PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johan Herberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Herberg
vs
Taalasmaa

160 cm
33
167 lbs
27 - 8 - 2

170 cm
31
160 lbs
34 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

QFClothing
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johan Herberg!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taalasmaa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Taalasmaa lunges at Herberg with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Herberg's hand.
Taalasmaa walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Herberg checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Taalasmaa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taalasmaa lands with a shot to the body.
Taalasmaa punishes Herberg's body with a nice straight punch.

Taalasmaa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Herberg is trying to defend but Taalasmaa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Herberg keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Herberg trying to control from the bottom.
Taalasmaa thows a huge punch but Herberg dodges it nicely.
Taalasmaa scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Taalasmaa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Herberg does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Taalasmaa seems to be working for a kimura but Herberg defends the submission attempt.
Herberg has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taalasmaa is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Taalasmaa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Taalasmaa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Taalasmaa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Herberg wants to improve his position but Taalasmaa is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taalasmaa drops an elbow to the side of Herberg's head.
Herberg taking some punishment here, with Taalasmaa in his half guard.
Herberg has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taalasmaa is working away from the top position though.
Herberg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Taalasmaa is trying to control. Herberg wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Herberg is trying to maintain the position but Taalasmaa is very close to passing his half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Taalasmaa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Herberg has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herberg trying to control but Taalasmaa postures up.
Taalasmaa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Herberg wants to improve his position but Taalasmaa is controlling well.
Taalasmaa controlling the pace.
Taalasmaa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Let's hope that Taalasmaa has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Taalasmaa looks to land a right hand but Herberg moved out of range.
Herberg on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Taalasmaa. Taalasmaa obviously looking to wear him down.
Herberg fails with the takedown
and Taalasmaa counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herberg has his takedown stuffed
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice leg kick.
Taalasmaa lands a glancing blow to the side of Herberg's head.
Taalasmaa cracks Herberg with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Taalasmaa scores with a hook.
Taalasmaa misses with a body shot.
Herberg shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Herberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herberg checks a low kick from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa stuffs the takedown attempt from Herberg. Herberg gets slowly back to his feet.
Taalasmaa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Taalasmaa moves into range and clinches up with Herberg.
A nice right hand lands inside from Taalasmaa.
Herberg lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Taalasmaa takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Herberg working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Taalasmaa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Herbergs head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taalasmaa throws a head punch that misses.
Taalasmaa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Taalasmaa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Herbergs head.
Herberg digs a right hand underneath Taalasmaa's ribcage. Taalasmaa let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Taalasmaa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Taalasmaa content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Taalasmaa missing with knees to the body.
Taalasmaa tries a body shot but Herberg blocks it.
Taalasmaa controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taalasmaa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taalasmaa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taalasmaa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Herberg's waist but Herberg gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taalasmaa off to one side.
Herberg wants to clinch
and Taalasmaa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Taalasmaa misses with a body shot.
Taalasmaa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Taalasmaa stuffs the takedown.
Taalasmaa is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Herberg rather than just go for the knockout.
No luck for Herberg with that takedown attempt.
Taalasmaa attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Taalasmaa cracks Herberg with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Taalasmaa has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nice sprawl there from Taalasmaa as Herberg shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Herberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Left hook, right uppercut from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa works over Herberg's head and body with a nice combination.
Taalasmaa fakes the leg kick and cracks Herberg in the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Herberg moves into the clinch.
Herberg misses with a hook to the ribs.
Herberg lands a left hand.
Herberg tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taalasmaa misses with some punches.
Herberg just leaning against Taalasmaa, taking a breather.
Taalasmaa stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Taalasmaa lands a left hand.
Taalasmaa is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Taalasmaa scores with a shot to the side of Herberg's head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Herberg lands a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Taalasmaa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Herberg doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Herberg manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Herberg knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Taalasmaa with the ground and pound but Herberg regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Taalasmaa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Herberg trying to hold on to Taalasmaa's head to control him but Taalasmaa postures up.
Taalasmaa tries to pass to full mount but Herberg defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa trying to control the action but Herberg is working from the bottom.
Taalasmaa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Seppo Taalasmaa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Herberg is looking for a sweep. Taalasmaa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taalasmaa with the ground and pound but Herberg uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Taalasmaa wants to control from the top but Herberg keeps moving.
Herberg working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Taalasmaa.
Herberg looking for a sweep. Not yet Herberg, not yet.
Taalasmaa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Herberg keeping full guard, as Taalasmaa tries to pass.
Herberg trying to keep a closed guard but Taalasmaa is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa cracks Herberg with a solid left hand.
Herberg looking for a sweep. Not yet Herberg, not yet.
Taalasmaa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taalasmaa with a nice head shot there.
Herberg manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Herberg lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Taalasmaa hang on?
Herberg working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Taalasmaa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taalasmaa is squirming around, avoiding Herberg's attempts to control the action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Herberg cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
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.

Herberg shoots in but no luck this time.
Taalasmaa throws a chopping leg kick but Herberg manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Taalasmaa digs a good hook to Herberg's body.
Good work by Herberg as he checks the leg kick.
Taalasmaa misses with a wild body shot.

Herberg scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Taalasmaa tries to buck Herberg off but Herberg is having none of it.
Herberg is working Taalasmaa over with some ground and pound from side control.
Taalasmaa gets back to half guard.
Herberg tries to pass the half guard into mount. Taalasmaa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Herberg is trying to control. Taalasmaa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Herberg prevents Taalasmaa from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herberg lands with a punch from half guard.
Taalasmaa is looking to control Herberg's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taalasmaa avoid being mounted?
Taalasmaa manages to get to full guard.
Taalasmaa wants to sweep but no luck.
Herberg wants to control from the top but Taalasmaa keeps moving.
Taalasmaa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Herberg is one step ahead there.
Herberg 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.
Herberg scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Herberg preventing the sweep.
Taalasmaa looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Herberg puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Taalasmaa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position.
Taalasmaa wants to sweep here but Herberg controlling him for the moment.
Herberg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Taalasmaa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Herberg throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taalasmaa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herberg throws a big right hand that misses.
Herberg landing with the ground and pound.
Herberg with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Herberg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Taalasmaa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Taalasmaa is on top in guard.
Herberg not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Herberg wants to control the position but Taalasmaa says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Taalasmaa drops an elbow to the side of Herberg's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa prevents Herberg from improving his position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taalasmaa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Taalasmaa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Herberg trying to control here.
Taalasmaa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taalasmaa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Taalasmaa working over Herberg with some ground and pound. Herberg looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Herberg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Johan Herberg did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
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.

Taalasmaa throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Herberg on the side of the head.
Johan Herberg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taalasmaa throws a lazy right hand but Herberg sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taalasmaa throws an overhand right that lands on Herberg's shoulder, as Herberg tries to avoid the shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Herberg checks a leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Taalasmaa as he connects with a hook.
Herberg keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Taalasmaa has managed to clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Taalasmaa misses with some punches.
Herberg is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Herberg lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Herberg's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Taalasmaa tries to stall but Herberg uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Herberg to keep the fight standing.
Taalasmaa will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Herberg up against the cage.
Taalasmaa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Herberg doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taalasmaa digs a right hand underneath Herberg's ribcage. Herberg let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Herberg taking a breather.

Herberg turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Herberg manages to end up in side control.
Taalasmaa wants to control but Herberg postures up.
Herberg working the body and head with strikes.
Taalasmaa is trying to control Herberg's posture but Herberg avoids it.
Herberg throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Taalasmaa works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Herberg stopping the sweep attempt from Taalasmaa.
Herberg forces his way into half guard.
Herberg landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Herberg lands strikes from half guard.

Taalasmaa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Taalasmaa works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herberg forces his way into half guard.
Taalasmaa wants to get back to full guard.
Herberg wants to control but Taalasmaa is keeping him busy.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Herberg lands a nice short elbow.

Taalasmaa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Herberg pulls his head out easily.
Taalasmaa is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Herberg 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.
Herberg is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Taalasmaa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Herberg content to control rather than advance.

Herberg seems to be working for a kimura but Taalasmaa defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herberg wants to take a breather but Taalasmaa is having none of it.
Taalasmaa is pressing down on Herberg's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Herberg postures up.

Taalasmaa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Herberg defends well.
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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taalasmaa keeping moving, preventing Herberg from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Johan Herberg will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A punch combination from Taalasmaa misses.
Herberg fails in his attempt to clinch.
Herberg shoots in looking for a takedown but Taalasmaa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Herberg's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Herberg on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Taalasmaa. Taalasmaa obviously looking to wear him down.

Herberg shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Herberg won't allow Taalasmaa to sweep him here.
Taalasmaa manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Herberg working to try and regain half guard.
Taalasmaa landing punches.
Taalasmaa lands a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herberg is trying desperately to improve position.
Herberg chipping away with body shots but they're not going to hurt Taalasmaa.
Herberg tries to reverse the position but Taalasmaa maintains control.
Taalasmaa wants to control the pace but Herberg is squirming around nicely.
Herberg is working to get back to half guard.
Taalasmaa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Herberg is rocked!
Herberg slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Herberg blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa trying to control the action but Herberg is working from the bottom.
Taalasmaa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Herberg with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taalasmaa throwing shots but Herberg is blocking nicely.
Herberg on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Taalasmaa working Herberg over with strikes.
Oh Herberg is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Herberg wants to control but Taalasmaa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Herberg seems to have got his legs back now.
Taalasmaa lands strikes from half guard.
Taalasmaa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Herberg's head.
Herberg trying to control here.
Taalasmaa working Herberg over with strikes.
Taalasmaa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Taalasmaa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Taalasmaa prevents Herberg from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herberg wants to control but Taalasmaa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Taalasmaa is looking to stall here but Herberg recovers full guard.
Herberg manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taalasmaa manages to get himself to full guard.

Herberg avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Herberg preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa keeping moving, preventing Herberg from controlling successfully.
Taalasmaa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Herberg's guard.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Herberg is working from the bottom.
Taalasmaa lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Taalasmaa postures up.
Taalasmaa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taalasmaa connects with a couple of short punches.
Herberg lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Taalasmaa!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Herberg lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Taalasmaa hang on?
Taalasmaa tries to hold on but Herberg pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo Taalasmaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taalasmaa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 47:48
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 47:48
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 45:50

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