PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kris Marsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Marsh
vs
Taalasmaa

163 cm
35
154 lbs
35 - 8 - 0

170 cm
37
160 lbs
49 - 23 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KO Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kris Marsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 49 - 23 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marsh circles away from the clinch attempt.
Marsh fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Taalasmaa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Taalasmaa misses with a kick to the body

and Marsh counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Marsh works his way into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taalasmaa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Taalasmaa is looking to control Marsh's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taalasmaa avoid being mounted?
Marsh throwing shots but Taalasmaa is blocking nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marsh seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Taalasmaa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Marsh thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Taalasmaa's head.
Taalasmaa moves into full guard.
Marsh controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsh advances to half guard.
Marsh slips a nice elbow through Taalasmaa's hands, connecting with Taalasmaa's forehead.
Taalasmaa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Marsh.
Marsh working Taalasmaa over with strikes.
Taalasmaa is trying to get back to full guard.
Marsh slows the pace down in half guard.
Taalasmaa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Marsh.
Marsh working over Taalasmaa with some ground and pound. Taalasmaa looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Marsh 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.

Marsh is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Taalasmaa has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Taalasmaa is trying to maintain the position but Marsh is very close to passing his half guard.
Marsh wants to control but Taalasmaa is keeping him busy.

Taalasmaa looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Taalasmaa looking for submissions off his back.
Taalasmaa wants to improve his position but Marsh is controlling well.
Taalasmaa moves into full guard.

Marsh avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsh trying to control but Taalasmaa is working from the bottom.

Taalasmaa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Taalasmaa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Taalasmaa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Marsh gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Taalasmaa can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Marsh controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marsh throws a big elbow that misses.
Marsh seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Marsh is looking to work some ground and pound but Taalasmaa has wrist control.
Marsh makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Taalasmaa is looking for a triangle but Marsh pushes his legs off easily.
Marsh throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marsh scoring with some ground and pound.
Taalasmaa looking for a sweep. Not yet Taalasmaa, not yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marsh not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kris Marsh dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Marsh lands a nice shot to the body.
Taalasmaa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marsh sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Taalasmaa swings for the body but Marsh moves out of range.
Marsh fails with a takedown attempt.

Marsh gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Taalasmaa to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Taalasmaa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kris Marsh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Marsh is working from the bottom.
Marsh looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taalasmaa is one step ahead there.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Marsh trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsh looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Marsh is trying to control the position but Taalasmaa postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Taalasmaa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marsh.
Marsh tries to clinch up but Taalasmaa circles away and keeps his distance.
Marsh walks into a left hand.
Taalasmaa misses with a looping left.
Taalasmaa lands with a kick to the ribs.
Nice takedown defense from Marsh. No joy for Taalasmaa on that attempt.
Nice defenses there by Taalasmaa.
Marsh misses with a body shot.
Taalasmaa is looking to score with low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsh throws a hook but Taalasmaa avoids it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marsh slips under a jab.

Taalasmaa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marsh's guard.
Marsh trying to keep a closed guard but Taalasmaa is proving a slippery customer.
Marsh looking for a sweep. Not yet Marsh, not yet.
Taalasmaa slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Marsh wants to get back to his feet but Taalasmaa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Marsh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taalasmaa misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Marsh napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Marsh manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Taalasmaa prevents Marsh from improving his position.
Marsh works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Taalasmaa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Taalasmaa wants to control from the top but Marsh keeps moving.
Taalasmaa stopping the sweep attempt from Marsh.
Taalasmaa throws a strike but Marsh rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Taalasmaa keeping moving, preventing Marsh from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marsh with a nice head shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marsh is working Taalasmaa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taalasmaa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Marsh!
Marsh is working to get back to half guard.
Taalasmaa with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taalasmaa working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Marsh tries to reverse the position but Taalasmaa maintains control.
Taalasmaa is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Marsh is looking to improve his position but Taalasmaa isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Taalasmaa 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!

Marsh checks the leg kick.
Marsh throws a nice outside leg kick.
Marsh lands with a thumping leg kick.
Taalasmaa wants to clinch up but Marsh keeps it at a distance.
Marsh jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Taalasmaa throws a right and a left that Marsh avoids nicely.
Good leg kick by Marsh there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Taalasmaa swings for the body but Marsh moves out of range.
Marsh throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Seppo Taalasmaa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taalasmaa takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Marsh scores with a leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Taalasmaa misses.
A head kick misses from Taalasmaa.
Marsh lands a jab to the head.
Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown but Marsh shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Taalasmaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice shot lands for Marsh.
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!
Marsh turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Taalasmaa throws a solid leg kick but Marsh takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Taalasmaa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsh digs a good hook to Taalasmaa's body.
That kick from Marsh tenderised Taalasmaa's leg. Taalasmaa is trying to keep his angry face on.
Taalasmaa's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Marsh connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Taalasmaa scrambles back to his feet.
Marsh ducks under a wild hook from Taalasmaa.
Marsh connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Marsh goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nice shot lands for Taalasmaa.
Marsh lands a nice leg kick that just misses Taalasmaa's sensitive parts.
Marsh throws a body punch but Taalasmaa moves out of range.
Taalasmaa fails to land the takedown.

Marsh fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Taalasmaa sprawls well initially but Marsh persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marsh is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Taalasmaa is looking to control Marsh's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taalasmaa avoid being mounted?
Marsh wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taalasmaa keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsh winds up and cracks Taalasmaa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Taalasmaa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Marsh trying to control the action but Taalasmaa is working from the bottom.
Marsh wants to pass the guard but Taalasmaa is defending well.
Marsh takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Taalasmaa manages to get to full guard.
Taalasmaa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marsh is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Marsh defends well.

Taalasmaa throws his legs up looking for a submission but Marsh uses it to pass to side control.
Marsh looks up at the clock and then as Taalasmaa takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Marsh smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Taalasmaa is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Marsh cracks Taalasmaa with a big elbow.
Taalasmaa manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marsh throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Marsh takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Taalasmaa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Marsh's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Marsh's back!
Taalasmaa doesn't have the hooks in and Marsh manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Marsh got a little sloppy there for a moment and Taalasmaa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Marsh has managed to get both his arms back between Taalasmaa's legs - danger averted.
Taalasmaa keeping moving, preventing Marsh from controlling successfully.
Marsh is pushing down on Taalasmaa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Taalasmaa is fighting to maintain full guard but Marsh has managed to sneak the leg through.
Taalasmaa regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Taalasmaa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marsh wants to control from the top but Taalasmaa keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kris Marsh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marsh has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kris Marsh!
A very excited looking Kris Marsh made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.