PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shu Fang Tzeng (ranked 1701 p4p, 1298 weight class) and Bryce Helix (ranked 98 p4p, 76 weight class). Tzeng kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Mantra Chant. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Tzeng
vs
Helix

165 cm
36
135
25 - 8 - 0

167 cm
24
140
8 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

Conviction
Conquer

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 25 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shu Fang Tzeng!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bryce Helix!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Bruno Hogan and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Helix throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Tzeng tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Helix is in Tzeng's guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Tzeng's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Tzeng working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Helix has passed into half guard!
Helix not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Tzeng looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Helix working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Helix trying to control from half guard but Tzeng is working away.

Tzeng looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tzeng looking for submissions off his back.
Helix not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helix sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tzeng defending well though.
Well, if Helix 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.

Tzeng looking for submissions off his back.
Helix is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Tzeng is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Helix pulls his head out easily.
Helix is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Helix drops an elbow to the side of Tzeng's head.
Helix with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tzeng looking for submissions off his back.
Helix content to control rather than advance.
Tzeng is staying active underneath Helix, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Tzeng looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Tzeng is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Helix pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Helix 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.
Helix looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tzeng with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Helix is keen to just control but Tzeng is a slippery customer.
Helix slips a nice elbow through Tzeng's hands, connecting with Tzeng's forehead.
Helix is keen to just control but Tzeng is a slippery customer.

Tzeng looking for submissions off his back.
Helix wants to pass the guard but Tzeng is defending well.

That's four 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.

Tzeng looking for submissions off his back.
Helix looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tzeng is refusing to be controlled, as Helix sits in half guard.

Tzeng looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Tzeng looking for submissions off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Tzeng is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Helix pulls his head out easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bryce Helix dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Helix lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tzeng darts in trying to clinch
and Helix counters with an outside leg kick.
Helix with a nice calf kick.
Helix slips under a jab.
Nice takedown defense from Helix. No joy for Tzeng on that attempt.
Tzeng misses with a body shot
and Helix counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tzeng throws a looping overhand right but Helix ducks down to avoid it.
Helix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tzeng looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tzeng takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzeng fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tzeng tries to close the distance and clinch but Helix swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tzeng misses with a looping left.
Tzeng looks to throw the jab but Helix is out of range.
Helix listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

It looks like Shu Fang Tzeng has been cut.
Tzeng stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Helix.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Helix lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tzeng has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tzeng and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tzeng tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Helix manages to circle out of the way.

Helix gets a clinch.
Tzeng tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Helix smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shu Fang Tzeng. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Helix bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Helix clinches up with Tzeng and pushes him back against the cage.
Helix gets through Tzeng's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Helix digs a right hand into Tzeng's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tzeng's gas tank.

Helix breaks from the clinch.
Tzeng falls off balance throwing a combination
and Helix cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice takedown defense from Helix. No joy for Tzeng on that attempt.
Helix avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Tzeng shoots in and gets a takedown into Helix's guard.
Helix has Tzeng pulled in close to control his posture.
Tzeng postures up.
Helix keeping full guard, as Tzeng tries to pass.
Tzeng is looking to work some ground and pound but Helix has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helix looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tzeng is one step ahead there.
Helix really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tzeng. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tzeng throws a big elbow that misses.
Tzeng is fighting to break Helix's control of his arms but Helix is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Helix lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Helix content to stall in guard here.
Helix throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four 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.
Helix working some strikes from top position.

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

Tzeng is looking for a triangle but Helix pushes his legs off easily.
Helix showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Tzeng has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Helix can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Helix must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Helix stays in close to Tzeng's body and controls the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bryce Helix showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shu Fang Tzeng's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Tzeng with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Helix to score with a decent uppercut.
Helix scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tzeng doesn't seem bothered though.
Helix has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tzeng fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Helix connects with a body shot that sends Tzeng's belly button to the back.
Helix stuffs the takedown.
Tzeng shoots for a takedown but Helix saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shu Fang Tzeng. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tzeng is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Helix.
Tzeng stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Helix.
Jab from Helix.
Tzeng takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzeng throws a right hand that Helix ducks under and follows up with a left that Helix also avoids with ease.
Tzeng tries for a takedown but Helix sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Helix wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Helix lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tzeng at a distance.
A nice leg kick from Helix, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tzeng tries for a takedown but Helix circles away easily
and Helix counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Helix slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tzeng ducks right into an uppercut from Helix.
Bryce Helix seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Helix lands a jab to the head.

Tzeng is rocked!
Tzeng looks to land a combination but Helix avoids it well.
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!
Helix thuds a left hand into Tzeng's body.
Helix lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helix fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tzeng on the side of the head.
Tzeng chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Helix can pounce on him.
Helix scores with a punch to the head.
Oh Tzeng is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shu Fang Tzeng seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Helix fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A good leg kick by Helix.
Helix dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Helix slips under a jab.

Helix drops Tzeng with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Tzeng looks back up at him and smiles so Helix waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Shu Fang Tzeng's cut is getting worse.

Helix lands a huge takedown. Tzeng is out but the ref is slow to react and Helix lands 3 more undefended punches before the fight is stopped. Brutal finish. Tzeng lies on the canvas for a good minute before the doctors bring him round. Good to see he's OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bryce Helix!