PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kari Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Chow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Taalasmaa
vs
Chow

190 cm
19
205 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

187 cm
23
204 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kari Taalasmaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steven Chow!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa scores with a hook.

It looks like Steven Chow has been cut.
Chow looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Taalasmaa instigates a clinch.
Taalasmaa creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Taalasmaa gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Chow blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taalasmaa.
Nice strikes from Taalasmaa there.
Taalasmaa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chow has hold of Taalasmaa's hands but Taalasmaa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taalasmaa decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Taalasmaa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Chow is rocked!

Taalasmaa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taalasmaa wants to break free but Chow has control.

Taalasmaa has clasped his hands together around Chow's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Taalasmaa stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Taalasmaa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Chow looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa lands an elbow.

Taalasmaa stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Taalasmaa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Chow sprawls well initially but Taalasmaa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Taalasmaa throwing shots but Chow is blocking nicely.
Chow keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Taalasmaa decides to stand up.

Taalasmaa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Chow looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Taalasmaa just content to control the position.

Taalasmaa stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa throws a series of strikes that have Chow backpedaling.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taalasmaa scores with a jab to the jaw.

Taalasmaa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taalasmaa landing some decent shots from guard.

Taalasmaa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Taalasmaa shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taalasmaa showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Taalasmaa moves nicely into side control.
Taalasmaa controlling the position from side mount.

Taalasmaa stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Taalasmaa does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa feints and as Chow raises his hands in defense, Taalasmaa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taalasmaa is working Chow over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taalasmaa with a flurry of punches that miss.

Taalasmaa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Taalasmaa bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Taalasmaa working the head and body with strikes.

Taalasmaa decides to stand back up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Taalasmaa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
It looks like Taalasmaa is going to stand back up.
Taalasmaa is looking to advance position but Chow won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Taalasmaa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steven Chow's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Taalasmaa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Chow's guard.
Taalasmaa distracts Chow with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Taalasmaa chips away with some ground and pound.

Taalasmaa gets to his feet. Chow looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Taalasmaa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Taalasmaa decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Taalasmaa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Chow to the mat! Chow manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Chow looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Taalasmaa stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chow gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Taalasmaa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Taalasmaa won't allow Chow to sweep him here.

Taalasmaa gets to his feet. Chow looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Chow working to try and regain half guard.
Taalasmaa controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa punishing his opponent with strikes.
Chow is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Taalasmaa lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Taalasmaa landing strikes from the mount.
Taalasmaa controlling the position easily from mount.
Taalasmaa looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Chow is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa controlling the position easily from mount.
Taalasmaa looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Taalasmaa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The referee warns Chow that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Taalasmaa wants to control the pace but Chow is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa controlling from mount.
Taalasmaa punishing his opponent with strikes.
Taalasmaa with a couple of short strikes.
Taalasmaa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chow in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The referee warns Chow that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Taalasmaa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Steven Chow's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Taalasmaa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taalasmaa scores with a couple of short elbows.
Chow takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Taalasmaa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chow can do to turn this around?
Taalasmaa lands a nice forearm strike.
Chow is still in real trouble! Can Taalasmaa finish him?

Taalasmaa stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Chow seems to have recovered his senses.

Taalasmaa drives through with a takedown into guard.

Taalasmaa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taalasmaa lands with an overhand left.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Taalasmaa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Taalasmaa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Chow tries to get to full guard but Taalasmaa has control of the leg.
Kari Taalasmaa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Taalasmaa stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Taalasmaa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Chow's guard.
Taalasmaa wants to get up but he can't break Chow's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Taalasmaa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Chow works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Taalasmaa tries to free his leg and advance position but Chow is retaining full guard.
Taalasmaa tries to stand but Chow is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa forces his way into half guard.
Taalasmaa tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Taalasmaa decides to return to a standing position.

Taalasmaa bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Chow tries to buck Taalasmaa off but Taalasmaa is having none of it.
Taalasmaa lands some shots froms side control.

Taalasmaa stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Chow tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Taalasmaa.
Chow is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Taalasmaa working the ground and pound but Chow is defending the strikes.

Taalasmaa stands up.
Chow has his takedown stuffed

and Taalasmaa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Taalasmaa.

Taalasmaa stands and steps away. Chow gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
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!
A punch combination from Taalasmaa misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Taalasmaa misses its intended target.
Taalasmaa cracks Chow with an open hand slap.

Taalasmaa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Chow!
BOOM! Taalasmaa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Steven Chow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kari Taalasmaa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taalasmaa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Chow is looking to escape.
Chow tries to reverse the position but Taalasmaa maintains control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taalasmaa controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kari Taalasmaa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Taalasmaa 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:24
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:24
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kari Taalasmaa!