PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Severs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Helsing (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Severs has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Severs
vs
Helsing

200 cm
26
178 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

178 cm
25
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Severs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Igor Helsing!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Severs just misses with a punch to the body.
Severs lands a head shot.
Nice takedown defense from Severs. No joy for Helsing on that attempt.
Severs bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Severs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Helsing moves away.
Severs checks the leg kick.
Severs throws a body punch but Helsing moves out of range.
Severs throws a hook but Helsing blocks it.
Severs lands with a hook. Helsing tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Severs with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Severs tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Helsing was well out of range. Poor timing from Severs.
Severs slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Helsing takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A bone on bone clash there as Severs blocks the leg kick.
Good exchange - Severs coming out on top.
Severs blocks a low kick nicely.
Severs throws a good cross that connects.
Severs fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Helsing manages to avoid it.
A cross from Severs lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Severs scores with a jab. Helsing acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Severs throws a jab when Helsing was well out of range.
Severs stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Severs wants it to stay on the feet.
Helsing shoots in for a double leg but Severs sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Joe Severs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Helsing.
Severs misses with a wild body shot.
A jab lands there for Severs.
Helsing does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Helsing pivots, looking for a leg kick but Severs is out of range and Helsing settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Severs both land. Nice combination.
Helsing swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Severs misses with the combination.
Severs dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Severs finds it's way through Helsing's defenses.
Severs lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Helsing circles away quickly and effectively.
Severs swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helsing shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Severs sprawls well. Severs wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Helsing gets slowly back to his feet.
Helsing misses with a low kick.
Joe Severs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Helsing looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Severs is trying to control the position but Helsing postures up.
Severs looking to hit a scissor sweep but Helsing is one step ahead there.
Severs is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Severs dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Helsing throws a front kick aimed at Severs's knee but Severs avoids it well.
Nice straight punches there by Severs. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Severs.
Severs scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Helsing doesn't seem bothered though.
Severs is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nice defenses there by Helsing.
Severs moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Helsing scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Helsing is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Severs knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Helsing is trying to get an arm triangle but Severs is defending well.
Severs really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helsing wants to control but Severs is keeping him busy.

Helsing is trying to get an arm triangle but Severs is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Helsing thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Helsing looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Helsing trying to control the position but Severs is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Severs tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Severs on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Severs tries to get out of the position.

Helsing tries for a kimura but Severs is defending well.
Helsing is looking to take a break and control but Severs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Helsing is trying to get an arm triangle but Severs is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helsing prevents Severs from escaping the position.
Helsing wants to control but Severs is keeping him busy.

Helsing tries for a kimura but Severs is defending well.
Severs tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Helsing showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Severs connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Helsing's hands.
Helsing tries a head kick but it misses.
Helsing attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Severs swings for the body but Helsing moves out of range.

Helsing 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.

Helsing thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Helsing preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Severs knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Helsing on the ground.

Helsing thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Severs will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Helsing is pushing down on Severs's leg trying to pass to half guard. Severs is fighting to maintain full guard but Helsing has managed to sneak the leg through.

Helsing is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

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

Severs is defending against the submission attempts here by Helsing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Helsing is trying to work for a kimura but Severs is defending well.
Helsing is looking to take a break and control but Severs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Helsing is working for a kimura but Severs is defending it quite comfortably.
Severs is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Severs trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Helsing manages to pass to mount!

Helsing working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Severs wants to control but Helsing is having none of it.

Helsing jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Severs manages to avoid the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Helsing comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Helsing 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Helsing!