PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Travis Schalk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Hellstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jon Hellstrom will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Schalk
vs
Hellstrom

165 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Travis Schalk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jon Hellstrom !
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schalk closes the distance and clinches up with Hellstrom , looking for a takedown. Schalk pushes Hellstrom against the cage but Hellstrom circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hellstrom tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schalk paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Schalk scores with a takedown into Hellstrom 's guard.

Schalk stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Schalk gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hellstrom is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Schalk stands up.
Hellstrom looks gassed!
Schalk shoots in but Hellstrom avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Hellstrom darts in and clinches Schalk up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hellstrom looking to stall.
Hellstrom misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Schalk.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Schalk looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Schalk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hellstrom lands a damaging elbow.

Hellstrom successfully pulls guard.
Schalk might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hellstrom tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hellstrom really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Schalk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Hellstrom is working an open guard so Schalk takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Schalk fails to land the takedown.
Hellstrom lands a jab-cross combination.
Schalk shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hellstrom tries to clinch but Schalk is having none of it.
Hellstrom doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Schalk counters with a shoot takedown. Hellstrom fights it but they end up in guard.

Schalk gets to his feet. Hellstrom looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Hellstrom shoots in and bounces Schalk off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hellstrom wants to stand but Schalk is controlling his posture from full guard.

Hellstrom stands up from Schalk's guard - Hellstrom perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hellstrom throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Schalk circles away from the clinch attempt.
Schalk tries for a takedown but Hellstrom circles away easily

and Hellstrom counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hellstrom is trying to maintain a safe position but Schalk gets an underhook and turns Hellstrom into the cage.

Hellstrom breaks from the clinch.

Schalk drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Schalk has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schalk with a poor takedown

and Hellstrom counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hellstrom .
Schalk is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hellstrom pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hellstrom is pressed up against the cage. Schalk has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hellstrom down to the mat. Hellstrom avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hellstrom clinches but Schalk breaks the clinch

and Schalk decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hellstrom 's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hellstrom is working an open guard so Schalk takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Schalk shoots in and bounces Hellstrom off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Schalk stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Schalk dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Schalk gets a takedown into half guard.

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

Schalk bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hellstrom is trying to get back to his feet.

Schalk decides to stand back up. Schalk steps back and let's Hellstrom get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hellstrom with a lazy takedown attempt

so Schalk counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hellstrom wants to stand and escape but Schalk is having none of it.

Schalk stands and steps away. Hellstrom gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Jon Hellstrom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schalk circles away from the clinch attempt

and Schalk counters with a takedown into side control.

Schalk has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Hellstrom tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Schalk counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Schalk stands up.
Hellstrom tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hellstrom misses with a takedown attempt

and Schalk counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Schalk prevents Hellstrom from getting back to his feet.

Schalk stands and steps away. Hellstrom gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Schalk shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hellstrom makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Schalk has his takedown stuffed

and Hellstrom counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Schalk!
Schalk squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hellstrom trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You get the feeling that Schalk really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Hellstrom trying to control but Schalk is having none of it.
Hellstrom might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Schalk kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Schalk is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Hellstrom trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hellstrom won't let Schalk get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Schalk is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hellstrom can do to turn this around?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hellstrom trying to control but Schalk is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Schalk dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Schalk tries for a takedown but Hellstrom circles away easily
and Hellstrom makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hellstrom tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Schalk counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hellstrom !
Schalk trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hellstrom is looking to improve his position but Schalk isn't that keen on the idea.

Schalk is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Hellstrom closes the distance but Schalk moves to the side

and Schalk counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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!

Schalk stands up from Hellstrom 's guard - Schalk perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schalk has his takedown stuffed

and Hellstrom moves into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hellstrom tries to land a knee to the head but Schalk blocks with his arms.
Schalk can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Schalk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hellstrom with a knee to the head.
Hellstrom pushes off an throws an elbow but Schalk leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Schalk wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Schalk goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hellstrom prevents it.
Hellstrom lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hellstrom obliges.

Schalk breaks the clinch.

Hellstrom scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schalk wants to get back to his feet but Hellstrom drags him back down.
Travis Schalk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hellstrom trying to control the position but Schalk is working away.
Schalk wants to get back to his feet but Hellstrom drags him back down.

Hellstrom stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Hellstrom tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Schalk counters with a single leg into guard. Hellstrom didn't expect that.

Schalk decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Schalk shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hellstrom is trying to stand up here but Schalk is controlling him well.

Schalk decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Schalk closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Schalk escapes and gets back to his feet.
Schalk shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hellstrom counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schalk has his takedown stuffed

and Hellstrom counters with a single leg into guard. Schalk didn't expect that.

Schalk has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Hellstrom off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Schalk with a poor takedown
and Hellstrom counters with an outside leg kick.
Schalk has his takedown stuffed
and Hellstrom counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Hellstrom feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Travis Schalk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schalk is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hellstrom is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Schalk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Schalk, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Schalk!