PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zeke Acacia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Seppo Taalasmaa has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Acacia
vs
Taalasmaa

185 cm
24
150 lbs
9 - 1 - 1

170 cm
20
160 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zeke Acacia!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa misses with a leg kick.
Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Acacia as he jumps to the side.
Acacia lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taalasmaa circles away quickly and effectively.
Taalasmaa fails with a takedown attempt.
Acacia really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Acacia misses with a hook. Taalasmaa ducked under it nicely.
Acacia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taalasmaa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A combination from Acacia does no damage.
Acacia doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Taalasmaa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Taalasmaa postures up in Acacia's guard and throws a big left but Acacia blocks it.
Acacia trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Taalasmaa looking to pass the guard.

Taalasmaa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Taalasmaa prevents Acacia from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Acacia's head.
Acacia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Acacia will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Acacia wants to get back to his feet but Taalasmaa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Taalasmaa postures up in Acacia's guard and throws a big left but Acacia blocks it.
Taalasmaa lands a couple of elbows.
Taalasmaa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Acacia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taalasmaa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taalasmaa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taalasmaa with a flurry of punches that miss.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Acacia sprawls well. Acacia wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Taalasmaa gets slowly back to his feet.
Zeke Acacia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Acacia tests Taalasmaa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Acacia lands a head kick!
Taalasmaa swings for the body but Acacia moves out of range.
Acacia takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Acacia displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Taalasmaa.
Acacia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Taalasmaa looks gassed!
Nice straight punches there by Acacia. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Acacia.
Acacia scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Taalasmaa tries to close the distance and clinch but Acacia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Acacia.
Taalasmaa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Acacia blocks a body shot from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Acacia is pressed up against the ropes. Taalasmaa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Acacia down to the mat. Acacia avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Acacia avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Acacia closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Acacia lands in his opponent's guard.
Taalasmaa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Acacia's guard.
Taalasmaa stops Acacia from standing up.
Taalasmaa lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Taalasmaa postures up in Acacia's guard and throws a big left but Acacia blocks it.
Acacia knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taalasmaa on the ground.
Acacia is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acacia keeping moving, preventing Taalasmaa from controlling successfully.
Acacia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Taalasmaa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Acacia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taalasmaa is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taalasmaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Acacia moves away.
Taalasmaa looks to land a right hand but Acacia moved out of range.
Taalasmaa tries to clinch there but Acacia circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taalasmaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Acacia was well out of range. Poor timing from Taalasmaa.
A left lands for Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Acacia throws a leg kick which misses Taalasmaa's front leg but catches the back leg as Taalasmaa tries to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Acacia dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Acacia throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Taalasmaa to counter with a crisp jab.
Acacia misses with a hook to the body

and Taalasmaa counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Acacia's guard now.
Acacia on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Acacia tries to get out of the position.
Acacia trying to control the position here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taalasmaa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Acacia wants to sweep but no luck.
Acacia is working hard here to advance position.
Taalasmaa tries to free his leg and advance position but Acacia is retaining full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Taalasmaa pushing down on Acacia's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Taalasmaa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Taalasmaa thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Acacia to regain full guard.
Taalasmaa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Acacia trying to control the position.
Taalasmaa throws and elbow that misses. Acacia uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Taalasmaa's guard. Nice move by Acacia!

Taalasmaa is looking for a triangle but Acacia pushes his legs off easily.
Taalasmaa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Acacia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Acacia postures up.

That's two 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.
Taalasmaa manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Taalasmaa looking to finish with strikes here!
Taalasmaa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Acacia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Taalasmaa landing strikes, looking to finish!
Taalasmaa landing strikes, looking to finish!
Taalasmaa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Acacia looks a forlorn figure.
Taalasmaa landing strikes from the mount and Acacia is in trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Taalasmaa looking to secure an arm triangle but Acacia defends it well.
Taalasmaa is breathing heavily.
Taalasmaa throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Acacia working to try and regain half guard.
Acacia holds on, trying desperately to control.
Taalasmaa lands with some strikes.
Acacia is bucking up trying to escape but Taalasmaa cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Acacia wants to control but Taalasmaa is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa is stalling here but it's allowed Acacia to get half guard.
Acacia taking some punishment here, with Taalasmaa in his half guard.
Acacia is not content to let Taalasmaa control the position.
Acacia works his way to full guard. Good work.
Taalasmaa is looking to work some ground and pound but Acacia has wrist control.
Taalasmaa won't allow Acacia to get back to his feet.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Acacia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Acacia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
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.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Acacia throws a sloppy head kick
and Taalasmaa counters with an inside leg kick.

Acacia closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Taalasmaa did well to prevent Acacia getting side control.
Acacia is trying to control the action in half guard but Taalasmaa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Acacia postures up.
Taalasmaa is positioning himself well to prevent Acacia advancing to mount.
Taalasmaa wants to improve his position but Acacia is controlling well.
Taalasmaa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Taalasmaa.
Acacia tries to stand but Taalasmaa is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acacia preventing the sweep.
Taalasmaa wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Acacia is now in half guard.
Taalasmaa manages to get to full guard.
Taalasmaa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Taalasmaa has his foot on Acacia's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Acacia works his way back into a safe position though.
Taalasmaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Taalasmaa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Acacia is aware though and is defending well.

Taalasmaa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Acacia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Acacia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Acacia trying to control the position from guard on top but Taalasmaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Taalasmaa looking for a guillotine here but Acacia defends easily.
Acacia controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Taalasmaa is on top in guard.
Acacia wants to sweep but no luck.
Taalasmaa lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa won't allow Acacia to get back to his feet.
Taalasmaa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Acacia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa throwing strikes but missing.
Taalasmaa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Acacia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taalasmaa works over Acacia with some ground and pound from guard.
Taalasmaa connects with a couple of short punches.
Acacia has control of Taalasmaa's left arm, preventing Taalasmaa from doing any damage.
Acacia trying to keep a closed guard but Taalasmaa is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Taalasmaa is pushing down on Acacia's leg trying to pass to half guard. Acacia is fighting to maintain full guard but Taalasmaa has managed to sneak the leg through.
Acacia has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taalasmaa is working away from the top position though.
Taalasmaa working the head and body with strikes.
Acacia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Taalasmaa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Acacia defending well though.
Taalasmaa stops Acacia from getting back to his feet.

Taalasmaa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Acacia wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo Taalasmaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Taalasmaa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seppo Taalasmaa!
Seppo Taalasmaa is the new lightweight champion!