PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Krystov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Taalasmaa
vs
Krystov

170 cm
20
155 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

179 cm
23
163 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Seppo Taalasmaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Krystov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa lunges at Krystov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Krystov's hand.
Krystov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Taalasmaa looks to throw the jab but Krystov is out of range.
Krystov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Taalasmaa drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Krystov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Krystov looking for a sweep. Not yet Krystov, not yet.
Krystov keeping moving, preventing Taalasmaa from controlling successfully.

Taalasmaa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taalasmaa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Krystov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Krystov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Krystov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krystov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taalasmaa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Krystov is keeping the position for now.
Krystov can't keep his opponent in guard - Taalasmaa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Krystov tries to roll over but Taalasmaa keeps him under control.
Taalasmaa is looking to take a break and control but Krystov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Taalasmaa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Krystov defends it well.
Taalasmaa working over Krystov with some ground and pound. Krystov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krystov trying to control but Taalasmaa postures up.
Taalasmaa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Taalasmaa drops an elbow to the side of Krystov's head.
Taalasmaa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Taalasmaa drops an elbow to the side of Krystov's head.
Krystov moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taalasmaa is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Krystov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taalasmaa is one step ahead there.
Krystov has momentary wrist control but Taalasmaa slips an elbow through the middle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Taalasmaa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Krystov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Krystov is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krystov won't allow Taalasmaa to sweep him here.
Krystov stays in close to Taalasmaa's body and controls the position.
Krystov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Taalasmaa throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Taalasmaa punching from the bottom - just letting Krystov know he's still in a fight.

Taalasmaa looking for subs off his back but Krystov has passed one foot through into half guard.
Taalasmaa gets back to full guard.
Taalasmaa keeping moving, preventing Krystov from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Krystov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Taalasmaa striking from his own guard.
Taalasmaa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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 looking to control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Krystov misses with a takedown

and Taalasmaa counters with a takedown into side control.
Seppo Taalasmaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Krystov.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taalasmaa working the ground and pound from side control.
Krystov is looking to reverse the position.
Krystov looks gassed!
Taalasmaa scoring with punches from side control.
Krystov is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Taalasmaa dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Krystov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Taalasmaa looking for a sweep. Not yet Taalasmaa, not yet.
Taalasmaa wants to stand and escape but Krystov is having none of it.
Taalasmaa tries to strike from the bottom.
Krystov preventing the sweep.
Taalasmaa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Taalasmaa throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Taalasmaa thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Krystov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Krystov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Krystov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Krystov lands a big elbow.
Krystov avoids the attempt from Taalasmaa to control.
Krystov landing punches.
Taalasmaa tries to hold on but Krystov postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Krystov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Taalasmaa's head.
Taalasmaa tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Krystov is looking to take a break and control but Taalasmaa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taalasmaa punching from the bottom.
Taalasmaa works his way to full guard. Good work.
Krystov tries to free his leg and advance position but Taalasmaa is retaining full guard.
Krystov is breathing heavily.
Krystov pushing down on Taalasmaa's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Taalasmaa wants to control but Krystov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Taalasmaa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Krystov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Krystov lands strikes from half guard.
Taalasmaa is looking for a sweep. Krystov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taalasmaa wants to control but Krystov is keeping busy.
Krystov misses with a head shot. Taalasmaa uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa keeping full guard, as Krystov tries to pass.
Taalasmaa wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Krystov slips a straight right by Taalasmaa.
Krystov slips under a jab.
Krystov has his takedown stuffed
and Taalasmaa counters with a right hand to the body.

Krystov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Krystov can't keep his opponent in guard - Taalasmaa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Krystov controlling the position for now.
Seppo Taalasmaa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Taalasmaa prevents Krystov from improving his position.
Taalasmaa drops an elbow to the side of Krystov's head.
Taalasmaa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Taalasmaa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Taalasmaa winds up and cracks Krystov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Taalasmaa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Krystov is looking to improve his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Taalasmaa lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa escapes and gets back to his feet.
Krystov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Taalasmaa counters by clinching up.
Taalasmaa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Krystov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Taalasmaa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Seppo Taalasmaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Krystov.
Taalasmaa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Taalasmaa tries to throw a body punch but Krystov avoids it by throwing Taalasmaa back against the cage.
Taalasmaa swings wildly with an uppercut but Krystov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taalasmaa lands with a right to the head.
A short right from Taalasmaa.

Taalasmaa is trying to trip Krystov. He has hold of a leg but Krystov is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Taalasmaa persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Krystov controls Taalasmaa momentarily but Taalasmaa frees himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Krystov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taalasmaa chips away with some ground and pound.
Krystov trying to strike off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Taalasmaa dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Krystov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Krystov checks a leg kick nicely.

Taalasmaa forces Krystov back against the cage and clinches.
Taalasmaa misses with a knee strike.
Krystov prevents the takedown attempt.
Taalasmaa prevents the takedown attempt.
A body shot lands from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa scores with a nice hook to the head.
Taalasmaa working aggressively here.
Taalasmaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Krystov.
Taalasmaa prevents the takedown attempt.
Taalasmaa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Krystov backwards.
Taalasmaa can't find room to land a body shot as Krystov controls the action.

Taalasmaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slow jab from Taalasmaa misses its intended target.
Krystov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taalasmaa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Taalasmaa tries a low kick but Krystov avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa scores with a leg kick.

Taalasmaa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Taalasmaa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Krystov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Krystov taking some punishment here, with Taalasmaa in his half guard.
Nice strikes from Taalasmaa there.
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.
Krystov tries to roll over but Taalasmaa keeps him under control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Taalasmaa lands a nice short elbow.
Krystov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Taalasmaa has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Krystov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Krystov's face.
Taalasmaa cracks Krystov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Taalasmaa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Krystov?
Taalasmaa lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Krystov hang on?
Taalasmaa tries to control but Krystov wriggling away.
Krystov is in a horrible position here. Taalasmaa smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Taalasmaa scores with a couple of good head shots there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Taalasmaa swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Krystov is now in Taalasmaa's guard. A big mistake from Taalasmaa there, giving up the dominant position!
Krystov passes Taalasmaa's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Taalasmaa actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krystov wants to pass the guard but Taalasmaa is defending well.
Taalasmaa trying to control from the bottom.

Krystov has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Taalasmaa defend it? Krystov steps over the head and cranks it - Taalasmaa is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Krystov!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Alexander Krystov!