PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between KJ Kesler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kari Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kesler
vs
Taalasmaa

185 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 1

190 cm
18
205 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, KJ Kesler!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kari Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Taalasmaa with that takedown attempt.
Taalasmaa fails to land with a series of punches.
Kesler changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taalasmaa tries to avoid it but Kesler manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taalasmaa to the ground. Taalasmaa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taalasmaa thuds his right hand into Kesler's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kesler moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kesler will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Taalasmaa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kesler manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Kesler looking for submissions off his back.
Kesler is breathing heavily.
Taalasmaa lands strikes from half guard.
Taalasmaa slips a nice elbow through Kesler's hands, connecting with Kesler's forehead.
Taalasmaa thows a huge punch but Kesler dodges it nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kesler's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taalasmaa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kesler trying to control but Taalasmaa postures up.
Taalasmaa working over Kesler with some ground and pound. Kesler looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Taalasmaa prevents Kesler from improving his position.
Taalasmaa scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Taalasmaa is trying to control the action in half guard but Kesler is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Taalasmaa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Taalasmaa tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kesler controls his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taalasmaa trying to control from half guard but Kesler is working away.
Taalasmaa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

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.
Kesler is looking to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kesler has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Taalasmaa finds it's way round the side to connect with Kesler's head.
Kari Taalasmaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taalasmaa circles away from the clinch attempt.

Taalasmaa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kesler's guard.

Kesler 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 connects with a couple of short punches.
Kesler bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taalasmaa's guard.
Taalasmaa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Taalasmaa keeping moving, preventing Kesler from controlling successfully.
Taalasmaa can't keep his opponent in guard - Kesler advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Taalasmaa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kesler is looking for a kimura here.
Kesler moves nicely into side control.
Taalasmaa wants to get back to his feet.
Kesler working away.
Taalasmaa tries to buck Kesler off but Kesler is having none of it.
Kesler works to advance to full mount. Taalasmaa defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kesler scoring with strikes but Taalasmaa is staying in there.

Kesler is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Taalasmaa can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Taalasmaa is looking to improve his position but Kesler isn't that keen on the idea.
Kesler with the ground and pound from mount.
Taalasmaa is looking to improve his position but Kesler isn't that keen on the idea.

Kesler swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Taalasmaa is now in Kesler's guard. A big mistake from Kesler there, giving up the dominant position!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taalasmaa cracks Kesler with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Taalasmaa dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Taalasmaa missing with a left hand there. Kesler was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jab by Taalasmaa.
Kesler shoots for a takedown but Taalasmaa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Taalasmaa throws a right and a left that Kesler avoids nicely.
Kesler tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Taalasmaa swivels and escapes.

Taalasmaa instigates a clinch.

Taalasmaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taalasmaa misses with a takedown attempt

and Kesler counters with a takedown into side control.

Kesler decides to take the fight back to the feet.
KJ Kesler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kesler gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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 trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kesler is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Taalasmaa!
Taalasmaa regains half guard.
Taalasmaa manages to get to full guard.
Kesler forces his way into half guard.
Taalasmaa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Taalasmaa wants to sweep here but Kesler controlling him for the moment.
Taalasmaa keeping moving, preventing Kesler from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa wants to sweep here but Kesler controlling him for the moment.
Kesler passes into half guard.
Taalasmaa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kesler trying to control the position from guard on top but Taalasmaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kesler is really struggling to control Taalasmaa but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Kesler pushing down on Taalasmaa's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Taalasmaa is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kesler trying to pass the guard but Taalasmaa defending well.
Taalasmaa wants to improve his position but Kesler is controlling well.
Taalasmaa pushes Kesler off looking to stand but Kesler dives back in and keeps control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taalasmaa throws a good cross that connects.

Taalasmaa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kesler is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Taalasmaa scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ground and pound from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Taalasmaa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kesler controls his leg.
Kesler regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kesler has a closed guard, preventing Taalasmaa from standing up.

Kesler working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Taalasmaa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Taalasmaa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Taalasmaa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Kesler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taalasmaa is looking to work some ground and pound but Kesler has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

KJ Kesler dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Taalasmaa cracks Kesler with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Taalasmaa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Taalasmaa feints and as Kesler raises his hands in defense, Taalasmaa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taalasmaa throws a big right hand that misses.
Kesler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa won't allow Kesler to sweep him here.

Taalasmaa stands up and waves to Kesler to follow him.
Kesler avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kesler wants to clinch up but Taalasmaa keeps it at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kesler throws a combination that misses
and Taalasmaa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Taalasmaa misses with a takedown

and Kesler counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Taalasmaa won't allow Kesler to pass to mount.
Taalasmaa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kesler. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kesler is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Taalasmaa punching from the bottom.
Kesler looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Taalasmaa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Taalasmaa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kesler passes to side control.
Taalasmaa takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Kesler is controlling him well.

Kesler tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kesler has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Taalasmaa tries to bench press Kesler off him but Kesler keeps the position.
Kesler working away.
Taalasmaa throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Taalasmaa is looking for a sweep.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Taalasmaa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Taalasmaa lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kesler is trying to control the position but Taalasmaa postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kesler keeping full guard, as Taalasmaa tries to pass.

Kesler had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Taalasmaa is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kesler Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Taalasmaa's back instead.
Taalasmaa tries to break free.
Taalasmaa tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Taalasmaa swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Taalasmaa tries to reverse the position but Kesler maintains control.

Kesler with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kesler is landing with some decent strikes but Taalasmaa is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kesler connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Taalasmaa wants to try and get back to his feet.
KJ Kesler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taalasmaa wants to hold on but Kesler pushes him away.
Kesler prevents Taalasmaa from getting the reversal.
Taalasmaa sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kesler stops Taalasmaa from getting back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kesler tries to pass to full mount but Taalasmaa defends it.
Taalasmaa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kesler trying to control the action but Taalasmaa is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
KJ Kesler showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kesler has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... KJ Kesler!
KJ Kesler is the new light heavyweight champion!