PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alan Charuto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edward Van Helgen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Charuto comes to the cage accompanied by Sergio Mendes - Joga Bontio. Edward Van Helgen is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Charuto
vs
Van Helgen

185 cm
25
175 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

185 cm
26
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alan Charuto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Edward Van Helgen!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Emerson Jorge and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charuto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A big right from Charuto misses.

Van Helgen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Charuto managing to block the knees to the body from Van Helgen.
Van Helgen slowing the pace effectively.
Van Helgen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Charuto drops down looking for an ankle pick but Van Helgen pulls his leg out and moves away.

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

Charuto has gone for a leg lock! Van Helgen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Charuto's guard.
Van Helgen won't allow Charuto to sweep him here.
Van Helgen is stalling in the full guard.
Van Helgen landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Helgen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Van Helgen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Charuto working for a triangle but Van Helgen defends it easily.
Van Helgen wants to control from the top but Charuto keeps moving.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Van Helgen trying to control from the bottom.
Charuto works his way into side control.
Van Helgen gets back to half guard.
Charuto is breathing heavily.
Van Helgen holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Charuto is looking to take a break and control but Van Helgen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Van Helgen is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charuto is thwarting Van Helgen's attempts to control the position.

Charuto is looking for a kimura but Van Helgen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Charuto to get the leverage.
Van Helgen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Van Helgen is looking for a triangle but Charuto pushes his legs off easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Van Helgen is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Helgen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Charuto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Van Helgen defends well.
Van Helgen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Van Helgen won't allow Charuto to sweep him here.
Van Helgen works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Van Helgen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Van Helgen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alan Charuto's cut.
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.

Charuto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Van Helgen swivels and escapes.
Charuto has a takedown stuffed.

Van Helgen gets a clinch.
Van Helgen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Van Helgen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Charuto wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alan Charuto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Charuto tries to pull guard but Van Helgen won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Helgen has Charuto pressed against the cage.
Van Helgen connects with a knee to the head.
Van Helgen just leaning against Charuto, taking a breather.
Van Helgen stops a takedown attempt from Charuto.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Helgen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Van Helgen scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Helgen working Charuto over with knees to the body.
Van Helgen lands an elbow just above Charuto 's eye.
Van Helgen connects with a knee to the head.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Van Helgen in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Van Helgen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Van Helgen just leaning against Charuto, taking a breather.
Van Helgen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Van Helgen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Charuto wants a takedown.
Van Helgen lands a shot to the body.
Van Helgen lands a knee to the head.
Van Helgen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Charuto up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Edward Van Helgen.
Charuto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Helgen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Van Helgen is struggling to control the position.
Charuto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Van Helgen prevents it.
Van Helgen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Charuto backwards.
Charuto drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Van Helgen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Charuto looking for a takedown.
Van Helgen lands with a left to the head.
Van Helgen with a knee to the head.

Alan Charuto's cut is getting worse.
The referee is keeping an eye on Van Helgen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Van Helgen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Van Helgen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Van Helgen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Van Helgen crunches a lovely knee into Charuto's ribcage.
Van Helgen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Charuto up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Helgen continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Charuto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Van Helgen effectively controlling the action here.
Van Helgen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Charuto backwards.
Van Helgen lands a body shot in the clinch.
Charuto takes a knee right on the jaw!
Van Helgen lands a right hand.
Van Helgen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Charuto.
Van Helgen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Van Helgen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A knee to the head by Van Helgen.
Charuto changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Van Helgen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Van Helgen tries to clinch there but Charuto circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Charuto tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Charuto fails with a takedown attempt.

Van Helgen has closed the distance and engaged Charuto in a clinch.
Van Helgen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Charuto backwards.
Van Helgen stalling in the clinch.
Van Helgen landing knees to the head.
Van Helgen lands a knee to the head.
Van Helgen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Van Helgen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Charuto backwards.
Van Helgen pushes Charuto back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Charuto is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Charuto can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Van Helgen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alan Charuto's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Van Helgen!
Charuto misses with the combination.

Van Helgen forces Charuto back against the cage and clinches.
Charuto letting Van Helgen take a breather here.
Van Helgen lands an elbow that stopped Charuto in his tracks for a moment.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Van Helgen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Charuto blocks it with crossed arms.
Charuto tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Van Helgen scores with a nice short uppercut.

Charuto has hold of one of Van Helgen's legs. Van Helgen is fighting the takedown attempt but Charuto gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Charuto tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Helgen is retaining full guard.

Van Helgen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Charuto is aware though and is defending well.
Charuto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Van Helgen is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Helgen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Charuto's guard.
Van Helgen trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Charuto manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Helgen 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.

Charuto drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Van Helgen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Charuto has Van Helgen in his guard.
Van Helgen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Helgen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Van Helgen passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Van Helgen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Charuto has escaped the position, nice work there.

Van Helgen swings around for an armbar but Charuto sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Van Helgen's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Helgen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Van Helgen throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Van Helgen working a defensive guard here.

Charuto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Van Helgen keeping moving, preventing Charuto from controlling successfully.

Van Helgen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Charuto defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Van Helgen is trying to keep Charuto in close.

Charuto drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Van Helgen dives on top into guard.
Van Helgen wants to control from the top but Charuto keeps moving.

Van Helgen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Alan Charuto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edward Van Helgen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Van Helgen slaps away a takedown attempt from Charuto, before circling back to the center of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edward Van Helgen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Van Helgen 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edward Van Helgen!