PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Durans Helmsfrid Jr (ranked 1725 p4p, 3756 weight class) and Deacon Slaughter (ranked 190 p4p, 354 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Helmsfrid Jr
vs
Slaughter

180 cm
26
145
4 - 2 - 0

179 cm
26
155
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Durans Helmsfrid Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Deacon Slaughter!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
A lazy left from Slaughter finds it's target.
Helmsfrid Jr takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Slaughter fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Slaughter lands a jab.
Slaughter throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Helmsfrid Jr tries to counter by clinching up but Slaughter breaks away and moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slaughter misses with a body punch

and Helmsfrid Jr counters by moving into the clinch.
Helmsfrid Jr takes a shot to the head.
Slaughter makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Helmsfrid Jr tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Slaughter just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaughter struggles to land a body shot inside as Helmsfrid Jr controls his hands.
Helmsfrid Jr taking a breather.
Slaughter lands a right hand.
Slaughter fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Helmsfrid Jr slows down the pace here.
Slaughter tries to throw a body punch but Helmsfrid Jr avoids it by throwing Slaughter back against the cage.
Helmsfrid Jr fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Slaughter misses with the head strike.
Slaughter digs a right hand underneath Helmsfrid Jr's ribcage. Helmsfrid Jr let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Slaughter doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Helmsfrid Jr gets control of Slaughter's arms and successfully pulls guard. Helmsfrid Jr will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Slaughter stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Helmsfrid Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Helmsfrid Jr had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Slaughter defends it easily.
Slaughter looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Helmsfrid Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter wants to pass the guard but Helmsfrid Jr is keeping the position.
Slaughter stopping the sweep attempt from Helmsfrid Jr.

Slaughter got a little sloppy there for a moment and Helmsfrid Jr has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Slaughter has managed to get both his arms back between Helmsfrid Jr's legs - danger averted.
Helmsfrid Jr looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Helmsfrid Jr is working an open guard so Slaughter takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Deacon Slaughter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Helmsfrid Jr checks a low kick from Slaughter.
Helmsfrid Jr moves in looking to clinch but Slaughter pushes him off.
Slaughter swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Helmsfrid Jr is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Slaughter.
Slaughter throws out a loose jab but Helmsfrid Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
Helmsfrid Jr really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A big left from Helmsfrid Jr misses.
Slaughter with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Helmsfrid Jr takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Slaughter lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Helmsfrid Jr at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Helmsfrid Jr gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Helmsfrid Jr blocks an uppercut.
Slaughter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Helmsfrid Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Slaughter uses good head movement to avoid it.
Slaughter tries a body shot but Helmsfrid Jr blocks it.
Helmsfrid Jr just leaning against Slaughter, taking a breather.
Helmsfrid Jr is trying to pull guard but Slaughter has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Durans Helmsfrid Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slaughter lands a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Helmsfrid Jr gets control of Slaughter's arms and successfully pulls guard. Helmsfrid Jr will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Slaughter walks into a left hand.
Slaughter dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Slaughter looks to land a left hand but Helmsfrid Jr moved out of range nicely.
Deacon Slaughter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Slaughter smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slaughter throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Helmsfrid Jr moves into the clinch.
Slaughter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Slaughter is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaughter misses with a short punch on the inside.
Helmsfrid Jr avoiding damage.
Slaughter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Good body shot from Slaughter.
Slaughter swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Helmsfrid Jr is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Slaughter to keep the fight standing.

Helmsfrid Jr ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Helmsfrid Jr no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Slaughter trying to control the position from guard on top but Helmsfrid Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Helmsfrid Jr wants to sweep here but Slaughter controlling him for the moment.
Slaughter wants to control from the top but Helmsfrid Jr keeps moving.

Helmsfrid Jr looking for a guillotine here but Slaughter defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Helmsfrid Jr looking for subs off his back but Slaughter has passed one foot through into half guard.
Slaughter frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Helmsfrid Jr can't escape the position.
Slaughter trying to control but Helmsfrid Jr is having none of it.
Helmsfrid Jr gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Helmsfrid Jr manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helmsfrid Jr trying to control the position.
Slaughter won't allow Helmsfrid Jr to sweep him here.
Helmsfrid Jr manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Slaughter manages to get himself to full guard.

Helmsfrid Jr controls from within his opponent's guard.
Slaughter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Slaughter has an active guard here but Helmsfrid Jr has managed to pass into half guard.
Durans Helmsfrid Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Helmsfrid Jr is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Slaughter defends it well.
Slaughter has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Helmsfrid Jr is working away from the top position though.
Helmsfrid Jr tries to pass the half guard into mount. Slaughter knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Slaughter wants to control but Helmsfrid Jr is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Slaughter is looking to escape.

Helmsfrid Jr is working for a submission of some sort.

Slaughter is defending against the submission attempts here by Helmsfrid Jr.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Durans Helmsfrid Jr dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Slaughter moves into range and connects with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Helmsfrid Jr tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Slaughter counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Helmsfrid Jr is looking to clinch but Slaughter is avoiding it.
Slaughter looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaughter throws a body punch but Helmsfrid Jr moves out of range.
Slaughter lands with a nice body kick.
Slaughter fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Helmsfrid Jr on the side of the head.
Slaughter works Helmsfrid Jr's body with a nice hook.
Helmsfrid Jr tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Slaughter counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Helmsfrid Jr is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Slaughter ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Slaughter misses with a lunging right hand

and Helmsfrid Jr counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Helmsfrid Jr.

Helmsfrid Jr gets control of Slaughter's arms and successfully pulls guard. Helmsfrid Jr will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Slaughter preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helmsfrid Jr controls Slaughter momentarily but Slaughter frees himself.
Slaughter trying to control the position from guard on top but Helmsfrid Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Helmsfrid Jr is trying to control the position but Slaughter postures up.
Slaughter must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Helmsfrid Jr is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Slaughter defends well.

Helmsfrid Jr is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Helmsfrid Jr wants to sweep but no luck.
Slaughter controlling from the top position.
Slaughter trying to control the position from guard on top but Helmsfrid Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Slaughter trying to stand up but can't free himself from Helmsfrid Jr's guard.
Helmsfrid Jr looking to hit a scissor sweep but Slaughter is one step ahead there.
Slaughter wants to control from the top but Helmsfrid Jr keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Helmsfrid Jr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Slaughter gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Deacon Slaughter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Slaughter 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Deacon Slaughter!