PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Helio Flacide (ranked 2121 p4p, 3218 weight class) and Hank Robinson (ranked 276 p4p, 382 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Flacide
vs
Robinson

187 cm
26
194
5 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
193
3 - 0 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Very confident

Furnace Performance 🔥
Northern Zombie

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Helio Flacide!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, Hank Robinson!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flacide shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Robinson as he avoids it easily.
Flacide tries to clinch but Robinson moves out of range.

Robinson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Robinson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Robinson is trying to control. Flacide wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Flacide is looking for a sweep. Robinson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Robinson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Robinson slips a nice elbow through Flacide's hands, connecting with Flacide's forehead.
Robinson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Robinson thows a huge punch but Flacide dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flacide wants to control but Robinson is keeping busy.

Flacide is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Robinson pulls his head out easily.
Flacide is looking for a sweep. Robinson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robinson is taking a breather. Flacide says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Robinson working the head and body with strikes.
Robinson working Flacide over with strikes.
Robinson lands with a punch from half guard.

Flacide looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Robinson controlling the pace.
Flacide tries to get to full guard but Robinson has control of the leg.
Flacide is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at California Top Team, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Robinson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Flacide does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Robinson working Flacide over with strikes.
Flacide taking some punishment here, with Robinson in his half guard.
Robinson lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robinson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Flacide moves into full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Robinson won't allow Flacide to sweep him here.
Robinson landing with the ground and pound.
Flacide bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Robinson's guard.

Flacide trying to control the position from guard on top but Robinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Robinson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Flacide wants to control from the top but Robinson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Flacide accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Robinson pulls Flacide in close to his closed guard and prevents Flacide from doing any damage or advancing position.
Flacide won't allow Robinson to sweep him here.
Flacide trying to control the position from guard on top but Robinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flacide won't allow Robinson to sweep him here.
Robinson is looking to sweep but instead, Flacide has passed into half guard.

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.
Flacide tries to pass to full mount but Robinson defends it.
Robinson trying to control but Flacide postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Flacide tries to clinch but Robinson moves out of range.
Robinson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Flacide tries to clinch but Robinson is having none of it.
Robinson swats away the attempt to clinch by Flacide.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Flacide tries to sprawl but Robinson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Robinson drops an elbow to the side of Flacide's head.
Flacide wants to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Robinson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Robinson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Flacide tries to bench press Robinson off him but Robinson keeps the position.
Robinson lands an elbow.
Flacide trying to remain calm as Robinson controls from the top position.
Flacide can't do much from the bottom here.
Robinson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Robinson cracks Flacide with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Flacide is trying to escape the position but Robinson is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flacide tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Flacide sneaks back into half guard.
Robinson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flacide is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Robinson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Robinson's back!
Robinson looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Robinson is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Flacide working for the choke.
Robinson breaks Flacide's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Robinson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Flacide is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flacide can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Robinson controls the pace.
Robinson wants to control from the top but Flacide keeps moving.
Robinson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Robinson trying to control but Flacide is working from the bottom.
Robinson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Flacide working a defensive guard here.
Robinson stopping the sweep attempt from Flacide.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robinson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Flacide is keeping the position for now.
Flacide keeping moving, preventing Robinson from controlling successfully.
Robinson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Flacide haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Robinson wants to pass the guard but Flacide is keeping the position.
Robinson landing with the ground and pound.
Flacide wants to sweep here but Robinson controlling him for the moment.
Robinson is in close to Flacide's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Robinson works over Flacide with some ground and pound from guard.
Robinson sitting in guard, not really doing much.

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.

Flacide is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Robinson is aware though and is defending well.
Flacide looking for a sweep. Not yet Flacide, not yet.
Robinson working some strikes from top position.
Robinson landing with the ground and pound.
Robinson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Flacide working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Robinson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Robinson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Flacide keeping moving, preventing Robinson from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Robinson stands up over Flacide, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Robinson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Robinson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Flacide dives in and grabs Robinson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Robinson pushes down on Flacide's head and hops out.

Flacide forces Robinson back against the cage and clinches.
Robinson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Flacide's elbow.
Robinson tries to work over Flacide's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Flacide has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Robinson uses from the top position.
Hank Robinson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Flacide wants to sweep but no luck.
Robinson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Robinson wants to control from the top but Flacide keeps moving.
Robinson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Robinson is stalling in the full guard.
Robinson with a nice head shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Robinson chips away with some ground and pound.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Robinson working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Robinson trying to control but Flacide is working from the bottom.
Robinson works over Flacide with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robinson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Flacide looking to control.
Robinson tries to free his leg and advance position but Flacide is retaining full guard.
Robinson content to stall in guard here.

Flacide is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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.
Flacide can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Robinson controls the pace.
Flacide wants to control but Robinson passes easily into half guard.
Flacide is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Robinson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Robinson's back!
Robinson is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Flacide off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Robinson breaks Flacide's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Robinson won't allow Flacide to sweep him here.
Flacide manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Robinson manages to get himself to full guard.

Flacide passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Flacide working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robinson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Flacide.
Robinson is trying to get back to half guard.
Robinson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Flacide tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Flacide trying to control the action but Robinson is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Flacide looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Robinson is trying to control Flacide's posture but Flacide avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Robinson tries to bench press Flacide off him but Flacide keeps the position.
Helio Flacide has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The strikes coming from Flacide are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Flacide wants to lay and pray for a moment but Robinson keeps working.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Flacide in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The strikes coming from Flacide are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hank Robinson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Flacide is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Robinson has escaped the position, nice work there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Helio Flacide showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Robinson 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hank Robinson!