PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan Jacoby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mick Helm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Jacoby
vs
Helm

180 cm
23
200 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Jonathan Jacoby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Mick Helm!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jacoby closes this distance looking for a takedown but Helm circles away.
Helm looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Jacoby throws a combination. Helm tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Helm fails to land the takedown.
Jacoby tries for a takedown but Helm sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jacoby closes this distance looking for a takedown but Helm circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonathan Jacoby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jacoby shoots in but no luck this time.
Jacoby tries to clinch but Helm moves out of range.
Jacoby wants to clinch.
Helm tries to clinch there but Jacoby circles away.
Jacoby shoots in for a double leg but Helm sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Helm gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jacoby is trying to break the clinch but Helm has him pressed against the cage.
Helm scores with a knee to the head.
Jacoby looking for a takedown.

Jacoby jumps into guard, dragging Helm to the mat.
Jacoby looking to control.
Jacoby is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Jacoby looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jacoby controls Helm momentarily but Helm frees himself.
Helm wants to stand but Jacoby has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Jacoby looking to hit a scissor sweep but Helm is one step ahead there.
Helm tries to free his leg and advance position but Jacoby is retaining full guard.
Helm postures up.

Helm stands up and waves to Jacoby to follow him.
Jacoby is looking to clinch but Helm is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Helm tries to clinch up but Jacoby circles away and keeps his distance.
Jacoby tries to clinch up but Helm circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jacoby looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jacoby shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Helm but Helm pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jacoby misses with a takedown
and Helm counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Helm gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jacoby.

Jacoby clinches up with Helm and pushes him back against the cage.
Jacoby gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Helm.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Jacoby landing knees to the body.

Jacoby breaks from the clinch.
Jacoby sizes up Helm with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Jacoby connects with a crisp jab.
Jacoby shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Helm but Helm pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Helm stuffs the takedown attempt from Jacoby. Jacoby gets slowly back to his feet.
Jacoby shoots in and drives through. Helm sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jacoby fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jacoby throws a sloppy head kick and Helm moves out of range easily.
Helm throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Jacoby to counter with a crisp jab.
Jacoby will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jacoby connects with a high kick.
Helm throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Helm throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jacoby counters with a left and a right that stings Helm.
Helm tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jacoby swats away the attempt to clinch by Helm.
Jacoby tries to clinch but Helm moves out of range.
Jacoby fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jacoby lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Jacoby shoots for a takedown but Helm saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jacoby shoots in for a takedown but Helm shows good takedown defense.
Jacoby shoots for a double leg takedown but Helm sprawls well. He's pushed Jacoby's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jacoby looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jacoby shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Helm pinned against the cage. Helm gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Helm fails in his attempt to clinch.
Helm swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jacoby counters with a three punch combo that has Helm backing up. Helm nods at Jacoby to acknowledge the strikes.
Jacoby fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jacoby scores with a nice strike.
Helm shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jacoby as he jumps to the side.
Helm throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jacoby's waist but Jacoby gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Helm off to one side.
Nice takedown defense from Helm. No joy for Jacoby on that attempt.
Jacoby is looking to clinch but Helm is avoiding it.
Jacoby shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Helm as he avoids it easily.
Helm misses with a combination
and Jacoby counters with a left and a right that stings Helm.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jacoby has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Jacoby shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Helm as he jumps to the side.
Jacoby scores with a one two! Helm had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Jacoby is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Jacoby dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jacoby fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jacoby tries to clinch but Helm is having none of it.
Mick Helm seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jacoby tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Helm swivels and escapes.
Jacoby tries to clinch but Helm moves out of range.
Jacoby closes the distance and clinches up with Helm, looking for a takedown. Jacoby pushes Helm against the cage but Helm circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Helm falls off balance throwing a combination
and Jacoby counters with a big head kick but Helm shrugs it off.
Helm throws a lazy head kick
and Jacoby counters with a head kick.
Helm gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jacoby.
Jacoby looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Helm is fending him off so far but Jacoby persists. Nope, Helm circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonathan Jacoby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Helm wants to clinch.
Jacoby fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Helm.
Jacoby shoots and misses

and Helm counters with a single leg into guard. Jacoby didn't expect that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Jacoby controls Helm momentarily but Helm frees himself.
Helm throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helm wants to stand but Jacoby is controlling his posture from full guard.
Helm scoring with some ground and pound.
Jacoby wants to sweep but no luck.
Jacoby tries to strike from the bottom.
Jacoby looking for a sweep. Not yet Jacoby, not yet.
Jacoby is trying to keep Helm in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jacoby fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Helm takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Jacoby tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Helm paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jonathan Jacoby is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Helm stuffs the takedown attempt from Jacoby. Jacoby gets slowly back to his feet.
Jacoby scores with a jab to the body.
Jacoby shoots in for a double leg but Helm sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Helm takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jacoby pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Helm closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jacoby to the mat! Jacoby manages to get full guard.
Jacoby controls Helm momentarily but Helm frees himself.
Helm tries to stand but Jacoby is controlling from the bottom.

Jacoby is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Helm lands a couple of decent looking shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Helm wants to control from the top but Jacoby keeps moving.
Jacoby trying to control the position.
Helm working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Helm must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jacoby is trying to keep Helm in close.
Jacoby lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Helm!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Jacoby there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Jacoby trying to control but Helm is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Jacoby wants to finish this one by submission but Helm is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Jacoby.
Jacoby wants to take his opponent's back but Helm doesn't allow it.
Jacoby wants to control the pace but Helm is squirming around nicely.
Jacoby scoring with strikes but Helm is staying in there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Helm bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Jacoby is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jacoby is trying to control the action in half guard but Helm is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Jacoby prevents Helm from improving his position.
Jacoby wants to lay and pray for a moment but Helm keeps working.
Helm tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Helm wants to get back to full guard.
Jacoby passes to full mount!
Jacoby throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jacoby trying to control but Helm is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jonathan Jacoby will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jacoby throws a head kick but Helm moves out of range.
Jacoby misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jacoby shoots in and drives through. Helm sprawls well.
Jacoby is looking to clinch.
Helm looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Helm looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jacoby is fending him off so far but Helm persists. Nope, Jacoby circles away and we're back to standing.
Helm tries to clinch there but Jacoby circles away.
Jacoby looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonathan Jacoby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jacoby with a lazy takedown attempt

and Helm counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Helm.
Jacoby blocks an elbow strike.
Helm leaning against his opponent.
Jacoby tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Helm just stands there and leans against the cage.

Jacoby manages to break the clinch.
Jacoby shoots for a takedown but Helm saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Helm avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Helm fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Helm takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Helm keeps the fight on the outside.
Jacoby has a takedown stuffed.
Helm shoots in looking for a takedown. Jacoby tries to sprawl out of it but Helm keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jacoby manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helm fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jacoby fails with a takedown attempt.
No joy there for Jacoby, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Helm moves in looking to clinch but Jacoby pushes him off.
Jacoby tries to bum rush Helm with a series of wild strikes but Helm uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jacoby throws a head kick but Helm moves out of range.
Helm stuffs the takedown attempt from Jacoby. Jacoby gets slowly back to his feet.
Jacoby is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Helm scores with a decent looking hook.
No luck for Jacoby with that takedown attempt.
Jacoby shoots in and drives through. Helm sprawls well.
Jacoby fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jacoby doesn't manage to clinch there - Helm circles away.
Jacoby tries for a takedown but Helm sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Helm misses with a shot to the body
and Jacoby counters with a head kick. That will keep Helm thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jacoby fails with the takedown.
Helm keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jacoby shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Helm as he avoids it easily.
Helm throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jacoby tries to clinch there but Helm circles away.
Jacoby throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Helm bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mick Helm has got the better of the ground game so far.
Helm moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Helm working away.
Jacoby is looking for a sweep.
Jacoby is working hard here to advance position.
Jacoby manages to work his way to half guard, despite Helm's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jacoby manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Helm postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jacoby not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jacoby tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Helm would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Helm stops Jacoby from standing up.
Jacoby is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Helm looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Jacoby!
Helm cracks Jacoby with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Jacoby tries to lock up and control but Helm gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Jacoby manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Helm stops Jacoby from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jacoby is defending against the submission attempts here by Helm.
Jacoby trying to control from the bottom.
Helm wants to stand up but Jacoby is controlling the position.
Jacoby moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Jacoby has his foot on Helm's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Helm works his way back into a safe position though.
Jacoby striking off his back but it's not causing Helm any problems.
Mick Helm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jacoby is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jacoby is really struggling to control Helm but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Jacoby manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mick Helm comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jacoby 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jonathan Jacoby!