PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stig Helmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tafari Mengestu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mengestu is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Stephen Marley ft. Capleton, Sizzla - Rock Stone. Stig Helmer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Helmer
vs
Mengestu

210 cm
20
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
207 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Stig Helmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tafari Mengestu!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Helmer takes one to the chin there.
Mengestu has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Helmer is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Mengestu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Helmer.
Mengestu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Helmer moves out of range of the leg kick from Mengestu.
Helmer changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Helmer slips under a jab from Mengestu.
Mengestu throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mengestu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Helmer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mengestu misses with a head kick.
Helmer feinted with a counter takedown.
Mengestu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Helmer feinted with a counter takedown.
Helmer defending well as Mengestu loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Helmer doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mengestu counters with a nice leg kick.
Helmer fails to land the takedown.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mengestu enables Helmer to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mengestu manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mengestu keeping full guard, as Helmer tries to pass.
Helmer is working hard here to advance position.
Mengestu working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Helmer.
Helmer looking to pass the guard.
Helmer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mengestu pulls Helmer in to control the position.
Helmer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Helmer is looking to work some ground and pound but Mengestu has wrist control.
Mengestu keeping full guard, as Helmer tries to pass.
Helmer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

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.
Mengestu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

Helmer is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Mengestu is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Helmer can't escape the position.
Helmer bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Helmer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helmer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Helmer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mengestu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Helmer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Helmer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Helmer has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mengestu keeping full guard, as Helmer tries to pass.
Mengestu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Helmer's guard.

Helmer working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Mengestu has passed into half guard!
Mengestu has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mengestu takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mengestu prevents Helmer from getting the reversal.
Mengestu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mengestu is continuing to stall.
Let's hope that Mengestu 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.
Helmer is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Mengestu can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Helmer is looking to escape.
Helmer tries to reverse the position but Mengestu maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tafari Mengestu dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mengestu looks to land a right hand but Helmer moved out of range.
Helmer walks into a jab.
Mengestu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mengestu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Helmer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mengestu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Helmer.
Mengestu swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mengestu throws an overhand right that lands on Helmer's shoulder, as Helmer tries to avoid the shot.
Mengestu throws a jab when Helmer was well out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mengestu connects with a leg kick. Helmer looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Mengestu throws out a leg kick but Helmer moves out of range and Mengestu only half commits.
Helmer attempts a counter takedown but Mengestu avoids it well and moves away.
Mengestu moves into range and connects with a jab.
Mengestu throws a leg kick that is checked

and Helmer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mengestu keeping hold of Helmer's head, controlling as best he can.
Helmer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Helmer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Helmer seems to be working for a kimura but Mengestu defends the submission attempt.
Helmer with the ground and pound but Mengestu uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Stig Helmer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Helmer is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mengestu is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mengestu has escaped and now he's on top!

Mengestu got a little sloppy there for a moment and Helmer has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mengestu has managed to get both his arms back between Helmer's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helmer looking for a sweep. Not yet Helmer, not yet.

Helmer throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Helmer is looking for a triangle here but Mengestu uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Helmer gets back to half guard.

Helmer looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Helmer wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helmer moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mengestu controls from within his opponent's guard.
Helmer is striking off his back. Mengestu thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Helmer is looking to improve his position.

Helmer looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mengestu works his way into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mengestu controlling the position easily from mount.
Helmer is wriggling around trying to escape.
Helmer sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Helmer is looking for a sweep. Mengestu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mengestu stalling.
Helmer tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tafari Mengestu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Helmer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mengestu swivels and escapes.
Mengestu takes a swing at Helmer's ribcage but misses.
Mengestu fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Helmer on the side of the head.
Tafari Mengestu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Helmer with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mengestu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mengestu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Helmer.
Helmer walks into a jab.
Mengestu cracks Helmer with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mengestu closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Helmer! Mengestu dives in looking to finish! Helmer is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tafari Mengestu!
After winning the bout, Tafari Mengestu thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.