PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Palmer Collins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taichi Heleno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Heleno is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: weird Japanese music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Collins
vs
Heleno

162 cm
20
162 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

168 cm
20
167 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Palmer Collins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taichi Heleno!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Collins looks for a takedown but Heleno sprawls well.

Collins scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Heleno is looking to reverse the position.

Collins is trying to get an arm triangle but Heleno is defending well.

Collins tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Collins has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Heleno is looking to regain half guard here but Collins keeps moving and retains side control.

Collins tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Collins trying to control the position but Heleno is working away.
Heleno is looking for a sweep.
Heleno is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Collins is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Heleno is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Collins goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Heleno has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Collins but great work by Heleno.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Heleno stands up.
Collins is trying hard to land a takedown here. Heleno sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Collins scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Collins wants to free his trapped foot but Heleno is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Collins trying to control the action but Heleno is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heleno is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Collins is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Heleno doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Collins.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Collins is looking for a kimura here.
Collins is breathing heavily.
Heleno tries to roll over but Collins keeps him under control.

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.

Collins is working for a kimura but Heleno is defending it quite comfortably.

Collins looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Collins fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Palmer Collins 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.

Collins fails to land the takedown.
Collins fails with a takedown attempt.
Palmer Collins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Heleno clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Collins letting Heleno take a breather here.
Collins is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Heleno gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Palmer Collins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Collins drops down looking for an ankle pick but Heleno pulls his leg out and moves away.
Heleno fails with an attempt to clinch.
Collins fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Taichi Heleno is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Heleno fails in his attempt to clinch.
Heleno tries to clinch there but Collins circles away.

Heleno closes the distance and pushes Collins back into the cage.
Heleno misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knees to the body from Heleno.

Heleno has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Collins uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Collins trying to control the position from guard on top but Heleno is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Heleno wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Collins has gone for a leg lock! Heleno slips out almost immediately though and dives into Collins's guard.

Collins has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Heleno can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Heleno trying to control but Collins is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Collins looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Collins keeping full guard, as Heleno tries to pass.
Collins looking for a sweep. Not yet Collins, not yet.

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

Collins is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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.
Heleno tries to stand but Collins is controlling from the bottom.
Collins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Heleno is one step ahead there.

Collins working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Heleno doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Heleno manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Heleno avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taichi Heleno showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Collins swats away the attempt to clinch by Heleno.
Heleno misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Heleno tries to clinch up but Collins circles away and keeps his distance.
Collins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Heleno but Heleno pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heleno misses with a leg kick.
Collins closes this distance looking for a takedown but Heleno circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Collins is trying hard to land a takedown here. Heleno sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Palmer Collins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Heleno tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Collins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Heleno tries to clinch but Collins is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Heleno looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Heleno looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Heleno defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Collins.

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.
Collins fails with a takedown attempt.
Collins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Heleno sprawls well. Heleno wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Collins gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Collins misses with a takedown attempt - Heleno sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Collins fails with a takedown attempt.
Collins looks for a takedown but Heleno sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Heleno rushes Collins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Heleno landing knees to the head.

It looks like Palmer Collins has been cut.
Heleno utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Heleno landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Collins tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Collins has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Heleno is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Collins looking for a takedown.
Collins looking for a takedown.
Heleno tries to land a knee to the head but Collins blocks with his arms.
Heleno utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Collins takes an elbow to the temple.
Heleno stalling against the cage.
Heleno connects with a knee to the head.
Collins tries to score a body lock takedown but Heleno shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Heleno dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Heleno tries to land a knee to the head but Collins blocks with his arms.

Heleno gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Heleno tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Collins is trying to get back to full guard.

Collins actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taichi Heleno comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Heleno has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taichi Heleno!