PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Robert Helpmann (ranked 454 p4p, 491 weight class) and Steve McMichael (ranked 60 p4p, 63 weight class). Steve McMichael has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Helpmann
vs
McMichael

184 cm
34
168
13 - 7 - 0

183 cm
25
174
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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NARCOS

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Helpmann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve McMichael!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Helpmann takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A clash of legs there as McMichael blocks the low kick.
Steve McMichael seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Helpmann moves away from the strike by McMichael.
Helpmann scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Helpmann takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Helpmann is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McMichael.
McMichael moves away from the strike by Helpmann.
Good work by Helpmann as he checks the leg kick.
Helpmann chopping away at his opponent's legs.
McMichael tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Helpmann was well out of range. Poor timing from McMichael.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Helpmann throws out a loose jab but McMichael uses good head movement to avoid it.
McMichael connects with a body shot that sends Helpmann's belly button to the back.
Helpmann connects with an inside leg kick.
McMichael connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMichael cracks Helpmann with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
McMichael ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A jab from McMichael misses.
McMichael fails in his attempt to clinch.
McMichael looks to throw the jab but Helpmann is out of range.

McMichael has Helpmann up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as McMichael takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
McMichael taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
McMichael continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMichael lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Helpmann backwards.

Helpmann breaks from the clinch.
Helpmann misses with the body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
McMichael scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Helpmann takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Helpmann uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McMichael.
It looked like Helpmann was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Helpmann throws the left hand but McMichael avoids the punch easily.
McMichael feints a counter leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McMichael moves out of range of the body kick from Helpmann.
McMichael closes the distance looking to clinch
and Helpmann counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A jab from McMichael misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helpmann throws out a loose jab but McMichael uses good head movement to avoid it.
Helpmann's jab looks to have found its range, popping McMichael under the eye.
McMichael tests Helpmann's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Helpmann tests McMichael's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McMichael lands a jab to Helpmann's midsection.
McMichael scores with a nice strike.
Helpmann keeps the fight on the outside.
Helpmann takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
McMichael listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McMichael feints a jab promting Helpmann to slip. McMichael then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Helpmann slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McMichael throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Helpmann to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helpmann circles away from the clinch attempt
and McMichael takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McMichael changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Helpmann swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little jabbing left from McMichael on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
McMichael rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Helpmann counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McMichael looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
McMichael throws a shot from downtown. Helpmann moves away and avoids it.
Helpmann is looking to counter punch.
A shot to the body from McMichael misses
letting Helpmann counter with a right hand.

McMichael rushes Helpmann and presses him up against the cage.
McMichael scores with a shot to the side of Helpmann's head.
McMichael makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steve McMichael dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Helpmann thows a left - swing and a miss!
It seemed like McMichael was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
McMichael lands a glancing blow to the side of Helpmann's head.
Helpmann takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McMichael ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Helpmann moves away.
It looked like Helpmann wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
McMichael punishes Helpmann's body with a nice straight punch.
McMichael takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Helpmann motions for McMichael to come forward. Helpmann throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McMichael misses with a shot to the body
and Helpmann counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A telegraphed right hand from McMichael misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Helpmann misses with a hook. McMichael ducked under it nicely.
McMichael misses with a hook.
McMichael throws a body punch but Helpmann moves out of range.
Helpmann misses with a hook. McMichael ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMichael takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McMichael misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Helpmann.
A swing and a miss from McMichael.
A solid body kick from Helpmann.
Helpmann throws a poor cross that misses
and McMichael counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McMichael just misses with a punch to the body.
McMichael finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
McMichael misses with a hook
and Helpmann counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

McMichael forces Helpmann back against the cage and clinches.
McMichael swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Helpmann lands with a light punch inside.
A frustrated look appears on Helpmann's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMichael tries to throw a body punch but Helpmann avoids it by throwing McMichael back against the cage.

McMichael breaks from the clinch.
Helpmann just misses with a punch to the body.

McMichael closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch on the inside from McMichael fails to land.
McMichael misses with a hook from the clinch.
McMichael manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

McMichael breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fighters circling - Helpmann throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McMichael has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMichael's jab looks to have found its range, popping Helpmann under the eye.
Steve McMichael seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Helpmann takes a shot right to the bread basket.
McMichael stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Helpmann.
McMichael doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McMichael cracks a nice hook into Helpmann's ribs.
Helpmann throws a leg kick which misses McMichael's front leg but catches the back leg as McMichael tries to avoid it.
McMichael throws a body punch but Helpmann moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Helpmann misses its target.

McMichael has managed to clinch.
McMichael has Helpmann pushed against the cage.
McMichael lands an uppercut.
McMichael stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McMichael blocks a body shot from Helpmann.
Helpmann lands a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McMichael tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Helpmann's elbow.
McMichael tries to throw a body punch but Helpmann avoids it by throwing McMichael back against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
McMichael holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Nice body punch from McMichael - that landed with a thud.

Helpmann breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Helpmann lands a lovely overhand right.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steve McMichael showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

McMichael takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McMichael's jab looks to have found its range, popping Helpmann under the eye.
Helpmann thuds a left hand into McMichael's body.
Helpmann lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Helpmann throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent McMichael stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A swing and a miss from Helpmann.
Helpmann throws a lazy uppercut
and McMichael counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McMichael throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Helpmann counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps McMichael thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Helpmann ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McMichael moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from McMichael. Helpmann does a little dance to reset his feet.
A shot to the body from McMichael misses
and Helpmann counters with a thumping low kick.
Helpmann waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McMichael.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helpmann rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McMichael counters with a nice body kick.
McMichael takes a swing at Helpmann's ribcage but misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Helpmann misses its target.
Helpmann misses with an uppercut.
Nice shot by McMichael.
McMichael tries to clinch up but Helpmann circles away and keeps his distance.
Helpmann throws a jab when McMichael was well out of range.
Helpmann throws a poor cross that misses
enabling McMichael to counter with a crisp jab.
Helpmann dodges the punch combination from McMichael.
McMichael takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Helpmann avoids the body shot from McMichael.
A little feinted left hand from Helpmann on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
McMichael walks into a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMichael throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Helpmann feints and then cracks McMichael's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McMichael down.
McMichael throws a hook but Helpmann blocks it.
McMichael doesn't manage to clinch there - Helpmann circles away.
Helpmann swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
McMichael tries to close the distance and clinch but Helpmann swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As McMichael looks to move away, Helpmann throws a big counter combo but McMichael just gets out of the way.
McMichael lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McMichael misses with a wild body shot.
McMichael wants to clinch.
McMichael looks to land a right hand but Helpmann moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMichael rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Helpmann counters with a nice body kick.
McMichael throws a poor cross that misses
and McMichael takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McMichael throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Helpmann scores with a push kick.
Helpmann misses with a leg kick
and McMichael counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Helpmann with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
McMichael is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Helpmann.
Helpmann fires out a quick counter leg kick but McMichael just manages to avoid it.
McMichael takes a shot right to the bread basket.
McMichael takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Helpmann looks to throw the jab but McMichael is out of range.
McMichael throws out a counter right but Helpmann avoids it with no problem.
McMichael steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Helpmann.
McMichael throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
An attempted straight right counter from Helpmann misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McMichael thuds a left hand into Helpmann's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Helpmann jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
McMichael tries to clinch but Helpmann is having none of it.
Helpmann misses with a body punch
and McMichael counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McMichael misses with a body punch
and Helpmann counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Helpmann looks to land a right hand but McMichael moved out of range.
Helpmann scores with a nice head shot.
Robert Helpmann has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Helpmann lands with an overhand left.
Helpmann misses with a series of wild punches.
Steve McMichael is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McMichael is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Helpmann.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Helpmann showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McMichael 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

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