PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Steve (ranked 3067 p4p, 3376 weight class) and Robert Helpmann (ranked 372 p4p, 407 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steve
vs
Helpmann

180 cm
24
180
5 - 6 - 0

184 cm
25
180
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Steve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Helpmann!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Helpmann checks a leg kick.
A good leg kick by Steve.
Helpmann lands a leg kick that knocks Steve off balance momentarily.
Helpmann moves to clinch but Steve breaks away
enabling Steve to counter with a crisp jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Helpmann checks a leg kick.
Steve misses with a body punch
and Helpmann counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Steve connects with a right hand. Helpmann shakes it off.
Steve smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Helpmann on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Steve keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Helpmann.
Steve is looking to counter the offense by Helpmann and move into the clinch.
Steve misses with a looping left.
Steve gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Helpmann.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Helpmann avoids the body shot from Steve.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helpmann connects with a looping right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Helpmann. Steve does a little dance to reset his feet.
Helpmann doesn't manage to clinch there - Steve circles away.
Steve throws a sloppy body shot
and Helpmann counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Steve needs to keep his hands up - Helpmann had a free shot at his head there.
A bone on bone clash there as Helpmann blocks the leg kick.
Helpmann throws out a loose jab but Steve uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steve avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Steve throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Helpmann tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Steve manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Steve swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Steve throws a hook to the side of Helpmann's head but Helpmann sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Steve misses.
Steve misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Helpmann.
Helpmann looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Steve tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Helpmann manages to circle out of the way.
Steve bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Helpmann lands a glancing blow to the side of Steve's head.
Helpmann lands a nice shot that snaps Steve's head back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Helpmann slips under a jab from Steve.
Helpmann ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steve moves away.
Steve throws a quick inside leg kick.
A left lands for Helpmann.

Steve clinches.
Helpmann lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for Helpmann.

Helpmann breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Steve takes one to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve throws a leg kick
letting Helpmann counter with a right hand.
Helpmann lands a nice looking body shot.
Steve chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Helpmann can pounce on him.
Helpmann is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Steve.
Nice shot by Helpmann.
Steve misses with a straight right.
Helpmann finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Helpmann looks to score with a jab to the body but Steve is just out of range.
Helpmann keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little jabbing left from Helpmann on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Helpmann throws a right hand that misses
and Steve counters with a leg kick.
Helpmann takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Steve scores with a leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Helpmann.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helpmann throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Steve was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Steve keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Helpmann, as that shot connected.
Helpmann misses the shot to the body.
Helpmann throws a sloppy head kick
and Steve counters with a one-two to the body.
Steve buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Steve throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Helpmann now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Steve uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Helpmann.
Steve throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steve misses the shot to the body.
Helpmann has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Helpmann there as he acknowledges the shot.
Helpmann cracks Steve with an open hand slap.
Helpmann misses with an uppercut. Steve saw that one coming.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Helpmann dominated that round.
That's time! Steve's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Steve lands with a shot to the body.
Steve steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Helpmann.
As Helpmann tries to get set, Steve tries to push him back and clinch up but Helpmann manages to avoid the attempt.
Steve ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Helpmann moves away.
Helpmann takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Helpmann misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steve.
Steve throws a body punch but Helpmann moves out of range.
Steve is looking to clinch but Helpmann is avoiding it.

Helpmann rushes Steve and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Steve misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Helpmann escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Steve throws a right and a left that both miss.
Steve is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Helpmann.
Steve is looking to wear down Helpmann with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Steve paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helpmann looks to score with a jab to the body but Steve is just out of range.
Helpmann fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Steve manages to avoid it.
Steve fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Helpmann.
Steve steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Helpmann.
A jab from Helpmann misses.
Helpmann walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Helpmann misses with an uppercut
and Steve counters with a leg kick.
Helpmann swings for the body but Steve moves out of range.
Steve is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Helpmann.
Steve moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Stephen Steve seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Helpmann on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Helpmann's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Helpmann slips under a jab from Steve.
Helpmann misses with a looping left.
Some bone on bone action there as Helpmann checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Helpmann throws out a counter right but Steve avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helpmann takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Helpmann waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Steve.
Helpmann avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Helpmann keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Helpmann is looking to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steve throws the left hand but Helpmann avoids the punch easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Helpmann! But no joy.
Steve throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Helpmann looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Stephen Steve is winning the standup battle so far.
Helpmann tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steve was well out of range. Poor timing from Helpmann.
Steve cracks a nice hook into Helpmann's ribs.
Steve wants to clinch up but Helpmann keeps it at a distance.
A shot to the body from Steve misses
and Steve takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Helpmann scores with a nice head shot.

Helpmann has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helpmann tries a body shot but Steve blocks it.
Steve missing with knees to the body.
Helpmann throws a head punch that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Helpmann.
Steve wants to break the clinch but can't.
Steve blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steve with a knee to the head.
Helpmann throws a punch but it's blocked by Steve.
Steve blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steve is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Helpmann lands a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Helpmann avoids it.
Steve misses with a hook to the ribs.
Helpmann blocking some punches.
Steve missing with knees to the body.
Steve blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Helpmann scores with a nice short uppercut.
Helpmann misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steve misses with some punches.
Robert Helpmann seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Helpmann misses with a hook to the ribs.
Helpmann has Steve pressed against the cage, preventing Steve from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Stephen Steve will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Steve looks to score with a jab to the body but Helpmann is just out of range.
Helpmann looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Helpmann staying out of range there.
Steve throws a hook but Helpmann avoids it easily.
Helpmann tries a quick counter leg kick but Steve is wise to it.
Steve throws a sloppy head kick
and Helpmann counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Steve avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It looked like Steve wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Steve punishes Helpmann's body with a nice straight punch.
Helpmann throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Steve sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Steve was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Helpmann.
Steve tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Steve ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Helpmann throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Steve sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Steve is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Helpmann.
Helpmann throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circling - Steve throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Helpmann throws a low kick, looking for Steve's leg but Steve calmly moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helpmann misses with a hook. Steve ducked under it nicely.
Steve swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Helpmann counters with a body kick.
Helpmann connects with a looping right hand.
Steve is looking to chop away at Helpmann's legs.
Steve has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Helpmann.

Helpmann pushes Steve up against the cage in a clinch.
Steve is struggling to control the position.
Helpmann is leaning against Steve and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Steve lands a nice knee to the body.
Steve lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Steve misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Helpmann.
Helpmann swings wildly with an uppercut but Steve uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Helpmann avoiding damage as Steve throws knees to the body.
Helpmann misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steve tries to work over Helpmann's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Steve scores a nice knee to the body.
Helpmann misses with the head strike.
Helpmann blocking some punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steve controlling the action here for a moment.
Steve struggles to land a body shot inside as Helpmann controls his hands.
Helpmann lands a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Helpmann pushes Steve back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short right from Helpmann on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steve.
Steve wants to stall.
Steve stalls.
Helpmann avoiding damage as Steve throws knees to the body.
The referee calls for Steve to work.
Steve swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helpmann misses with a punch to the body.
Helpmann misses with a hook to the ribs.
Steve misses with a hook from the clinch.
Helpmann being controlled against the cage.
Helpmann tries to work over Steve's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Steve pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Steve changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steve pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Helpmann is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Steve with a body shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Steve.
A looping hook to the body misses from Helpmann. Steve does a little dance to reset his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Stephen Steve.
I think Steve 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Steve!
A relieved looking Stephen Steve thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.