PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mista Blista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikal Helio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Blista
vs
Helio

190 cm
28
185 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
195 lbs
10 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Powerful

xXx - Voodoo Labs - 159+ Energy - $45
XTREME PWNAGE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mista Blista!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikal Helio!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blista takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Helio checks a low kick from Blista.
Blista connects with a solid leg kick.
Blista fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Helio has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Helio blocks a low kick nicely.
Helio throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Helio closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Blista tries to throw a body punch but Helio avoids it by throwing Blista back against the cage.
Helio blocking some punches.
Blista is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Helio misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Helio.
Blista tries to circle away but Helio has him pinned against the cage.
Helio blocking some punches.
Blista fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Blista tries to work over Helio's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Helio can't find room to land a body shot as Blista controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blista tries to break free but Helio pushes him back against the cage.
A short right from Helio on the inside.
Blista misses with a hook to the ribs.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Blista fails to land.
Helio struggles to land a body shot inside as Blista controls his hands.
Blista tries to break the clinch but Helio is controlling the position.
Blista lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Helio goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Helio tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blista's elbow.
Blista wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Helio has him pressed against the cage.
Helio is working Blista over against the cage.
Helio lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Blista misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Helio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Blista wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Helio tries to throw a body punch but Blista avoids it by throwing Helio back against the cage.
Blista throws a head punch that misses.
Blista lands a shoulder strike.
Helio tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blista's elbow.
Blista looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Blista swings wildly with an uppercut but Helio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blista looking to slow down the pace here.
Blista blocks a body shot from Helio.

Blista manages to break the clinch.

Helio gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Helio throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Blista doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blista misses with some punches.
Helio scores with a shoulder strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Helio takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Helio blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Helio working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Blista doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Blista pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mista Blista is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blista scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Helio doesn't seem bothered though.
A jab from Helio misses.
Helio blocks a low kick nicely.
Helio avoids the head kick by Blista.
Helio moves out of range as Blista throws a body kick.
Blista uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Helio.
Blista connects with a leg kick. Helio looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helio lunges at Blista with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Blista's hand.
Helio slips a jab from Blista.
Blista keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Blista misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Helio gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Blista.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Good exchange - Helio coming out on top.
Blista fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Blista, as that shot connected.
Blista is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Helio.

Blista gets caught flat footed, as Helio shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Blista working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Helio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blista is keeping the position for now.
Blista knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Helio on the ground.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Helio landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mista Blista will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A clash of legs there as Helio blocks the low kick.
Blista moves out of range as Helio throws a body kick.
Blista connects with an inside leg kick.
Blista lands a head kick. Helio smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Blista uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Helio.
Blista tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Helio throws a front kick that sends Blista stumbling back into the cage.
Helio misses with a straight left.
Blista walks into a left hand.
Blista steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Helio.
Helio will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Helio misses with the combination.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A punch lands to the side of Blista 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blista lands a head kick!
Blista misses the shot to the body.
Helio lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Helio pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Blista blocks a jab.
Blista ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Helio moves away.
Helio connects with a leg kick. Blista looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Mikal Helio seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A solid leg kick lands there for Blista.
A head kick misses from Blista.

Helio moves into the clinch.
Mista Blista has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Blista lands a nice uppercut.
Helio is trying to pull guard but Blista turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Blista can't find room to land a body shot as Helio controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Blista fails to land.
Blista works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blista misses with a punch to the body.
Helio tries to work over Blista's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Blista misses with some punches.
Blista throws a punch but it's blocked by Helio.
Helio blocks an uppercut.
Blista working aggressively here.
Helio keeps control of Blista as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Helio misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Helio working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Helio has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Blista uses from the top position.
Blista trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blista postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helio can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Blista controls the pace.
Blista has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Blista wants to control from the top but Helio keeps moving.

Blista avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Blista would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Blista loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Helio working for a triangle but Blista defends it easily.

Helio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Helio is looking for a triangle but Blista pushes his legs off easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Helio is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Blista defends well.
Blista postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Helio is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Blista defends well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Blista wants to stand but Helio has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Blista trying to control the position from guard on top but Helio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikal Helio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Helio throws a jab but it's blocked by Blista.
Blista turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice body punch from Blista.
Helio wants to clinch.
Helio tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Blista scoring well with a low kick there.
Blista is looking to land body kicks.
Helio connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Blista.
Blista thumps Helio with a low kick.
Blista waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Helio.
Helio takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Blista plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helio wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Blista buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Blista works Helio's body with a nice hook.
The fighters circling - Helio throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Helio drives through with a takedown into guard.
Helio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Helio wants to control from the top but Blista keeps moving.
Helio advances to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Blista manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Blista 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Helio working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Blista's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Helio working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helio throws a big elbow that misses.
Helio chips away with some ground and pound.
Helio pushes down on Blista's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Helio lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Helio perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Helio not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Helio is thwarting Blista's attempts to control the position.

Helio is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Blista makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Blista.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helio content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Blista avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Blista preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Helio keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Blista's head.
Helio sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Blista tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blista avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Helio throws a big right hand that misses.
Blista is adopting a defensive guard.
Helio is working Blista over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blista wants to sweep here but Helio controlling him for the moment.
Helio cracks Blista with a solid left hand.
Blista controls Helio momentarily but Helio frees himself.
Helio preventing the sweep.
Blista is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Helio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blista works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Helio trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Helio throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikal Helio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Helio has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikal Helio!