PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shefki Kuqi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luis Helguera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luis Helguera has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Kuqi
vs
Helguera

172 cm
21
183 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
185 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Shefki Kuqi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Luis Helguera!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Helguera wants to clinch up but Kuqi keeps it at a distance.

Kuqi gets a double leg takedown into Helguera's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kuqi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Helguera trying to keep a closed guard but Kuqi is proving a slippery customer.
Helguera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kuqi trying to control but Helguera is working from the bottom.
Kuqi is really struggling to control Helguera but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Kuqi postures up.

Helguera is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kuqi defends well.
Kuqi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Helguera looking for a guillotine here but Kuqi defends easily.
Kuqi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuqi wants to control from the top but Helguera keeps moving.
Kuqi distracts Helguera with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kuqi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kuqi wants to control from the top but Helguera keeps moving.
Kuqi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kuqi throwing strikes but missing.
Kuqi trying to control the position from guard on top but Helguera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Shefki Kuqi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Helguera misses with the combination.

Kuqi gets a takedown into half guard.
Kuqi trying to control from half guard but Helguera is working away.
Helguera works his way to full guard. Good work.
Helguera keeping moving, preventing Kuqi from controlling successfully.
Kuqi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kuqi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Helguera working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kuqi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kuqi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kuqi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuqi trying to control the position from guard on top but Helguera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuqi with a nice head shot there.
Kuqi trying to control but Helguera is working from the bottom.
Kuqi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kuqi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kuqi postures up.
Kuqi throwing strikes but missing.

Helguera has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Kuqi should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Helguera has tightened it up now! Kuqi should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Luis Helguera!