PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rupert Helenius (ranked 1368 p4p, 1774 weight class) and Joseph Ducreux (ranked 188 p4p, 240 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Helenius
vs
Ducreux

185 cm
26
177
7 - 3 - 2

184 cm
26
180
5 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
FF Gear

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 7 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rupert Helenius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Joseph Ducreux!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Helenius uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ducreux has time to react.
Helenius lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Helenius misses with a hook. Ducreux ducked under it nicely.
Helenius has been working on his boxing with his coaches at FF Forever in the buildup to the fight.
Helenius fails to land with a series of punches.
We've been informed that Ducreux has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Rupert Helenius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Helenius avoids the body shot from Ducreux.
Ducreux will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ducreux just misses with a punch to the body.
Ducreux throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ducreux throws a looping overhand right but Helenius ducks down to avoid it.

Helenius closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ducreux did well to prevent Helenius getting side control.

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

Helenius is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ducreux has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ducreux is looking to control Helenius's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ducreux avoid being mounted?

Helenius is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ducreux controlling the position for now.

Helenius is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ducreux doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Helenius.
Helenius works his way into side control.

Helenius tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Helenius tries to move into full mount but can't pass Ducreux's legs.
Helenius working away.

Helenius thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Helenius tries to move to full mount but Ducreux actually manages to regain half guard.
Helenius wants to free his trapped foot but Ducreux is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Helenius is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ducreux has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Helenius trying to advance position but Ducreux counters by regaining guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helenius advances position into side control!

Helenius is trying to get an arm triangle but Ducreux is defending well.

Helenius looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Helenius thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Helenius goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Ducreux rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Helenius's guard! Nice work there by Ducreux!

Helenius is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Helenius looking for a sweep. Not yet Helenius, not yet.
Ducreux looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ducreux sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Helenius is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ducreux is aware though and is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rupert Helenius dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ducreux lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Helenius lands with a thumping leg kick.
Helenius misses with a body shot.

Ducreux tries to keep at a distance but Helenius has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ducreux lands a right hand.

Helenius jumps guard.

Helenius working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ducreux has passed into half guard!
Helenius tries to roll over but Ducreux keeps him under control.
Helenius is working hard here to advance position.
Rupert Helenius overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Helenius is pressing down on Ducreux's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Helenius escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ducreux gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ducreux showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ducreux stopping the sweep attempt from Helenius.
Ducreux is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ducreux passes Helenius's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Helenius looking for submissions off his back.
Ducreux content to control rather than advance.
Helenius gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Helenius working for submissions but it's allowed Ducreux to get to half guard.
Ducreux perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Helenius gets back to full guard.
Helenius keeping full guard, as Ducreux tries to pass.

Ducreux avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ducreux pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Helenius is keeping the position for now.

Helenius had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ducreux defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Helenius is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ducreux is aware though and is defending well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Helenius is on top in guard.

Helenius advances position into side control!
Ducreux is trying to control Helenius's posture but Helenius avoids it.

Helenius is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ducreux is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ducreux gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Helenius is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ducreux is just riding it out for now. Helenius eventually gives up the hold.

Helenius is looking for a kimura here.
Ducreux wants to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Helenius is looking for a kimura here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rupert Helenius dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Ducreux throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Helenius stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Helenius throws a leg kick which misses Ducreux's front leg but catches the back leg as Ducreux tries to avoid it.
A slow jab from Ducreux misses its intended target.
Ducreux throws a body punch but Helenius moves out of range.
Helenius half committed to a counter leg kick.
Helenius looks to throw the jab but Ducreux is out of range.
Ducreux tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Helenius is able to avoid easily.
Helenius wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
A slow jab from Helenius misses its intended target.
Ducreux throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Helenius wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Ducreux drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Helenius attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Helenius.
Helenius throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ducreux throws out a powerful jab.
Ducreux misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ducreux tests Helenius's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Helenius throws a hook but Ducreux blocks it.
Helenius drops his hands momentarily and Ducreux takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helenius fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ducreux manages to avoid it.
Ducreux staying out of range there.
Ducreux lands a slapping body shot.
Helenius bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ducreux throws a looping overhand right but Helenius ducks down to avoid it.
Helenius tries to clinch there but Ducreux circles away.
Ducreux misses with an uppercut. Helenius saw that one coming.
Ducreux avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big right from Helenius misses.
Ducreux connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Helenius ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Helenius ducks under a wild hook from Ducreux.
Helenius dips to his left and cracks Ducreux with an uppercut!
Helenius just misses with a punch to the body.
Helenius misses with a hook
and Ducreux counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Helenius scoring well with a low kick there.
Ducreux lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Helenius misses with an uppercut
and Ducreux counters with a leg kick.
Ducreux throws a shot from downtown. Helenius moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helenius scores with a nice right hand.
Helenius throws a leg kick but Ducreux moved away.
Joseph Ducreux has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ducreux scores with a decent looking hook.
Ducreux with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ducreux misses with a low kick.
Ducreux throws a hook but Helenius avoids it easily.
Helenius takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Helenius misses with a straight right.
Helenius moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ducreux takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ducreux throws a leg kick that misses.
Ducreux is looking to chop away at Helenius's legs.
Ducreux looks for the body kick but Helenius saw that one coming.
Helenius looks to land a right hand but Ducreux moved out of range.
Helenius throws a shot from downtown. Ducreux moves away and avoids it.
Joseph Ducreux is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Helenius takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Helenius blocks a jab.
Ducreux throws a looping overhand right but Helenius ducks down to avoid it.
Joseph Ducreux seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helenius throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A shot to the liver by Ducreux. Beautiful body shot.
Ducreux missing with a left hand there. Helenius was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
It looked like Helenius was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Ducreux.
Ducreux lands a nice looking body kick.
Ducreux throws a body shot but no joy.
Ducreux bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Helenius throws the left hand but Ducreux avoids the punch easily.
A shot to the liver by Ducreux. Beautiful body shot.
Ducreux throws a half hearted mid kick.
Helenius throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A slow jab from Helenius misses its intended target.
Ducreux throws out a loose jab but Helenius uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ducreux throws the kick towards the body but Helenius avoids it.
Ducreux lands a nice looking kick to the body. Helenius takes a step back to recover.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ducreux throws a looping overhand right but Helenius ducks down to avoid it.
Ducreux looks to land a right hand but Helenius moved out of range.
Helenius misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ducreux.
The crowd cheers as Ducreux lands an impressive looking overhand right. Helenius doesn't seem phased though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ducreux throws a right hand that Helenius ducks under and follows up with a left that Helenius also avoids with ease.
Ducreux connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ducreux moves out of range of the strikes.
Helenius cracks Ducreux with a right hand to the side of the head.

Helenius shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Helenius showed some decent athleticism there.
Helenius tries to pass to full mount but Ducreux defends it.

Helenius wants to work for an arm triangle but Ducreux is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Helenius prevents Ducreux from improving his position.

Helenius is looking for a kimura but Ducreux is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Helenius to get the leverage.

Helenius is working for a kimura but Ducreux is defending it quite comfortably.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Ducreux comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Helenius 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight for Rupert Helenius!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Rupert Helenius!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Rupert Helenius!

Rupert Helenius wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Rupert Helenius 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.