PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Helppo Heikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Butler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Butler is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Heikki
vs
Butler

180 cm
22
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Helppo Heikki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Butler!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Heikki closes the distance and clinches up with Butler, looking for a takedown. Heikki pushes Butler against the cage but Butler circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Butler showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Heikki.
Heikki throws a nice looking combination but Butler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Heikki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Butler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Butler stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Butler wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helppo Heikki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Butler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Butler scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Butler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
James Butler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Butler.
Butler looks to land a combination but Heikki avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler throws a shot to the body.
Heikki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Butler as he avoids it easily.
Heikki has a takedown stuffed.
Butler throws a series of strikes that have Heikki backpedaling.
Heikki is breathing heavily.
Butler throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Heikki counters with a shoot takedown. Butler fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Butler has Heikki pulled in close to control his posture.
Butler keeping full guard, as Heikki tries to pass.
Butler has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Butler lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Heikki!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler controlling the position easily from mount.
Heikki really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Butler has control of Heikki's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Heikki regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heikki working to try and regain half guard.
Butler looking to control but Heikki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Butler controlling the position easily from mount.
Heikki working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Butler takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Butler fails to move to back control.
Heikki can't escape the position.
Butler trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Heikki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Butler dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A right-left combo lands from Butler.
Butler lands with a nice combination. Heikki backs away looking to recover.
Heikki has a takedown stuffed.
Butler scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Heikki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Butler circles away.

Butler looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Butler is looking to take a break and control but Heikki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Butler wants to pass to mount but Heikki is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Heikki looking for a kimura from the bottom but Butler passes into side control!
You can see the frustration on Heikki's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Butler wants to control but Heikki is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heikki looks to move to half guard but instead Butler has passed into mount! Damn!

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.
Butler trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Butler tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Heikki working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Despite being in the dominant position, James Butler just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Heikki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Heikki avoids the body shot from Butler.

Butler gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Heikki to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Heikki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heikki looking to sit in guard and control but Butler gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Butler content to stall in guard here.
Heikki on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Heikki tries to get out of the position.
Heikki looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Butler puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Butler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Heikki keeps working.
Heikki wants to control but Butler is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Butler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Butler misses with a few strikes there.
Butler lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Butler.
Heikki tries for a takedown but Butler circles away easily
and Butler counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Heikki falls off balance throwing a combination
and Butler counters with a nice body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Butler.
Heikki wants to clinch.
Heikki doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Butler counters with a series of strikes. Heikki will be more careful next time no doubt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Heikki throws a predictable looking body shot
and Butler counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler throws a series of punches but Heikki moves out of range.
James Butler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Butler falls off balance throwing a combination

and Heikki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Butler's guard.
Heikki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Heikki postures up.
Heikki wants to control from the top but Butler keeps moving.
Butler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Butler manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Butler trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heikki is looking to improve his position but Butler isn't that keen on the idea.
Butler tries to control but Heikki wriggling away.
Heikki is just holding on here. Butler manages to take his back.
Butler controlling the position well here. Heikki rolled but Butler kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Heikki tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heikki is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Butler.
Butler trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Butler trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Heikki doesn't escape.

Heikki defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's four 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.
Heikki manages to reverse the position and now he's in Butler's guard. Nice work there by Heikki.
Heikki pushing down on Butler's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Butler works his way to full guard. Good work.
Helppo Heikki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Butler looking to control.

Butler has his foot on Heikki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Heikki works his way back into a safe position though.
James Butler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Heikki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Butler on the ground.
Butler wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Butler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Butler winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Butler!