PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Helios Garcius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Prower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Helios Garcius has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Garcius
vs
Prower

183 cm
32
190 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

169 cm
26
195 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Can Moonwalk

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Helios Garcius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jake Prower!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Prower tries for a takedown but Garcius sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Garcius slaps away a takedown attempt from Prower, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No joy there for Garcius, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Prower throws a sloppy head kick and Garcius moves out of range easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Garcius tries to bum rush Prower with a series of wild strikes but Prower uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Garcius seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Garcius tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Prower paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Garcius. Those never looked like landing.
Garcius stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Garcius wants it to stay on the feet.
Helios Garcius has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Prower.
The fight stays on the outside here - Garcius looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Prower closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Prower swats away the attempt to clinch by Garcius.
Prower fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Prower is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcius keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Prower is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Garcius's half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garcius won't allow Prower to pass to mount.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcius is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Prower's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Prower's back!
I really don't envy Prower right now.

Prower is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Garcius gets his way!

Garcius looking for the RNC.
Prower looking very determined here, making life difficult for Garcius.
Garcius has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Prower's body.
Prower is trying to remain composed but Garcius is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Prower is trying to break free.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Prower showing good submission defense here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Prower turns into Garcius and is now in his guard.
Garcius keeping full guard, as Prower tries to pass.
Garcius looking to hit a scissor sweep but Prower is one step ahead there.
Garcius looking to control.
Garcius keeping moving, preventing Prower from controlling successfully.
Garcius wants to sweep but no luck.
Prower works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Prower connects with a nice short shot to Garcius's temple.
Garcius is concentrating on defense, preventing Prower from advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcius is refusing to be controlled, as Prower sits in half guard.
Garcius has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Prower is working away from the top position though.
Garcius wants to improve his position but Prower is controlling well.
Prower seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Garcius does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Prower tries to pass the half guard into mount. Garcius knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Garcius tries to roll over but Prower keeps him under control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Prower working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Garcius is trying to stand.
Prower is pressing down on Garcius's thigh, looking to free his foot. Garcius is holding on for now.

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.
Garcius tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Prower has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Garcius is looking to get to half guard.
Prower is trying to take his opponent's back.
Garcius trying desperately to get to his feet.

Prower working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Prower raining down hammerfists from mount.
Garcius is trying desperately to improve position.
Garcius prevents any damage by holding on tight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jake Prower will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Prower fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Prower shoots in for a double leg but Garcius sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Garcius lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Prower circles away quickly and effectively.
Garcius leaves Prower with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Helios Garcius has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Prower.
Garcius looks to land a combination. Prower sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Garcius fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Prower sprawls well initially but Garcius persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Prower wants to control but Garcius is keeping busy.
Prower moves into full guard.
Garcius knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Prower on the ground.
Prower is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Garcius will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Prower keeping moving, preventing Garcius from controlling successfully.
Prower tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcius wants to control from the top but Prower keeps moving.
Garcius working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Garcius stands and steps away. Prower gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Garcius scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Prower trying to control but Garcius postures up.

Garcius is looking for a kimura here.
Prower is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcius not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Prower is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Garcius is thwarting Prower's attempts to control the position.
Garcius wants to lay and pray for a moment but Prower keeps working.
Garcius stops Prower from getting back to his feet.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Garcius sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Garcius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcius uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Garcius tries to clinch but Prower moves out of range.

Garcius darts in and clinches Prower up against the cage.

Garcius has Prower pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Garcius pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Prower tumbling to the mat - Garcius dives into Prower's guard.
Garcius is looking to work some ground and pound but Prower has wrist control.
Prower is trying to keep Garcius in close.
Prower keeping moving, preventing Garcius from controlling successfully.
Prower utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Prower seems keen to control Garcius's posture.
Garcius not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Prower has his foot on Garcius's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Garcius works his way back into a safe position though.
Prower looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Prower is trying to control the position but Garcius postures up.
Prower wants to sweep but no luck.
Prower is trying to control the position but Garcius postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Prower might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Garcius haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Helios Garcius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Prower is breathing heavily.
Prower fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garcius fails in his attempt to clinch.
Garcius tries to clinch there but Prower circles away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Garcius!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Garcius!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helios Garcius dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Garcius tries to clinch there but Prower circles away.
Prower avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Prower shoots for a takedown but Garcius saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Helios Garcius is winning the standup battle so far.
Garcius tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Prower paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Garcius wants to clinch up but Prower keeps it at a distance.

Prower closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Garcius to the mat! Garcius manages to get full guard.
Prower passes Garcius's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Prower is pressing down on Garcius's thigh, looking to free his foot. Garcius is holding on for now.
Jake Prower has got the better of the ground game so far.
Prower prevents Garcius from standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcius wants to improve his position but Prower is controlling well.
Garcius is trying to stand up here but Prower is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Prower is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Prower takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Garcius is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Garcius tries to roll over but Prower keeps him under control.
Garcius manages to get to full guard.
Garcius tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Prower thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Garcius is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Prower can do to turn this around?
Prower prevents Garcius from getting back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Prower trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Prower throwing strikes from guard but Garcius blocks nicely.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Prower circles away from the clinch attempt.
Garcius pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Prower.
Garcius fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Garcius rushes Prower and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Prower goes for a takedown attempt but Garcius pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Helios Garcius has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Prower.
Garcius wants to clinch.
Garcius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prower closes this distance looking for a takedown but Garcius circles away.
Garcius looks to land a combination but Prower avoids it well.
Horrible takedown attempt by Prower or perhaps it was just good defense by Garcius, which made it look bad.
Garcius throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Prower shoots in but no luck this time.
Garcius moves out of range as Prower strikes.
Prower keeps the fight on the outside.
Garcius misses with a few strikes there.
Garcius is looking to clinch but Prower is avoiding it.
Garcius tries to close the distance and clinch up but Prower swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Garcius tries to sprawl but Prower drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Prower is looking to take a break and control but Garcius is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcius wants to get back to his feet.
Garcius tries to get to full guard but Prower has control of the leg.
Prower wants to free his trapped foot but Garcius is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garcius is looking to improve his position.
Prower stops Garcius from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Prower comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Prower 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jake Prower!