PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ric Flair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stig Helmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Flair
vs
Helmer

185 cm
28
243 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

198 cm
30
265 lbs
14 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

KO Clothing

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ric Flair!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stig Helmer!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Lou da Vinci and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flair tries to land a leg kick but Helmer saw it coming and moves away.

Helmer shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Helmer showed some decent athleticism there.
Helmer winds up and cracks Flair with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Helmer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Helmer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Flair keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Helmer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Flair's head.

Helmer is looking for a kimura here.
Helmer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Helmer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Flair has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Helmer wants to work for an arm triangle but Flair is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Flair might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Flair is defending against the submission attempts here by Helmer.
Flair blocking the ground and pound attempt from Helmer.

Helmer is looking for a kimura but Flair is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Helmer to get the leverage.
My spies in GnP Factory Elite Gym inform me that Helmer has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Helmer is working for a submission of some sort.
Helmer with the ground and pound but Flair uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Helmer postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Flair is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Helmer, into his guard.
Flair's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Helmer wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Helmer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Flair doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Flair manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Helmer is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helmer wants to sweep here but Flair controlling him for the moment.
Flair trying to control but Helmer is working from the bottom.
Helmer being controlled here, momentarily.
Flair postures up.
Flair knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Helmer on the ground.

Helmer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Helmer wants to sweep here but Flair controlling him for the moment.
Flair trying to control but Helmer is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Ric Flair wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Helmer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've been told by Flair's head coaches at Lock and Roll Grappling Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Helmer.
Helmer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Flair pinned against the cage. Flair gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Helmer shoots in looking for a takedown. Flair tries to sprawl out of it but Helmer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Flair manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ric Flair has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stig Helmer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Helmer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stig Helmer dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Helmer dives in and grabs Flair's left leg, looking for a takedown. Flair pushes down on Helmer's head and hops out.
Stig Helmer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Helmer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Helmer clinches up with Flair and pushes him back against the cage.
Flair tries to stall but Helmer uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Flair misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Flair misses with a hook to the ribs.
Flair prevents the takedown attempt.
Helmer tries for a takedown but Flair manages to get underhooks.
Ric Flair has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stig Helmer.
Flair tries to throw a body punch but Helmer avoids it by throwing Flair back against the cage.
Helmer goes for a takedown in the clinch but Flair prevents it.
Flair swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Helmer tries for a takedown but Flair manages to get underhooks.
Flair misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flair misses with the head strike.
Flair tries to work over Helmer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Helmer is working for takedown but Flair is calmly controlling the position for now.
Flair goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Helmer has hold of one of Flair's legs. Flair is fighting the takedown attempt but Helmer gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Helmer throwing strikes from guard but Flair blocks nicely.
Helmer is looking to work some ground and pound but Flair has wrist control.
Helmer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Helmer with a nice head shot there.
Helmer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Helmer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Helmer is looking to work some ground and pound but Flair has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flair working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Helmer.
Helmer postures up in Flair's guard and throws a big left but Flair blocks it.
Helmer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Flair bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Helmer's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Flair is stalling in the full guard.
Helmer controlling Flair's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Helmer is on top in guard.
Helmer with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flair has momentary wrist control but Helmer slips an elbow through the middle.
Helmer throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Helmer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Helmer throws a big right hand that misses.
Helmer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Flair works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Helmer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Helmer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Helmer wants to pass the guard but Flair is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Helmer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flair preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Flair trying to control the position.
Helmer connects with a couple of short punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Helmer is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Helmer scoring with some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Helmer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Helmer throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stig Helmer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Flair's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Flair throws a head kick that misses

and Helmer counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Helmer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Helmer works over Flair with some ground and pound from guard.
Helmer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Helmer throws a strike but Flair rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Helmer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Flair wants to pass the guard but Helmer is keeping the position.
Helmer wants to sweep but no luck.
Helmer trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Helmer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Flair is aware though and is defending well.
Helmer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Helmer trying to keep a closed guard but Flair is proving a slippery customer.
Flair has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Helmer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Flair is one step ahead there.

Helmer is looking for a triangle here but Flair uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Helmer is trying to escape the position but Flair is controlling the position.
Ric Flair has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helmer tries to improve position but can't.
Helmer looks to move to half guard but instead Flair has passed into mount! Damn!
Helmer is squirming around, avoiding Flair's attempts to control the action.
Helmer regains half guard.
Helmer is pressing down on Flair's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Flair trying to control the position from guard on top but Helmer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Flair is really struggling to control Helmer but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Helmer looking for a sweep. Not yet Helmer, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Helmer had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Flair defends it easily.
Helmer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Helmer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Flair trying to control the position from guard on top but Helmer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Helmer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Helmer is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Flair not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helmer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ric Flair.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Flair.
Helmer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A thudding body kick lands there by Flair!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Helmer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Flair swivels and escapes.
Helmer takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Flair lands a big head kick that sends Helmer tumbling to the mat! Flair takes a step backwards and waves Helmer back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Stig Helmer has been cut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Flair throws a quick inside leg kick.
Stig Helmer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Helmer misses with a takedown attempt - Flair sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ric Flair showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Helmer 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stig Helmer!
Stig Helmer seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Ric Flair spoke after the fight, saying 'To be the man, you have to beat the man.... and you just beat the man. '.