PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bryce Helix (ranked 1740 p4p, 2850 weight class) and Jake Askren (ranked 100 p4p, 155 weight class). Askren has chosen Last Chance as his entrance music. Jake Askren is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Helix
vs
Askren

167 cm
22
140
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
145
6 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Conquer
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bryce Helix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Jake Askren!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Helix lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Helix misses the target.
A jab from Askren misses.
Askren fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Helix on the side of the head.

Askren fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Helix, pushing him back against the cage.
A short right from Askren.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Askren.
Askren has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Helix after a bit of a struggle.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Askren changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Helix fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A low kick lands for Helix.

Askren gets a clinch.
Helix tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Askren drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Helix gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bryce Helix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Askren.
Helix scores with a shoulder strike.
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!

Askren tightens his grip and picks Helix up, before dumping him to the ground. Helix manages to land in guard.
Helix is controlling Askren's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helix manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Askren manages to get himself to full guard.

Helix has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Helix content to stall in guard here.
Helix trying to move into half guard but instead Askren has managed to sweep!

Helix is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Helix wants to free his trapped foot but Askren is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Askren regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Helix.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Helix pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Askren is keeping the position for now.
Helix controlling from the top position.
Askren is controlling Helix's posture.
Helix preventing the sweep.
Helix wants to pass the guard but Askren is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helix controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Helix wants to pass the guard but Askren is keeping the position.
Askren keeping moving, preventing Helix from controlling successfully.
Helix is really struggling to control Askren but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Helix missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Helix controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Helix throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Askren works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Askren tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Helix tries to land a front kick but Askren steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Askren forces Helix back against the cage and clinches.
Helix lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Askren prevents a body shot from Helix.
Askren tries for a takedown. No joy.
Helix lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Helix misses with a short punch on the inside.
Helix struggles to land a body shot inside as Askren controls his hands.

Helix is fighting off a takedown attempt but Askren is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Helix to the mat. Helix regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Helix has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Helix wants to sweep but no luck.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bryce Helix will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Askren instigates a clinch.
Helix goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Helix misses with the head strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Helix.
Helix throws a head punch that misses.
Askren digs a right hand into Helix's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Helix's gas tank.
Helix misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Askren is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Helix is defending well.
Askren drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Helix gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Askren blocks an uppercut.
Helix working aggressively here.
Askren is working for takedown but Helix is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bryce Helix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Askren.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Helix tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Askren's elbow.
Helix tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A hook to the body from Helix.
Askren tries for a takedown. No joy.

Askren gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Helix makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Helix.
Jake Askren has got the better of the ground game so far.
Helix has control of Askren's left arm, preventing Askren from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helix is looking to stand up but Askren isn't so interested in that idea.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Askren working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Askren looking to pass the guard.
Helix looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Helix has Askren pulled in close to control his posture.
Helix knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Askren on the ground.
Askren forces his way into half guard.
Helix is looking to improve his position.
Helix trying to control but Askren postures up.

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.
Askren trying to mount his opponent but Helix defends it.
Askren prevents Helix from improving his position.
Helix gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Helix looking to hit a scissor sweep but Askren is one step ahead there.
Askren trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Helix utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Askren passes into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Helix manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Askren stands and throws Helix's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Helix is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren working away.
Helix manages to work his way to half guard, despite Askren's best efforts.
Askren has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Helix is trying desperately to improve position.
Askren working the ground and pound effectively.
Helix wants to hold on but Askren pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Askren.
Helix is looking to get to half guard.
Askren with shots to the head and body - Helix looks very uncomfortable down there.
Askren cracks Helix with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Askren unloads with some shots from mount but Helix bucks and avoids them well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Askren looking to ground and pound but Helix is blocking nicely.
Helix working to try and regain half guard.
Askren punching from mount but Helix doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Askren lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Askren lands a nice shot to the head.
Askren sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Helix is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Askren is landing with some decent strikes but Helix is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Helix in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Askren dominating with strikes here.
Askren has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Helix really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Helix holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Askren tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Helix keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Askren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Helix throws a shot from downtown. Askren moves away and avoids it.
We've been told by Helix's head coaches at Primal Concrete Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Jake Askren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Askren closes the distance looking to clinch
and Helix counters with a low kick, right behind Askren 's knee.
Helix lands a leg kick that knocks Askren off balance momentarily.
Helix jabs at Askren's body.

Askren moves into the clinch.
Askren wants a takedown but no success here.
Askren changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Helix fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Askren wants to clinch up but Helix keeps it at a distance.
Helix throwing a counter right hand but Askren manages to avoid it.
Helix fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Askren looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Jake Askren is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren wants to clinch.
Askren ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren tries to score a body lock takedown but Helix shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bryce Helix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Askren.
Helix works on Askren's body with a couple of short punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Helix.
Askren blocks an uppercut.
Askren has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Helix avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Askren takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Still in the clinch, Helix scores with a nice short uppercut.
Helix misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Askren is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Askren blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Helix misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Helix.
Helix throws a head punch that misses.
Helix misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Helix.
Helix scores with a nice hook to the head.
Askren goes for a takedown attempt but Helix pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Askren fails in his attempt to clinch.
Helix throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helix feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Askrens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Helix lands a jab to Askren's midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Askren moves to clinch but Helix breaks away
and Helix cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Helix throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Askren with the counter takedown but Helix avoids it easily.
Askren tries to clinch there but Helix circles away.
Helix appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Helix bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Nice straight punches there by Helix. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Helix.
Helix misses with a shot to the body

so Askren counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Askren tries to free his leg and advance position but Helix is retaining full guard.
Helix looking for a sweep. Not yet Helix, not yet.
Askren throws a big elbow that misses.
Helix is trying to keep Askren in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren looking to pass the guard.
Askren postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Helix has control of Askren's left arm, preventing Askren from doing any damage.
Helix can't keep his opponent in guard - Askren advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Askren working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Helix's thigh. Helix counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Helix looking to control.
Askren working some strikes from top position.
Askren chips away with some ground and pound.
Askren stopping the sweep attempt from Helix.
Helix bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Askren's guard.

Helix postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helix with a flurry of punches that miss.
Askren looking to hit a scissor sweep but Helix is one step ahead there.
Helix wants to control from the top but Askren keeps moving.
Helix postures up.
Helix would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Helix preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryce Helix showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Helix 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryce Helix!