PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rahim Fabian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taalasmaa comes to the cage accompanied by Siniseen. Fabian comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Game kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Seppo Taalasmaa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Taalasmaa
vs
Fabian

175 cm
21
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Mary Jane's Herbal Nutritions
Mary Jane's Herbal Nutritions

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seppo Taalasmaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rahim Fabian!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taalasmaa drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Taalasmaa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Taalasmaa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fabian looking for a sweep. Not yet Fabian, not yet.
Fabian doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Fabian 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 is trying to get back to full guard.
Taalasmaa is trying to maintain the position but Fabian is very close to passing his half guard.
Fabian has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fabian winds up and cracks Taalasmaa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Taalasmaa is looking to control Fabian's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taalasmaa avoid being mounted?
Fabian missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Taalasmaa is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Fabian working Taalasmaa over with strikes.
Taalasmaa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Fabian lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fabian sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Taalasmaa's guard.
Taalasmaa really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fabian not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fabian looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Taalasmaa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Fabian is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Taalasmaa wants to get back to his feet.
Fabian seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Taalasmaa won't allow Fabian to pass to mount.
Fabian seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Fabian drops an elbow to the side of Taalasmaa's head.
Fabian is nestled in close to Taalasmaa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Taalasmaa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fabian.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fabian sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taalasmaa defending well though.

Taalasmaa kicks off Fabian and gets to his feet.
Taalasmaa is breathing heavily.
Fabian tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taalasmaa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taalasmaa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fabian fails with an attempt to clinch.

Fabian closes the distance and clinches.
Fabian goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fabian tries a body shot but Taalasmaa blocks it.
Fabian can't find room to land a body shot as Taalasmaa controls the action.
Fabian throws a punch but it's blocked by Taalasmaa.

Taalasmaa manages to break the clinch.
Fabian keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taalasmaa.
Fabian tries to close the distance and clinch but Taalasmaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Fabian as Taalasmaa shoots in.
Fabian tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fabian tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Taalasmaa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fabian is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Fabian closes the distance and clinches.
Fabian is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Fabian looking to stall.
Fabian looking for a takedown.
Fabian is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Fabian misses with a punch on the inside.

Taalasmaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fabian is looking to clinch but Taalasmaa is avoiding it.

Fabian moves into the clinch.
Taalasmaa wants to break the clinch but can't.
Fabian pushes Taalasmaa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Taalasmaa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fabian misses with a body punch.
Taalasmaa prevents a takedown attempt there.
Seppo Taalasmaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rahim Fabian.
Fabian gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Taalasmaa.
Fabian tries to throw a body punch but Taalasmaa avoids it by throwing Fabian back against the cage.
Fabian fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fabian tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taalasmaa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fabian with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fabian has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Taalasmaa is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Taalasmaa is trying to break the clinch but Fabian has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taalasmaa keeps the fight on the outside.
Fabian doesn't manage to clinch there - Taalasmaa circles away.
Taalasmaa misses with a wild body shot.
Fabian uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taalasmaa.
Fabian clinches but Taalasmaa breaks the clinch
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fabian thinking.
Taalasmaa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fabian moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fabian shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Taalasmaa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fabian is working Taalasmaa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taalasmaa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fabian content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Fabian working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fabian missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fabian throwing strikes but missing.
Fabian with a nice head shot there.
Fabian cracks Taalasmaa with a solid left hand.

Fabian avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fabian working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fabian scoring with punches to the head and body.
Fabian landing with the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fabian's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fabian passes Taalasmaa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Fabian scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fabian is looking to advance position but Taalasmaa won't allow it.
Taalasmaa is looking to improve his position.
Fabian wants to pass to mount but Taalasmaa is defending the position.
Ground and pound from Fabian.
Fabian working Taalasmaa over with strikes.
Fabian 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.
Fabian lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Fabian throwing shots but Taalasmaa is blocking nicely.
Fabian working over Taalasmaa with some ground and pound. Taalasmaa looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fabian lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fabian missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fabian is nestled in close to Taalasmaa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Taalasmaa has hold of Fabian's hands but Fabian slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Taalasmaa is trying to stand up here but Fabian is controlling him well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Fabian lands a nice short elbow.
Fabian looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fabian uses his free foot to push down on Taalasmaa's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Taalasmaa.
Fabian landing shots from mount.
Taalasmaa is desperately trying to improve his position but Fabian has a good base and remains in mount.
Fabian avoids the attempt from Taalasmaa to control.
Fabian lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Taalasmaa wants to control but Fabian is having none of it.
Taalasmaa wants to get back to his feet.
Taalasmaa tries to reverse the position but Fabian maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fabian punishing his opponent with strikes.
Fabian landing strikes from the mount and Taalasmaa is in trouble!

Taalasmaa is rocked!
Fabian is landing with some decent strikes but Taalasmaa is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Oh Taalasmaa is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Taalasmaa slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Taalasmaa gets back to full guard.
Fabian is in close to Taalasmaa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fabian is looking to work some ground and pound but Taalasmaa has wrist control.
Taalasmaa seems to have got his legs back now.
Fabian missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fabian is looking to work some ground and pound but Taalasmaa has wrist control.
Taalasmaa controls Fabian momentarily but Fabian frees himself.
Fabian with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fabian is working Taalasmaa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rahim Fabian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Donk. Taalasmaa catches Fabian right on the button with a cross.
Taalasmaa lands a head shot.
Fabian clinches but Taalasmaa breaks the clinch
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice uppercut.
Taalasmaa lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Taalasmaa tries to close the distance and clinch but Fabian swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taalasmaa looks to land a left hand but Fabian moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taalasmaa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fabian.
Fabian will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Taalasmaa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fabian paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fabian shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fabian showed some decent athleticism there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fabian scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fabian lands with a punch from half guard.
Taalasmaa tries to roll over but Fabian keeps him under control.
Taalasmaa punching from the bottom.
Taalasmaa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fabian scores with a couple of nice shots.
Fabian is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Taalasmaa!
Fabian is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Fabian lands a big elbow.
Taalasmaa is looking to improve his position but Fabian isn't that keen on the idea.
Rahim Fabian has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taalasmaa is working hard here to advance position.
Taalasmaa is in a horrible position here. Fabian smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fabian looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Fabian lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Fabian putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fabian scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Taalasmaa?
Fabian scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Taalasmaa tries to lock up and control but Fabian gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Taalasmaa wants to get back to his feet.
Taalasmaa tries to hold on but Fabian pushes him away.
Taalasmaa wants to get back to his feet.
Taalasmaa holds on to Fabian as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
Taalasmaa tries to reverse the position but Fabian maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fabian lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Taalasmaa can't escape the position.
Fabian lands a nice shot to the head.
Taalasmaa tries to hold on but Fabian postures up.
Fabian lands a nice shot to the head.
Taalasmaa gets back to half guard.

Taalasmaa has one foot on Fabian's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Fabian tries to clinch up.
Fabian fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taalasmaa circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fabian looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Seppo Taalasmaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fabian uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taalasmaa.
Seppo Taalasmaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taalasmaa misses the shot to the body.
Fabian is looking to clinch but Taalasmaa is avoiding it.
Fabian stuffs the takedown.

Fabian scores with a takedown into Taalasmaa's guard.
Taalasmaa striking off his back but it's not causing Fabian any problems.

Taalasmaa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fabian doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fabian manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Taalasmaa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Taalasmaa looking for a guillotine here but Fabian defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rahim Fabian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Fabian winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rahim Fabian!