PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Erkki Elastinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brett Helix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elastinen kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Cascada - Dangerous. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Elastinen
vs
Helix

160 cm
46
148 lbs
35 - 36 - 2

165 cm
31
138 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 36 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Elastinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brett Helix!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Helix buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Elastinen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Helix throws a sloppy head kick and Elastinen moves out of range easily.

Elastinen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Helix is defending against the submission attempts here by Elastinen.
Helix keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Elastinen is looking for a kimura here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Elastinen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Helix defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helix wants to improve his position but Elastinen is controlling well.
Elastinen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Elastinen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Helix is trying to stand up here but Elastinen is controlling him well.

Elastinen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Helix doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Elastinen.
Still in half guard, Elastinen seems content to control.
Helix wants to control but Elastinen is keeping busy.

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.
Helix is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Helix manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Helix looking to hit a scissor sweep but Elastinen is one step ahead there.
Elastinen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Helix is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helix is looking to advance position but Elastinen won't allow it.
Elastinen gets back to full guard.
Helix preventing the sweep.
Helix must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Elastinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Helix looking to sit in guard and control but Elastinen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Helix working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Elastinen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Elastinen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Elastinen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Helix works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Helix looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Elastinen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Helix looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Helix lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Elastinen wants to hit a switch here but Helix passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Elastinen there!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elastinen is desperately trying to get back to half 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 Erkki Elastinen will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Decent striking displayed by Helix there.
Elastinen darts in looking for a takedown but Helix gets double underhooks and turns Elastinen into the cage.
Helix throws a leg kick

and Elastinen counters with a single leg into guard. Helix didn't expect that.
Elastinen is looking to work some ground and pound but Helix has wrist control.
Helix wants to stand but Elastinen is controlling the position.
Elastinen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Elastinen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Elastinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Helix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Helix throws his legs up looking for a submission but Elastinen uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Elastinen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Helix knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Elastinen working away.
Helix looks to move to half guard but instead Elastinen has passed into mount! Damn!
Helix wants to hold on but Elastinen pushes him away.
Helix tries to reverse the position but Elastinen maintains control.
Elastinen trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two 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.
Helix is wriggling around trying to escape.
Elastinen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Helix can do to turn this around?
Helix is still trying to improve position.
Helix is squirming around, avoiding Elastinen's attempts to control the action.

Elastinen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Helix can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Elastinen looking to ground and pound but Helix is blocking nicely.
Helix blocking the ground and pound.
Helix tries to lock up and control but Elastinen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helix is working to get back to half guard.

Elastinen swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Helix is now in Elastinen's guard. A big mistake from Elastinen there, giving up the dominant position!
Elastinen working a defensive guard but Helix passes into half guard.
Elastinen keeping hold of Helix's head, controlling as best he can.
Erkki Elastinen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Elastinen manages to get to full guard.
Helix throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Helix's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helix looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Helix preventing the sweep.
Helix looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Elastinen working a defensive guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elastinen 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.
Elastinen keeping moving, preventing Helix from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Elastinen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Elastinen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Helix.
Elastinen drops down looking for a counter takedown but Helix sprawls and moves away.
Brett Helix seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A thudding body kick lands there by Helix!
Elastinen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Elastinen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Elastinen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Helix is trying to maintain the position but Elastinen is very close to passing his half guard.
Helix tries to get to full guard but Elastinen has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Elastinen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Helix defends it well.
Helix slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elastinen trying to control but Helix is working from the bottom.
Helix working a defensive guard here.
Elastinen stopping the sweep attempt from Helix.
We've been hearing good reports from Elastinen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Helix keeping moving, preventing Elastinen from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Helix loads up on a big right hand but Elastinen slips the punch.
Helix lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Helix ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Elastinen moves away.
Helix keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck for Elastinen with that takedown attempt.
A nice side step and Helix releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erkki Elastinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Helix misses with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Helix counters with a left to the body.
Elastinen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Helix misses with a straight right.
Helix throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Elastinen slips a jab from Helix.
Elastinen tries to counter with a takedown but Helix is quick to defend against it.
Brett Helix seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A low kick from Helix misses

and Elastinen counters with a takedown into side control.
Helix tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Helix regains half guard.
Helix trying to control but Elastinen postures up.
Brett Helix has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Elastinen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Helix is just riding it out for now. Elastinen eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Helix is not content to let Elastinen control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Helix wants to control but Elastinen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Erkki Elastinen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Helix is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brett Helix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Elastinen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Erkki Elastinen!
A very excited looking Erkki Elastinen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.