PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Erik Von Hellens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Juniper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Juniper is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Von Hellens
vs
Juniper

177 cm
19
152 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erik Von Hellens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Juniper!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Von Hellens tries to clinch but Juniper is having none of it.
Von Hellens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Von Hellens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Juniper as he avoids it easily.
Von Hellens misses with a takedown attempt - Juniper sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erik Von Hellens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Juniper shoots in but Von Hellens avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Juniper misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Von Hellens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Von Hellens throws a right and a left that both miss.
Von Hellens tries to clinch up.
Von Hellens will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Juniper dodges the punch combination from Von Hellens.
Von Hellens is looking to clinch but Juniper is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Von Hellens shoots in and drives through. Juniper sprawls well.
Von Hellens pivots, looking for a leg kick but Juniper is out of range and Von Hellens settles back down.
Von Hellens wants to clinch.
Von Hellens throws a series of punches but Juniper moves out of range.
Von Hellens shoots in for a takedown but Juniper shows good takedown defense.
Von Hellens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Juniper is fending him off so far but Von Hellens persists. Nope, Juniper circles away and we're back to standing.
Von Hellens is breathing heavily.
Juniper shoots in but Von Hellens avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Juniper fails to land the takedown.
Juniper shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Von Hellens but Von Hellens pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Von Hellens tries to keep at a distance but Juniper has taken the fight into the clinch.
Von Hellens is looking to break free of the clinch but Juniper has double underhooks.
Von Hellens wants a takedown.
Juniper is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Von Hellens gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Juniper controlling the action here for a moment.
Juniper connects with a knee to the head.
Von Hellens tries to pull guard but Juniper holds him up against the cage and eventually Von Hellens drops back down to his feet.
Von Hellens tries to break the clinch but Juniper is controlling the position.
Von Hellens wants a takedown but no success here.

Juniper breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juniper shoots in but no luck this time.
Von Hellens tries to clinch but Juniper moves away

and Juniper counters by clinching up.
Juniper has Von Hellens pressed against the cage.

Juniper breaks the clinch.
Juniper shoots in looking for a takedown. Von Hellens tries to sprawl out of it but Juniper keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Von Hellens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Juniper forces Von Hellens back against the cage and clinches.
Juniper tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Juniper breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Von Hellens wants to clinch

and Juniper counters by moving into the clinch.
Von Hellens is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Juniper pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Von Hellens wants to get back to striking at distance but Juniper won't allow it.

Von Hellens manages to break the clinch.
Juniper shoots for a double leg takedown but Von Hellens sprawls well. He's pushed Juniper's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Von Hellens feints and as Juniper raises his hands in defense, Von Hellens changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Juniper controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Juniper wants to sweep but no luck.
Von Hellens prevents Juniper from getting back to his feet.
Juniper really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Von Hellens. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Juniper working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Von Hellens doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Von Hellens manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Juniper can do anything to dispel that myth.

Von Hellens drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Von Hellens jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Juniper has Von Hellens pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Juniper will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Von Hellens misses with a body kick.
Von Hellens shoots and misses
enabling Juniper to counter with a crisp jab.

Juniper instigates a clinch.
Von Hellens trying to land knees to the body.
Juniper prevents Von Hellens from breaking the clinch.
Von Hellens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Von Hellens drops down looking for an ankle pick but Juniper pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Von Hellens as Juniper shoots in.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juniper fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Von Hellens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Juniper swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Juniper uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Von Hellens.
Juniper is breathing heavily.
Juniper changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Von Hellens tries to avoid it but Juniper manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Von Hellens to the ground. Von Hellens escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Erik Von Hellens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Juniper.
Juniper blocks a head kick by Von Hellens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Von Hellens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Von Hellens fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Juniper sprawls well initially but Von Hellens persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Juniper is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Von Hellens has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Juniper's face.
Von Hellens lands a nice shot to the head.
Juniper holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Von Hellens tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Von Hellens can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Juniper is looking to escape.
Von Hellens landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juniper is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Von Hellens looking to control but Juniper is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Von Hellens sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Von Hellens looking to control but Juniper is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Von Hellens has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Juniper's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Von Hellens in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Juniper is squirming around, avoiding Von Hellens's attempts to control the action.
Juniper is trying to stand up.
Juniper is wriggling around trying to escape.
Von Hellens trying to control but Juniper is having none of it.
Von Hellens controlling from the full mount.
Von Hellens working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Juniper tries to control the position but Von Hellens now has his back.
Von Hellens wants to control but Juniper is keeping busy.
Juniper trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Juniper looking very determined here, making life difficult for Von Hellens.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Erik Von Hellens just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Nice takedown defense from Juniper. No joy for Von Hellens on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Von Hellens dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Juniper rushes Von Hellens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Juniper breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Von Hellens shoots for a takedown but Juniper saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Von Hellens tries to clinch up
and Juniper counters with a leg kick.
Juniper's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Juniper duly obliges.
Von Hellens shoots in for a takedown but Juniper shows good takedown defense.

Juniper moves into the clinch successfully.
Juniper gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Von Hellens.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erik Von Hellens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Von Hellens pulls guard.
Juniper won't allow Von Hellens to sweep him here.
Juniper wants to control from the top but Von Hellens keeps moving.
Juniper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juniper would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Von Hellens looking to hit a scissor sweep but Juniper is one step ahead there.
Juniper wants to pass the guard but Von Hellens is keeping the position.
Juniper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Juniper won't allow Von Hellens to sweep him here.
Von Hellens bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Juniper's guard.
Juniper has a closed guard, preventing Von Hellens from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Von Hellens trying to control the position from guard on top but Juniper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Juniper looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Von Hellens passes into side control.
Juniper is not content to let Von Hellens control the position.
Juniper can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Von Hellens trying to control the action but Juniper is working from the bottom.
Von Hellens fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Von Hellens advances to full mount.
Von Hellens connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Juniper is trying to reverse the position but instead Von Hellens has taken his back - oops!

Von Hellens is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Juniper is defending well though. Von Hellens let's go of the attempt for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Juniper is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Von Hellens patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Juniper prevents Von Hellens from getting a body triangle.
Von Hellens scores with punches to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Erik Von Hellens.
I think Von Hellens has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... John Juniper!