On this week’s episode of BodogFight, we are treated to two women with a grudge and the fighting prowess of an MMA Legend.
Carina “MMA Barbie†Damm (5 – 3 – 0) vs. Molly Helsel (3 – 5 – 1)
Those who have been keeping up with BodogFight, should be well aware of Carina Damm. She is the brother of MMA Fighter Rodrigo Damm, is skilled in Brazilian Jujitsu and a Capoeira. He last appearance in BodogFight ended in a defeat at the hands or Rosi Sexton, surprisingly by submission. In here fight with Molly Helsel, Damm looks to get back on the winning track.
Molly Helsel is a tough fighter who is also looking to get back on the winning track. Prior to this fight with Damm, Helsel stated stated she had 3 title fights losing two and drawing in the third. She’s a strong striker with formidable ground skills so this should be a very interesting fight.
The Grudge
These girls come into the match with clear disdain for one another all stemming from the weigh-ins. Now the weight limit for this match is 125lbs. Helsel was making a big 20lb cut to make the limit and had difficulty doing so. For those of you who don’t know, when making weight a fighter gets several chances to come in at the specified limit. If the fighter has trouble making the weight then the fighter can go and ask the other fighter if they will allow them to come in over the limit. In the case with Helsel, Damm’s camp refused to allow Helsel to come in over the limit and so Helsel had to continue to do whatever it took to try and sweat off the extra pounds. Helsel finally weighed in at 125.2 and was allowed to fight but is now harboring serious resentment towards Damm. Helsel in fact said during her pre-fight interview that “Carina Damm may be known as MMA Barbie, but when I get done with her she’ll be Brain Damage Barbieâ€. Yikes!
The Fight
Round 1: The two girls come out and right off the back Damm lands a high roundhouse to the face of Helsel. Helsel continues to press forward but is surprisingly pushed back with punches and kicks by Damm. The girls tie up and Damm is able to keep Helsel in the neutral corner until the referee separates them. Damm comes out with a spinning back fist and once again lands a nice high kick to Helsel. It is a surprise to many strength of Damm’s stand up and Helsel is clearing having trouble finding her rhythm. The two exchange low kicks back and forth. Helsel catches Damm with a kick that puts her off balance and Helsel follows her when she hits the ground. Helsel is now in Damm’s closed guard but Damm ties her arms up to prevent Helsel from dishing out some ground and pound. Helsel stands up out of Damm’s guard and proceeds to land low kicks to damn while she’s on her back. Damm responds with up kicks and the two go at it until the fight is stood up. Two minutes left in the round, Helsel attacks with leg kicks, which Damm catches shooting in for a single leg and takes Helsel down.
After both fighters struggle to get the better of the ground strikes, the fight is stood up. Both fighters exchange punches and Helsel attempts another low kick that Damm grabs hold of. Damm pushes Helsel against the ropes and the two exchanges knees in the clinch. Damm goes for a takedown but Helsel almost takes her back when the bell sounds. A very busy and exciting round 1 for the girls.
Round 2: Again the girls come out and go right at it. Damm gets the better or the exchange and the girls are now dirty boxing in the clinch. The ref separates both fighter and Helsel begins the push the pace using her jab. Finding her range, Helsel begins to connect with hard leg kicks to Damm as well as punches. Damm begins to fire back landing a straight right as Helsel charges in, as well as another high kick. At 2:48, Damm nails Helsel with a vicious spinning back fist that makes the crowd roar. Damm tries for a second time but Helsel ducks it and charges Damm who responds with a knee to the head. Helsel continues to land leg kicks with Damm countering with punches and leg kicks of her own. The girls continue to go at it, but this round Helsel proves the aggressor. Round 2 comes to a close and it’s a pretty even fair to say both girls are one round up.
Round 3: Damm comes out and circles Helsel who’s in the center. Helsel peppers Damm with leg kicks while trash talking to Damm. Damm lands yet another high kick to Helsel. Helsel responds with a hard right hook. After some back and forth action Damm presses forward with a barrage of punches many of which landing. Helsel misses with a leg kick to which Damm begins tapping her thigh saying “Bring it onâ€. Damm continues to taunt Helsel motioning with her hands to come forward as well as playfully doing the ginga of Capoiera. Helsel stalks Damm throwing punches and low leg kicks. Damm, tactfully backs away and attempts to catch Helsel as she comes in. Helsel lands a big right and Damm immediately responds with a combination, then clinches. The ref separates the fighter and with a minute left, Helsel looks for the one big punch to end it. Again Damm backs away and catches Helsel as she comes in. Ten seconds left, Damm once again begins to slap her own face, taunting Helsel to come and get her. Spurned, Helsel come forward and is hit with punches by Damm. The round ends with a flurry by both fighters. Damm plays to the crowd demonstrating cartwheels and kicks courtesy of her background as a capoierista.
The verdict by the judges is a majority decision in favor of Carina Damm. This in my opinion is easily one of the best fights of series four.
Jose “Pele†Landi-Jons (22 – 12 – 0) vs. Mitch McElroy (3 – 0 – 0)
Anyone who has followed the sport pre-dating The Ultimate Fighter reality show, should be well aware of Jose “Pele†Landi-Jons. But in case you aren’t here’s the scope. Pele, as he is often referred to, was born in Cuba but raised in Brazil. He was one of the original members of the famed Chute Boxe camp in Brazil, which has produced such fighters as Wanderlei Silva, Mauricio “Shogun†Rua, Murilo “Ninja†Rua, and Anderson Silva. He started his MMA career competing in the very brutal vale tudo matches in Brazil. Matches which were thirty minutes with no break, bare-knuckle, elbows and head butts, and stops to the head of downed opponent. In other words, the epitomization of no-holds-barred fighting. He is one of only four fighters to hold a win over welterweight powerhouse Matt Hughes (The other three being Dennis Hallman, B.J. Penn, and George St. Pierre). Additionally, Pele was to first fighter to defeat Hughes via KO (knee). Pele’s last few fights have been up and down, but if there’s one thing you can expect from Pele is that this guy comes to fight aggressive and fight hard.
Mitch McElroy is a rookie in the sport with only three fights. He’s won all three fights, but is really taking a step up in facing off against a veteran like Pele. A win over Pele so early in McElroy’s career would be huge.
The Fight
Round 1: The round starts with both fighters feeling each other out. Pele begins to demonstrate the powerful precision striking that made him a force in the ring. The fighters clinch and Pele gets the takedown. Pele manages to create some distance in McElroy’s guard and land some hard punches. McElroy attempts to get back to his feet and shoots for Pele’s legs but his opponent sprawls and McElroy is back on the ground. McElroy makes another attempt and this time manages to get the fight back standing where he and Pele fight it out in the clinch. They fighters separate and Pele lands a chopping leg kick that cause McElroy to buckle. Pele has his range and continues to through combinations and land kicks to McElroy’s thigh at will. McElroy maintains composure but judging from the loud slapping sound these kicks make it is clear that they are taking their toll. Pele lands a front kick to the chest of McElroy and both fighters clinch. Pele lands knees but with less than 10 seconds left in the round McElroy manages to get a takedown on Pele. The round ends clearly in Pele’s favor.
Round 2: Pele lands another leg kick, but McElroy catches in and closes in the clinch. Pele struggles out of it and the two trade punches with Pele getting the better. McElroy takes a hard knee shot while shooting in for single leg takedown. McElroy hustles and manges to get Pele to the ground. McElroy is position to possible take Pele’s back. Pele attempts a far side kimura then switches to an attempted knee bar. McElroy lands a few punches to the head of Pele, but then taps as Pele secures the submission hold. Pele is the victor at 1:18 of round 2.
Mitch McElroy has really nothing to be ashamed of in this fight. He fought tough against a veteran of the sport. I look forward to see more of McElroy in the future.
