PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paden Taber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taavi Liisteri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liisteri has chosen Solid Base - I like it as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Taber
vs
Liisteri

180 cm
25
162 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

170 cm
32
162 lbs
20 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paden Taber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taavi Liisteri!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taber throws an overhand right that lands on Liisteri's shoulder, as Liisteri tries to avoid the shot.
Taber cracks Liisteri with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Liisteri fails with the takedown.
Liisteri shoots in for a double leg but Taber sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Liisteri uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taber.
Taber lands a leg kick that knocks Liisteri off balance momentarily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Liisteri.
Liisteri wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taber keeps working.
Taber is pushing Liisteri's head away, looking to escape. Liisteri manages to hold on to the position though.

Liisteri goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Taber has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Liisteri but great work by Taber.
Taber scores with a couple of short elbows.
Taber takes a little break here. Liisteri wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liisteri tries to buck Taber off but Taber is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taber wants to control but Liisteri is keeping him busy.
Liisteri is trying to get back to half guard.
Taber trying to control the position but Liisteri is working away.
Liisteri is trying to improve his position.
Liisteri misses with a strike from the bottom.
Liisteri is trying to get back to half guard.

Taber has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Liisteri has his takedown stuffed
and Taber makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Paden Taber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taavi Liisteri.
A chopping leg kick lands by Taber.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taber keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Taber lands with a thumping leg kick.
Taber swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taber shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Liisteri eats them both and turns towards Taber to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liisteri avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Taber thows a body shot but no joy.
Taber lands with a kick to the temple. Liisteri shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Liisteri is rocked!

It looks like Taavi Liisteri has been cut.
Liisteri fails to land the takedown.

Liisteri shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Liisteri drops back, looking for a kneebar! Taber looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Taber looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Taber!

Taber decides to stand up, so the ref orders Liisteri to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liisteri tries for a takedown but Taber circles away easily
and Taber counters with a straight right hand.
Taber throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Liisteri avoids the head kick by Taber.
Liisteri takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Taber misses with a looping left.
Taber leaves Liisteri with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Liisteri throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Taber's waist but Taber gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Liisteri off to one side.
Paden Taber is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taber swings for the body but Liisteri moves out of range.
Liisteri takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Liisteri avoids a punch combination nicely.
Liisteri with a lazy takedown attempt
and Taber counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Taber uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liisteri.
Liisteri takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liisteri bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Taber misses with a wild combination.
Taber ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Liisteri moves away.
Horrible takedown by Liisteri or perhaps it was just good defense by Taber which made him look bad.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taber pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Liisteri shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Taber counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A good leg kick by Taber.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice sprawl there from Taber as Liisteri shoots in.
Taber throws a leg kick that misses.
Nice takedown defense from Taber. No joy for Liisteri on that attempt.
Taber with a nice cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paden Taber dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Taavi Liisteri's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Liisteri shoots and misses
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Taber counters with a slapping leg kick.
Liisteri lands a nice shot to the body.
Liisteri shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taber pinned against the cage. Taber gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Taber looks to score with a jab to the body but Liisteri is just out of range.
Liisteri with a poor takedown
and Taber counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Liisteri thinking.
Paden Taber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taavi Liisteri.
Taber misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taber swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taber misses with a hook.
Taber jabs Liisteri right on the nose. Liisteri blinks but takes it well.
Taber throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Liisteri on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Taber. Taber obviously looking to wear him down.
A swing and a miss from Taber.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Taber, right into the meat.
Liisteri's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liisteri fails with a takedown attempt.
Taber connects with an inside leg kick.
Paden Taber is winning the standup battle so far.
Liisteri has his takedown stuffed
letting Taber counter with a right hand.
Liisteri looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taber is fending him off so far but Liisteri persists. Nope, Taber circles away and we're back to standing.
Liisteri shoots in for a takedown but Taber shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Liisteri is breathing heavily.
Liisteri shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Taber counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Liisteri takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Taber stalks Liisteri and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Liisteri's face. Liisteri staggers backwards, shaken.
Liisteri shoots and misses
enabling Taber to counter with a crisp jab.
A jab from Taber finds it's way through Liisteri's defenses.
Liisteri is still on wobbly legs! Can Taber finish him?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taber with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Liisteri seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taber just misses with a punch to the body.
Taber is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Taber lands a left and a right that send Liisteri crashing to the mat, dazed. Taber thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Liisteri shoots in for a double leg but Taber sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taber uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Taber takes a swing at Liisteri's ribcage but misses.
The fighters circle, before Taber throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Liisteri's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! Taber lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Paden Taber!
Paden Taber seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.