen dodges the ground and pound from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa working away.
Nikkenen is trying to get back to his feet.

Taalasmaa swings around for an armbar but Nikkenen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Taalasmaa's guard.
Nikkenen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Taalasmaa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nikkenen!
Taalasmaa avoids the attempt from Nikkenen to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikkenen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Taalasmaa misses with a head shot.
BOOM! Taalasmaa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nikkenen wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa unloads with some shots from mount but Nikkenen bucks and avoids them well.
Taalasmaa thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa lands a big shot there that rocks Nikkenen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Taalasmaa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taalasmaa unloading with bombs!
Taalasmaa throwing strikes here but Nikkenen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Taalasmaa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nikkenen?
Taalasmaa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nikkenen gets back to half guard.
Nikkenen is trying to maintain the position but Taalasmaa is very close to passing his half guard.
Taalasmaa working Nikkenen over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Taalasmaa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nikkenen trying to control from the bottom.
Nikkenen is looking to get back to full guard here but Taalasmaa has managed to pass to side control instead.

Taalasmaa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Nikkenen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Taalasmaa.
Nikkenen being controlled for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikkenen defending against the ground and pound.
Nikkenen struggling a bit here.
Taalasmaa is working Nikkenen over with some ground and pound from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taalasmaa tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
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.

Nikkenen fails with the takedown.
Taalasmaa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nikkenen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nikkenen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Taalasmaa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nikkenen lands strikes from half guard.
Nikkenen lands with a punch from 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 trying to hold on to Nikkenen's head to control him but Nikkenen postures up.
Taalasmaa wants to improve his position but Nikkenen is controlling well.
Taalasmaa is trying to control but can't.
Nikkenen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nikkenen drops an elbow to the side of Taalasmaa's head.
Nikkenen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Nikkenen postures up.
Nikkenen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Nikkenen is working for a submission of some sort.
Nikkenen thows a huge punch but Taalasmaa dodges it nicely.
Taalasmaa wants to improve his position but Nikkenen is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikkenen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Taalasmaa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Taalasmaa has hold of Nikkenen's hands but Nikkenen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nikkenen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taalasmaa defending well though.
Nikkenen throws a strike but Taalasmaa avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Nikkenen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taalasmaa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikkenen trying to move into half guard but instead Taalasmaa has managed to sweep!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nikkenen is trying to control the position but Taalasmaa postures up.
Nikkenen wants to get back to his feet but Taalasmaa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nikkenen is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikkenen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Nikkenen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Taalasmaa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Taalasmaa has escaped and now he's on top!
Nikkenen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taalasmaa is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nikkenen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa stops Nikkenen from standing up.
Nikkenen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Nikkenen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taalasmaa is looking to work some ground and pound but Nikkenen has wrist control.
Nikkenen keeping moving, preventing Taalasmaa from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Taalasmaa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joahan Nikkenen dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Nikkenen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Joahan Nikkenen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nikkenen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taalasmaa sprawls well. Taalasmaa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nikkenen gets slowly back to his feet.
Nikkenen shoots in but no luck this time.
Nikkenen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Taalasmaa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nikkenen somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joahan Nikkenen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nikkenen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nikkenen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Taalasmaa to keep the fight standing.
Nikkenen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Taalasmaa backwards.

It looks like Seppo Taalasmaa has been cut.
Nikkenen tries for a takedown but Taalasmaa manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa has Nikkenen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nikkenen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nikkenen is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Nikkenen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nikkenen gets underhooks to prevent Taalasmaa's takedown attempt.

Nikkenen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Nikkenen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nikkenen tries to get out of the position.
Nikkenen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taalasmaa is controlling him.
Taalasmaa is looking to work some ground and pound but Nikkenen has wrist control.
Taalasmaa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes from guard but Nikkenen blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikkenen controlling Taalasmaa's posture.
Nikkenen wants to stand up but Taalasmaa is controlling him.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes but missing.
Nikkenen is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joahan Nikkenen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nikkenen tries for a takedown but Taalasmaa circles away easily

and Taalasmaa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nikkenen!
Nikkenen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Taalasmaa is working for a guillotine from mount but Nikkenen frees his head quite easily.
Taalasmaa in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
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!
Nikkenen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa wants to control the pace but Nikkenen is squirming around nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nikkenen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seppo Taalasmaa!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Seppo Taalasmaa waved his t-shirt featuring Rebel Pride Clothing. Everything in STOCK $5's logo in front of the cameras.