PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dmitry Nugzarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Taalasmaa's choice of entrance music: Smurffit - Tunteisiin. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nugzarov
vs
Taalasmaa

168 cm
28
154 lbs
16 - 5 - 1

172 cm
27
162 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 16 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dmitry Nugzarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Radbod Blank and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nugzarov works the jab nicely.
Taalasmaa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nugzarov.
Taalasmaa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Taalasmaa scores with a punch to the head.
Nugzarov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nugzarov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa misses with an uppercut
and Nugzarov counters with a nice kick to the body.
Taalasmaa throws a right hand that misses
and Nugzarov counters with a straight right hand.
Nugzarov swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A thudding body kick lands there by Nugzarov!
Nugzarov looks to land a body kick but Taalasmaa moved away.
Nugzarov avoids the body shot from Taalasmaa.
Nugzarov slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa misses with an uppercut
and Nugzarov counters with a good, hard body kick but Taalasmaa shrugs it off.
Taalasmaa avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Taalasmaa shoots in looking for a takedown. Nugzarov tries to sprawl out of it but Taalasmaa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nugzarov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Taalasmaa throws a lazy uppercut
and Nugzarov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Taalasmaa's knee momentarily.
Taalasmaa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nugzarov.
Nugzarov misses with a head kick.
Nugzarov scores with a kick to the body.
Taalasmaa misses with a body shot.
Taalasmaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nugzarov was well out of range. Poor timing from Taalasmaa.
Nugzarov defending well as Taalasmaa loads up on a big left hand.
Nugzarov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taalasmaa. Nugzarov does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa lands a body shot.
Taalasmaa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nugzarov throws out the jab.
Taalasmaa throws an overhand right that lands on Nugzarov's shoulder, as Nugzarov tries to avoid the shot.
A big right from Taalasmaa misses.
A big left from Taalasmaa misses.
Taalasmaa scores with a jab to the body.
Taalasmaa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nugzarov counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Nugzarov lands a head kick!
Taalasmaa lands a head shot.
Taalasmaa misses with a hook to the body
and Nugzarov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nugzarov ducks under a wild hook from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa misses with a looping right.
Nugzarov throws a front kick aimed at Taalasmaa's knee but Taalasmaa avoids it well.
Nice body kick there by Nugzarov.
Nugzarov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Taalasmaa slips under a jab.
Taalasmaa walks into a stiff left hand from Nugzarov.
Taalasmaa misses with an uppercut.
A low kick from Nugzarov is predictable there
and Taalasmaa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nugzarov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A clash of legs there as Taalasmaa blocks the low kick.
Nugzarov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Taalasmaa moves out of range of the leg kick from Nugzarov.
A slow jab from Nugzarov misses its intended target.
Nugzarov throws a front kick aimed at Taalasmaa's knee but Taalasmaa avoids it well.
Nugzarov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Taalasmaa connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Nugzarov scrambles back to his feet.
Taalasmaa misses with an uppercut
and Nugzarov counters with a nice body kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nugzarov.
Seppo Taalasmaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nugzarov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sloppy strikes from Nugzarov. Those never looked like landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nugzarov misses with a body kick.
Taalasmaa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nugzarov.
Nugzarov throws a solid leg kick but Taalasmaa takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Nugzarov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taalasmaa lands a right hook to the body.
Taalasmaa misses with a jab to the body
and Nugzarov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nugzarov 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.
Taalasmaa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Taalasmaa lands with a hook. Nugzarov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nugzarov throws out a leg kick but Taalasmaa moves out of range and Nugzarov only half commits.
Dmitry Nugzarov is winning the standup battle so far.
Taalasmaa scores with a nice head shot.
Taalasmaa has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Nugzarov.
Nugzarov throws a hook but Taalasmaa avoids it easily.
Nugzarov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nugzarov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taalasmaa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Taalasmaa checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nugzarov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Taalasmaa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nugzarov throws out the jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Nugzarov.
Taalasmaa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nugzarov slips under a jab.
Taalasmaa throws a hook but Nugzarov avoids it easily.
Nugzarov throws a lazy uppercut
and Taalasmaa counters with a right hand to the body.
Nugzarov throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Taalasmaa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nugzarov tries to roll over but Taalasmaa keeps him under control.
Nugzarov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taalasmaa.
Nugzarov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Taalasmaa on the ground.
Taalasmaa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa trying to mount his opponent but Nugzarov defends it.
Nugzarov wants to control but Taalasmaa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nugzarov is trying to stand.
Taalasmaa has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Taalasmaa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Taalasmaa sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Nugzarov wants to control but Taalasmaa is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Nugzarov wants to hold on but Taalasmaa pushes him away.
Taalasmaa cracks Nugzarov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Taalasmaa unloading with bombs!
Nugzarov tries to reverse the position but Taalasmaa maintains control.
Nugzarov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nugzarov 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.
Nugzarov is trying to maintain the position but Taalasmaa is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa slips a nice elbow through Nugzarov's hands, connecting with Nugzarov's forehead.
Taalasmaa wants to free his trapped foot but Nugzarov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Taalasmaa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nugzarov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Taalasmaa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Taalasmaa's back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nugzarov tries to get the hooks in deep but Taalasmaa pushed the leg off.
Nugzarov doesn't have the hooks in and Taalasmaa manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taalasmaa wants to pass the guard but Nugzarov is keeping the position.
Taalasmaa forces his way into half guard.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Taalasmaa has a takedown stuffed.
Horrible takedown by Taalasmaa or perhaps it was just good defense by Nugzarov which made him look bad.
Nugzarov misses with a body kick.
Taalasmaa just misses with a punch to the body.
Taalasmaa misses with a jab to the body
and Nugzarov counters with a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nugzarov throws the left hand but Taalasmaa avoids the punch easily.
Taalasmaa moves out of range as Nugzarov throws a body kick.
Nugzarov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nugzarov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Taalasmaa connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Nugzarov scrambles back to his feet.
Taalasmaa misses the shot to the body.
Nugzarov misses with a kick to the body.
Taalasmaa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taalasmaa scores with the left hand. Nugzarov knows he should have avoided that one.
Taalasmaa lands with a nice body punch.
Taalasmaa throws out a powerful jab.
Taalasmaa scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nugzarov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Taalasmaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nugzarov moves away.
Nugzarov takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nugzarov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa misses with a straight left.
Nugzarov cracks a nice hook into Taalasmaa's ribs.
Taalasmaa lands a nice looking body shot.
Nugzarov bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Taalasmaa shoots in and drives through. Nugzarov sprawls well.
Dmitry Nugzarov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Taalasmaa.
Nugzarov connects with a solid leg kick.
Nugzarov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nugzarov misses with a low kick.
Taalasmaa walks forward, straight into a front kick from Nugzarov.
Good work by Taalasmaa as he checks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nugzarov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nugzarov misses with a lunging right hand
letting Taalasmaa counter with a right hand.
Nugzarov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Taalasmaa blocks a low kick nicely.
Taalasmaa misses with a right hand
and Nugzarov counters with a stiff right hand.
Taalasmaa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Taalasmaa checks a low kick from Nugzarov.
Nugzarov misses with a body shot.
Nugzarov slips a straight right by Taalasmaa.
Nugzarov staying out of range there.

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.
A low kick from Nugzarov is predictable there
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nugzarov thinking.
A slow jab from Taalasmaa misses its intended target.
Nugzarov moves out of range of the strikes.
Nugzarov avoids the body shot from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nugzarov was well out of range. Poor timing from Taalasmaa.
A big right from Taalasmaa misses.
Nugzarov scores with a jab to the body.
Taalasmaa misses with a hook.
Nugzarov misses with a low kick.
Nugzarov tries to work over Taalasmaa's front leg with a kick but Taalasmaa checks it.
A leg kick checked by Taalasmaa.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dmitry Nugzarov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nugzarov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dmitry Nugzarov!