PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Beau Hatfield (ranked 24892 p4p, 0 weight class) and Topus Helli (ranked 3301 p4p, 0 weight class). Topus Helli will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Hatfield
vs
Helli

172 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Beau Hatfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Topus Helli!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hatfield misses with a takedown attempt
and Helli counters with a head kick.
Topus Helli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Helli tries a head kick but it misses.

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

Helli has his feet on Hatfield's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Hatfield bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
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!
Helli seems a little lost for a moment, as Hatfield dominates the positioning.
Helli managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hatfield.

Hatfield has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Hatfield shoots in looking for a takedown but Helli manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hatfield's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Helli shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hatfield manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Hatfield has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Helli can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helli wants to stand but Hatfield is controlling his posture from full guard.
Helli postures up in Hatfield's guard and throws a big left but Hatfield blocks it.
Hatfield looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hatfield is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hatfield preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Hatfield is looking for a triangle but Helli pushes his legs off easily.
Hatfield trying to control the position.
Helli working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Hatfield working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Helli doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Helli manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hatfield is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Helli works over Hatfield with some ground and pound from guard.
Hatfield has control of Helli's left arm, preventing Helli from doing any damage.
Hatfield keeping moving, preventing Helli from controlling successfully.
Helli wants to get up but he can't break Hatfield's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hatfield is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hatfield controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hatfield looking for a sweep. Not yet Hatfield, not yet.
Hatfield managing to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Helli gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Helli manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hatfield on his heels. He'll look to pass Hatfield's guard now, I'm sure.
Helli trying to control but Hatfield is working from the bottom.
Helli stopping the sweep attempt from Hatfield.

Hatfield working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Helli has passed into half guard!
Hatfield might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Helli passes to full mount!
Helli avoids the attempt from Hatfield to control.
Helli can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hatfield is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatfield is desperately trying to improve his position but Helli has a good base and remains in mount.

Helli is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hatfield is surviving well by controlling Helli's body position as best he can.
Hatfield is in a horrible position here. Helli smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Helli with a couple of short strikes.
Helli with shots to the head and body - Hatfield looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hatfield is bucking up trying to escape but Helli cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
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!
Hatfield wants to hold on but Helli pushes him away.
Helli can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hatfield is looking to escape.
Hatfield tries to improve his position but instead Helli has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Topus Helli dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Helli tries a head kick but it misses.
Helli throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Helli gets caught napping as Hatfield dives in and scores a takedown. Helli manages to retain guard.
Hatfield could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hatfield not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Helli looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hatfield gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Helli lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hatfield backs up against the cage.

Helli manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hatfield on his heels. He'll look to pass Hatfield's guard now, I'm sure.
Helli is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatfield is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hatfield slows the pace down in half guard.
Hatfield stops Helli from getting back to his feet.
Hatfield sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Helli trying to control but Hatfield postures up.

Hatfield decides to stand up.

Helli shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hatfield desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Hatfield continues to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatfield is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Helli throwing shots but Hatfield is blocking nicely.
Hatfield is pressing down on Helli's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Helli trying to control but Hatfield is working from the bottom.

Hatfield is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Helli defends well.
Hatfield has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Hatfield has his foot on Helli's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Helli works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hatfield keeping moving, preventing Helli from controlling successfully.

Hatfield is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Helli wants to control from the top but Hatfield keeps moving.
Hatfield seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Helli pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hatfield is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Helli trying to control but Hatfield is working from the bottom.
Hatfield preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Topus Helli will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Helli shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hatfield manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Helli won't allow Hatfield to sweep him here.
Helli throws a big elbow that misses.
Helli trying to control the position from guard on top but Hatfield is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hatfield is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Helli is trying to maintain the position but Hatfield is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, if Hatfield is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Helli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Helli wants to improve his position but Hatfield is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatfield not doing much here.
Topus Helli has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hatfield stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Helli moves into range and clinches up with Hatfield.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hatfield as Helli tries to tie him up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's two 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.
Hatfield tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Helli just stands there and leans against the cage.

Helli pulls guard effortlessly.
Hatfield is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Helli wants to improve his position but instead Hatfield has moved into half guard.
Hatfield looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Helli wants to control but Hatfield is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helli is trying to control but Hatfield passes into side control!
Helli tries to improve position but can't.
Helli has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hatfield decides to stand up, so the ref orders Helli to his feet.

Hatfield is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Helli's half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hatfield seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Helli for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hatfield escapes and gets back to his feet.

Helli looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hatfield!
Hatfield sneaks back into half guard.
Hatfield slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hatfield looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Beau Hatfield has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Topus Helli is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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!

Hatfield is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Helli defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Beau Hatfield showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Helli 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Topus Helli!