PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Smeer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Max Johnson was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Smeer
vs
Johnson

190 cm
25
270 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

195 cm
19
225 lbs
3 - 0 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Cage Wars: Rocha Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frank Smeer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smeer shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.

Smeer feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Smeer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smeer drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Johnson dives on top into guard.

Johnson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smeer manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Johnson has Smeer in his guard.

Smeer postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Johnson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Smeer, into his guard.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Smeer is keeping the position.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Smeer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smeer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Johnson controls the pace.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Smeer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smeer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Smeer has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Johnson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying desperately to improve position.
Johnson tries to hold on but Smeer postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smeer swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Johnson is now in Smeer's guard. A big mistake from Smeer there, giving up the dominant position!
Smeer trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Smeer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smeer looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Smeer is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Smeer has escaped and now he's on top!
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Smeer postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Johnson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Smeer, into his guard.

Smeer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Smeer keeps moving.

Johnson 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 Smeer gets his way!
Johnson is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Smeer off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Smeer doesn't have the hooks in and Johnson manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Smeer 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.

Smeer shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Smeer shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Smeer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.

Smeer is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnson is just riding it out for now. Smeer eventually gives up the hold.
Johnson is looking to control Smeer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnson avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smeer looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Smeer is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Johnson works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smeer is looking to advance position but Johnson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Johnson controlling from the full mount.
Smeer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smeer tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Johnson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Smeer has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Smeer!
Smeer lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smeer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Smeer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Smeer has gone for a leg lock! Johnson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Smeer's guard.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Smeer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Smeer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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.

Smeer had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Johnson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Smeer Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Johnson's back instead.
Johnson has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Smeer.
Smeer is not going to allow Johnson to sit and survive in this position.

Johnson is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Smeer has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Johnson has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Smeer dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smeer's guard.

Smeer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnson is aware though and is defending well.

Smeer isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Johnson stacks Smeer on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Johnson!
Smeer is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Johnson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Smeer is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson prevents Smeer from improving his position.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smeer defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smeer actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Smeer looking for subs from the bottom but Johnson mounts him!
Smeer is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson working Smeer over with strikes here.

Johnson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Johnson controlling his opponent.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Smeer to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Johnson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Johnson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Johnson moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Smeer has worked his arm free - good work by Smeer!
Smeer is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Smeer looking for a kimura from the bottom but Johnson passes into side control!

Johnson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smeer has escaped the position, nice work there.
Smeer is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Johnson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smeer is looking to improve his position.

Smeer looking for submissions off his back.

Smeer looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smeer trying to control but Johnson postures up.

Smeer actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but Smeer is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Johnson to get the leverage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smeer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smeer's guard now.

Smeer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Smeer is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smeer 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Smeer!