PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leslie Morrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taalasmaa has chosen Siniseen as his entrance music. Leslie Morrow has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Morrow
vs
Taalasmaa

155 cm
20
130 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leslie Morrow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seppo Taalasmaa!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morrow misses with a few strikes there.
Morrow wants to clinch up but Taalasmaa keeps it at a distance.
Taalasmaa thuds a left hand into Morrow's body.
A lazy left from Taalasmaa finds it's target.
Taalasmaa cracks Morrow with a good jab.
Leslie Morrow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morrow looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taalasmaa is fending him off so far but Morrow persists. Nope, Taalasmaa circles away and we're back to standing.
Taalasmaa lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Taalasmaa with a hook.

Morrow has Taalasmaa up against the cage in a clinch.
Taalasmaa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Morrow wants a takedown but no success here.
Morrow is breathing heavily.
Taalasmaa blocks an uppercut.
Morrow could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Morrow jumps guard but Taalasmaa stands there with Morrow around his waist. Morrow gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leslie Morrow. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Taalasmaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Morrow throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taalasmaa.

Taalasmaa gets a takedown into half guard.

Taalasmaa postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Morrow to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Taalasmaa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Taalasmaa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Taalasmaa is controlling the pace.
Morrow looks like he's trying to stand up.
Morrow wants to improve his position but Taalasmaa is controlling well.
Taalasmaa wants to control but Morrow is keeping him busy.

Taalasmaa seems to be working for a kimura but Morrow defends the submission attempt.
Morrow regains full guard. Nicely done.

Morrow has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Taalasmaa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Morrow is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa tries to stand but Morrow is controlling from the bottom.
Morrow trying to keep a closed guard but Taalasmaa is proving a slippery customer.
Morrow has a closed guard, preventing Taalasmaa from standing up.
Taalasmaa preventing the sweep.
Taalasmaa wants to stand but Morrow has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Taalasmaa blocks a head kick by Morrow.
Taalasmaa tries to clinch up but Morrow circles away and keeps his distance.

Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa escapes and gets back to his feet.
Morrow takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Morrow tries for a takedown but Taalasmaa circles away easily
and Taalasmaa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Taalasmaa jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Taalasmaa throws a push kick but Morrow slaps the foot to one side.
Morrow misses with a takedown attempt

and Taalasmaa counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Morrow struggling a bit here.

Taalasmaa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Taalasmaa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Morrow wants to control but Taalasmaa postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Taalasmaa has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrow shoots and misses

and Taalasmaa counters with a shoot takedown. Morrow fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taalasmaa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Morrow controls Taalasmaa momentarily but Taalasmaa frees himself.
Taalasmaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Morrow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taalasmaa tries to free his leg and advance position but Morrow is retaining full guard.
Morrow is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Morrow lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Taalasmaa!
Morrow lands a big elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taalasmaa regains half guard.
Taalasmaa wants to get back to his feet.
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!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Morrow landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Taalasmaa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Taalasmaa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Morrow throws a knee to the head but misses.
Morrow lands a shoulder strike.

Morrow breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Morrow shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taalasmaa pinned against the cage. Taalasmaa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Leslie Morrow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morrow looks to clinch

and Taalasmaa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Morrow is trying to stall.
Taalasmaa blocks an elbow strike from Morrow.

Taalasmaa has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Morrow regains guard immediately.
Taalasmaa wants to control from the top but Morrow keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Taalasmaa gets to his feet. Morrow looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Taalasmaa scores with a crisp jab that stopped Morrow in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrow falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taalasmaa counters with a left and a right that stings Morrow.
Morrow falls off balance throwing a combination
and Taalasmaa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Morrow looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Morrow shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Taalasmaa's guard.
Morrow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taalasmaa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Morrow scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Taalasmaa is pulling down on Morrow's head to control his posture.
Morrow might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Taalasmaa pushes Morrow off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Morrow with a poor takedown
and Taalasmaa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taalasmaa is looking to clinch but Morrow is avoiding it.
Morrow swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Taalasmaa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Morrow drags the fight down to the ground.
Morrow looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taalasmaa is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa chips away with some ground and pound.
Taalasmaa wants to control from the top but Morrow keeps moving.
Taalasmaa tries to free his leg and advance position but Morrow is retaining full guard.
Taalasmaa is looking to stand up but Morrow won't let him.
Morrow is trying to keep Taalasmaa in close.

Taalasmaa stands up and waves to Morrow to follow him.
Morrow will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leslie Morrow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taalasmaa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taalasmaa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Morrow is fending him off so far but Taalasmaa persists. Nope, Morrow circles away and we're back to standing.
Taalasmaa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A jab lands there for Taalasmaa.
Morrow shoots and misses
and Taalasmaa counters with a stiff right hand.
Taalasmaa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A head kick misses from Morrow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrow misses with a takedown attempt
and Taalasmaa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Morrow has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Morrow needs to keep his hands up - Taalasmaa had a free shot at his head there.
Taalasmaa cracks Morrow with a right hand to the side of the head.
Taalasmaa swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Morrow.

Taalasmaa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Morrow's guard.
Taalasmaa is in close to Morrow's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Morrow has Taalasmaa pulled in close to control his posture.
Morrow controls Taalasmaa momentarily but Taalasmaa frees himself.
Taalasmaa preventing the sweep.
Taalasmaa passes Morrow's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Taalasmaa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Taalasmaa wants to take a breather but Morrow is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrow trying to control but Taalasmaa postures up.
Morrow makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Morrow.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Morrow is working from the bottom.
Taalasmaa stands and throws Morrow's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Taalasmaa has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taalasmaa cracks Morrow with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A nice combination there by Morrow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Morrow as he jumps to the side.
Morrow shoots in and drives through. Taalasmaa sprawls well.
Morrow drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Morrow wants to clinch.
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 fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Morrow tries a head kick but it misses.

Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Morrow keeping moving, preventing Taalasmaa from controlling successfully.
Taalasmaa wants to stand but Morrow has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Taalasmaa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Morrow is on top in guard.
Taalasmaa wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Morrow manages to pass to side control.
Taalasmaa works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taalasmaa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morrow.
Morrow lands a couple of digs.
Taalasmaa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Taalasmaa tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morrow throwing strikes but missing.
Morrow postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Taalasmaa wants to stand but Morrow is controlling the position.
Morrow wants to control from the top but Taalasmaa keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Morrow throws a combination that misses
and Taalasmaa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Morrow thinking.
Morrow misses with the combination.
Morrow swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Taalasmaa counters with a stiff right hand.
Morrow ducks right into an uppercut from Taalasmaa.
Morrow misses with a hook

and Taalasmaa counters with a takedown into side control.
Morrow regains half guard.

Taalasmaa is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Morrow has managed to free his arm - good work.
Morrow 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.
Morrow is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taalasmaa postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Morrow to stand up.

Taalasmaa instigates a clinch.
Morrow wants to break free but Taalasmaa has control.
Taalasmaa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Morrow using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taalasmaa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Taalasmaa tries to score a body lock takedown but Morrow shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Taalasmaa prevents a body shot from Morrow.
Taalasmaa prevents the takedown attempt.
Morrow is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Taalasmaa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Taalasmaa gets underhooks to prevent Morrow's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leslie Morrow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taalasmaa wants to get back to striking at distance but Morrow won't allow it.
Morrow tries for a takedown but Taalasmaa manages to get underhooks.
Morrow missing with knees to the body.
Taalasmaa looking to stall.
Morrow lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Taalasmaa manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Taalasmaa. That snapped Morrow's head back.

Taalasmaa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Morrow's guard.
Morrow working a defensive guard here.
Taalasmaa wants to pass the guard but Morrow is keeping the position.
Morrow looking for a sweep. Not yet Morrow, not yet.
Taalasmaa tries to stand but Morrow is controlling from the bottom.
Taalasmaa postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A right-left combo lands from Taalasmaa.

Taalasmaa darts in and clinches Morrow up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrow throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taalasmaa blocks it with crossed arms.
Morrow jumps guard but Taalasmaa stands there with Morrow around his waist. Morrow gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Morrow breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taalasmaa jabs at Morrow's body.
Morrow tries for a takedown but Taalasmaa circles away easily
and Taalasmaa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Leslie Morrow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taalasmaa takes a kick to the side of the head.
Morrow tries to clinch up but Taalasmaa circles away and keeps his distance.
Taalasmaa stuffs the takedown attempt from Morrow. Morrow gets slowly back to his feet.
Morrow is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Morrow will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Morrow clinches with his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morrow using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taalasmaa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Morrow can't get the takedown.

Morrow breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Morrow looks to land a combination but Taalasmaa avoids it well.
Taalasmaa lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seppo Taalasmaa!