PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Armand Bauer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Heldstab (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Armand Bauer has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Bauer
vs
Heldstab

191 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Armand Bauer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Austin Heldstab!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Heldstab clinches up against the cage.

Heldstab's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Heldstab shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bauer's guard.
Bauer trying to strike off his back.
Heldstab sitting in guard here, content to control.
Heldstab passes Bauer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Heldstab slows the pace down in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bauer tries to get to full guard but Heldstab has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heldstab throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Heldstab is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Bauer looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heldstab is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Let's hope that Heldstab has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's two 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.
Bauer tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Heldstab closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bauer to the mat! Bauer manages to get full guard.

Bauer pushes Heldstab off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Bauer tries to clinch there but Heldstab circles away.

Heldstab shoots in and gets a takedown into Bauer's guard.
Heldstab is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Heldstab stands and steps away. Bauer gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Austin Heldstab seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bauer stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Heldstab.
Bauer fails with an attempt to clinch.

Heldstab shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bauer napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Heldstab staying calm.

Heldstab is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bauer knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bauer is letting Heldstab control him for a moment.
Bauer tries to escape but Heldstab is in control.
Heldstab tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bauer defending against the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Heldstab decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Heldstab changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bauer looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bauer bucks up and tries to throw Heldstab off but instead Heldstab has got his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Austin Heldstab dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Heldstab throws a head kick that misses.
Heldstab cracks a nice hook into Bauer's ribs.

Heldstab gets a clinch.
Bauer is stalling here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Heldstab.

Heldstab lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Austin Heldstab has got the better of the ground game so far.
Heldstab keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Heldstab stands up and beckons Bauer to join him on the feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Heldstab drives through and clinches with Bauer against the cage.
Heldstab blocking some punches.
Heldstab prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heldstab blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Heldstab pulls Bauer into guard.
Heldstab is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bauer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Heldstab looking for a guillotine here but Bauer defends easily.

Heldstab throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Heldstab is looking for a triangle here but Bauer uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heldstab tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bauer wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Heldstab is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Heldstab is still trying to improve position.
Bauer prevents Heldstab from escaping the position.
Heldstab is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heldstab tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Bauer easily slips into full mount!
Heldstab is trying to stand up.
Bauer avoids the attempt from Heldstab to control.
Heldstab is working to get back to half guard.
Bauer manages to capitalize on a mistake by Heldstab to take his back!
Heldstab looking very determined here, making life difficult for Bauer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bauer is trying to stick to Heldstab's back but Heldstab is turning into Bauer. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Bauer's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Heldstab.

Heldstab decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bauer, up you get!

Heldstab closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Heldstab lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bauer throws an elbow but it misses.

Heldstab manages to break the clinch.

Bauer tries to sprawl but Heldstab drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bauer is looking for a sweep. Heldstab is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bauer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Heldstab takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Heldstab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Austin Heldstab 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Heldstab shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Heldstab perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Yet more stalling tactics from Heldstab.
Heldstab sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bauer defending well though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Heldstab seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heldstab sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bauer defending well though.
Heldstab thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Heldstab gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Heldstab has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Heldstab throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bauer was covering up waiting for the punch and Heldstab finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Heldstab not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Heldstab gets to his feet - Bauer follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heldstab drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Bauer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bauer wants to clinch up but Heldstab keeps it at a distance.

Heldstab changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bauer looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bauer throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Heldstab advances nicely into full mount.
Heldstab controlling from the full mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Heldstab is continuing to stall.
Bauer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Heldstab on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bauer blocking the ground and pound.

Heldstab moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Bauer has worked his arm free - good work by Bauer!
You can see the frustration on Bauer's face as Heldstab controls the position.

Heldstab thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Heldstab in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Bauer gets back to half guard.
Heldstab seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Armand Bauer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Austin Heldstab is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Austin Heldstab comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Heldstab has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Austin Heldstab!