PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Falco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stig Helmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Falco
vs
Helmer

196 cm
23
270 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

198 cm
23
265 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

BioPharm Nutrition

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocco Falco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stig Helmer!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, David Schapiro and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Helmer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Falco moves away.
Falco lands a nice looking body kick.

Helmer instigates a clinch.
Falco wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Helmer has him pressed against the cage.
Falco tries to pull guard but Helmer won't allow it.
Falco fails to pull guard.

Falco is fighting off a takedown attempt but Helmer is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Falco to the mat. Falco regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Helmer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Helmer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Helmer with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Falco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Helmer is one step ahead there.
Helmer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Helmer throwing strikes but missing.
Helmer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Helmer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Helmer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helmer throws an elbow that misses. Falco uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Helmer's guard. Nice move by Falco!
Falco stops Helmer from standing up.
Falco slips nicely into half guard.
Falco throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Falco thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Helmer's head.
Helmer pushes Falco off looking to stand but Falco dives back in and keeps control.
Falco is keen to just control but Helmer is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Falco not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Falco wants to control but Helmer is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helmer is looking to escape.
Falco throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Falco is keen to just control but Helmer is a slippery customer.
Falco is controlling the pace.
Helmer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Falco.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Falco connects with a nice short shot to Helmer's temple.
Helmer is not content to let Falco control the position.
Falco not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Helmer is looking to escape.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Falco is pressing down on Helmer's thigh, looking to free his foot. Helmer is holding on for now.

Falco is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Helmer doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Falco.
Helmer pushes Falco off looking to stand but Falco dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falco controlling the action here.
Falco throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Still in half guard, Falco seems content to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Falco stops Helmer from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Falco is trying to control the action in half guard but Helmer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
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 Rocco Falco will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Falco throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Helmer tries to clinch but Falco is having none of it.
Falco throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Helmer's waist but Helmer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Falco off to one side.
Helmer tries to close the distance and clinch but Falco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Falco 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.
Helmer is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Falco is in close to Helmer's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Falco scoring with punches to the head and body.
Helmer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Helmer keeping moving, preventing Falco from controlling successfully.
Helmer wants to stand but Falco is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falco trying to control but Helmer is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Rocco Falco wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Helmer throws a looping overhand right but Falco ducks down to avoid it.
Helmer is looking to clinch but Falco is avoiding it.
A jab from Falco finds it's way through Helmer's defenses.
Helmer tries to close the distance and clinch but Falco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Falco takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

It looks like Rocco Falco has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Falco.
Falco tries to move into full mount but can't pass Helmer's legs.
Helmer tries to escape but Falco is in control.
Check out the look on Falco's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Helmer pushes Falco away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Falco gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falco laying and praying for a moment but Helmer takes advantage and regains half guard.
Helmer pushes Falco off looking to stand but Falco dives back in and keeps control.
Falco tries to stand and escape but Helmer actually recovers to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Falco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Falco stays in close to Helmer's body and controls the position.
Falco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Helmer is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falco sitting in guard here, content to control.
Helmer wants to get back to his feet but Falco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Falco looking to sit in guard and control but Helmer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Falco pulls Helmer in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Falco dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rocco Falco's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Helmer has managed to clinch.
Helmer stops a takedown attempt from Falco.

Helmer is trying to trip Falco. He has hold of a leg but Falco is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Helmer persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Falco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Helmer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Falco lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Helmer!
Falco unloading with bombs!
Falco won't let Helmer get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Falco fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

It looks like Stig Helmer has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Helmer is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falco unloads with some shots from mount but Helmer bucks and avoids them well.
Rocco Falco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Falco sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Falco misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Helmer holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Falco tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Helmer wants to try and get back to his feet.
Falco thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Helmer squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Rocco Falco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helmer is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Helmer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Falco sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Falco trying to control but Helmer is having none of it.
Falco is really struggling to control Helmer but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falco is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Helmer is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Falco tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rocco Falco just wasn't active enough.
Helmer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helmer just misses with a punch to the body.
Falco uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Helmer.
Helmer lands with an uppercut that bounces Falco off the cage and back into range.

Falco scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Helmer tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Falco manages to move to mount!
Falco trying to control but Helmer is having none of it.
Stig Helmer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocco Falco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Falco, 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocco Falco!