PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Balls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Helenius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Helenius has chosen Metallica - Enter Sandman as his entrance music. Matt Balls could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mikko Helenius's chin.

Balls
vs
Helenius

199 cm
22
240 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

197 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matt Balls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Helenius!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Helenius wants to clinch up but Balls keeps it at a distance.
Helenius avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Helenius moves in looking to clinch but Balls pushes him off.
Helenius rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balls moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Good leg kick by Balls there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Balls tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Helenius manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Helenius as Balls shoots in.
Balls is looking to clinch but Helenius is avoiding it.
Helenius misses with a series of wild punches.
Balls looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Helenius is fending him off so far but Balls persists. Nope, Helenius circles away and we're back to standing.
Balls shoots in and drives through. Helenius sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Balls. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Balls rushes Helenius and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Helenius pulls Balls into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Helenius is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Helenius's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Helenius works over Balls's head and body with a nice combination.
Helenius swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Balls counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Helenius!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balls raining down shots from the mount!
Helenius is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Helenius looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balls scoring with strikes but Helenius is staying in there.
Helenius is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Balls lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Helenius hang on?
Helenius wants to try and get back to his feet.
Helenius is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balls wants to control the pace but Helenius is squirming around nicely.
Helenius wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Balls unloading with bombs!
Balls trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Helenius is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Balls has control of Helenius's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Helenius regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helenius is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Balls moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Helenius has worked his arm free - good work by Helenius!
Helenius tries to escape but Balls is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matt Balls will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Balls fails with the takedown.
Helenius misses with a body shot

and Balls counters by clinching up.
Helenius wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Helenius doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Helenius breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Helenius with that takedown attempt.
Helenius throws a right hand that Balls ducks under and follows up with a left that Balls also avoids with ease.

Balls closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Helenius quickly recovers to half guard.
Helenius is breathing heavily.

Helenius kicks off Balls and gets to his feet.
Mikko Helenius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Helenius rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Balls counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Helenius is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balls tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balls tries to close the distance and clinch up but Helenius swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Helenius avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Helenius throws an overhand right that lands on Balls's shoulder, as Balls tries to avoid the shot.
Balls tries to clinch up.
Matt Balls is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balls tries to close the distance and clinch but Helenius swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A combination from Helenius does no damage.

Balls tries to keep at a distance but Helenius has taken the fight into the clinch.

Helenius breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helenius thows a body shot but no joy.

Helenius closes the distance and clinches.
Helenius wants to break free but Balls has control.
Helenius working hard to break the clinch.
Balls wants to get back to striking at distance but Helenius won't allow it.
Balls has Helenius pressed against the cage, preventing Helenius from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Balls prevents Helenius from breaking the clinch.
Balls utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Helenius is pressed up against the cage. Balls has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Helenius down to the mat. Helenius avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Helenius throws a left and a right that both miss
and Balls counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Balls. Helenius shrugs it off though.

Balls is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Helenius's half guard.

Balls decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Balls is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Helenius throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Balls counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Balls tries to close the distance and clinch up but Helenius swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Balls scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Balls tries for a kimura but Helenius is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Helenius wants to get back to his feet but Balls drags him back down.

Balls stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Helenius avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balls fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Balls dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Helenius swats away the attempt to clinch by Balls.
Some wild striking there from Helenius.
Helenius tries to clinch up but Balls circles away and keeps his distance.
Helenius shoots in for a double leg but Balls sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Balls is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balls tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Helenius manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Helenius gets a clinch.
Helenius takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Balls working Helenius over with knees to the body.

Helenius breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balls tries to clinch up.
Helenius misses with a combination
and Balls connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balls wants to clinch.
Helenius misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Helenius avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Helenius misses with a double jab.
Helenius falls off balance throwing a combination
and Balls counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balls scores with a jab to the body.
Balls fails with an attempt to clinch.

Balls rushes Helenius and presses him up against the cage.
Balls fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Balls missing with knees to the body.
Balls blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Balls struggles to land a body shot inside as Helenius controls his hands.
Helenius is trying to break the clinch but Balls is controlling him.
Helenius tries to circle away but Balls has him pinned against the cage.
Balls landing knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helenius is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Balls.
Balls tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Helenius smiles and moves away.
Balls moves in looking to clinch but Helenius pushes him off.
Balls tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Helenius manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Balls shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Helenius but Helenius pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Balls. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Helenius tries to close the distance and clinch up but Balls swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Helenius moves into the clinch.
Balls unloads a knee to the mid-section. Helenius lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stalling in the clinch from Balls.
Balls is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Helenius is defending well for now.
Balls taking a breather.
Mikko Helenius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Balls blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Helenius breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Helenius tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Balls manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balls shoots for a double leg takedown but Helenius sprawls well. He's pushed Balls's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matt Balls is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Balls tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Helenius manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Balls showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Balls, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Balls!