PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mishel Taroni (ranked 6262 p4p, 693 weight class) and Stephan Letter (ranked 6657 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Taroni
vs
Letter

174 cm
21
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mishel Taroni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephan Letter!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Letter sizes up Taroni with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Taroni shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Taroni wants to work for an arm triangle but Letter is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Taroni really is a fat lump.
Taroni throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Taroni missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Letter is refusing to be controlled, as Taroni sits in half guard.
Taroni is pressing down on Letter's thigh, looking to free his foot. Letter is holding on for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taroni is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Taroni prevents Letter from standing back up.
Taroni not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Taroni content to control rather than advance.

Letter is defending against the submission attempts here by Taroni.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Taroni seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Taroni seems to be working for a kimura but Letter defends the submission attempt.
Letter looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Taroni drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taroni's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Letter keeping full guard, as Taroni tries to pass.
Letter is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Taroni in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taroni wants to control from the top but Letter keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taroni looking to pass the guard.
Taroni prevents Letter from getting back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Taroni takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Good shot there by Letter.
Letter lands with an overhand left.
Letter scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Letter scores with a punch to the head.
Taroni takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Letter paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Letter lands a body shot.
Taroni closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Letter jabs at Taroni's body.
Taroni on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nice shot by Letter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Letter lands a head shot.

Taroni looking to score a takedown here. Letter is defending well but Taroni drives through and ends up in Letter's guard.

Taroni drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taroni jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Taroni wants to control from the top but Letter keeps moving.

Taroni drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taroni jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Taroni pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Letter is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taroni loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taroni trying to control but Letter is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Letter wants to stand but Taroni is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Letter paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Stephan Letter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Letter keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Letter scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Letter connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Taroni's hands.
Letter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice uppercut there from Letter.
Letter bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Taroni takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taroni shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into 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!
Letter is refusing to be controlled, as Taroni sits in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Letter pushes Taroni off looking to stand but Taroni dives back in and keeps control.
Taroni throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Taroni trying to control the action but Letter is working from the bottom.
Letter is trying to stand up here but Taroni is controlling him well.
Letter is looking to get back to is feet but Taroni passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taroni is looking to take a break and control but Letter is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Taroni thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Taroni thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Letter is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Taroni asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Taroni has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Taroni goes for an armbar but Letter turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Letter.
Letter stopping the sweep attempt from Taroni.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Letter trying to stand up but can't free himself from Taroni's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephan Letter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Letter digs a good hook to Taroni's body.
Letter digs a good body shot into Taroni's ribs.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Letter enables Taroni to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Letter manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mishel Taroni overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taroni trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Taroni trying to control the position from guard on top but Letter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taroni landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taroni 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.
Taroni slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taroni with the ground and pound but Letter uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Letter wants to stand but Taroni is controlling the position.

Taroni drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Letter manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Taroni has Letter in his guard.

Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Letter wants to stand but Taroni has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Taroni looking to hit a scissor sweep but Letter is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taroni is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Letter defends well.
Letter wanted to stand there but Taroni had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taroni has an active guard here but Letter has managed to pass into half guard.
Letter wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Taroni uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Letter postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Letter connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Letter misses with a few strikes there.
Mishel Taroni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Taroni darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stephan Letter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Letter pushes Taroni off looking to stand but Taroni dives back in and keeps control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephan Letter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Letter 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephan Letter!