PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between ted johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and janpeter kurkela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). kurkela has chosen Korpiklaani:Wood pint as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The key to victory for ted johnson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

johnson
vs
kurkela

180 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
147 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, ted johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, janpeter kurkela!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
kurkela will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
johnson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
kurkela throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in kurkela's guard now.
kurkela not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
johnson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
kurkela is adopting a defensive guard.
johnson prevents kurkela from getting back to his feet.
johnson trying to stand up but can't free himself from kurkela's guard.
johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. kurkela is keeping the position for now.
johnson trying to control but kurkela is working from the bottom.
kurkela working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
johnson digs a good body shot into kurkela's ribs.
janpeter kurkela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

kurkela clinches up against the cage.
johnson wants a takedown.

kurkela decides to pull guard.
kurkela wants to stand up but johnson is controlling him.
kurkela managing to control the position.
kurkela looks gassed!

kurkela is working an open guard so johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
johnson is looking to clinch.
kurkela swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and johnson counters with a straight right hand.
kurkela throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in kurkela's guard.

johnson stands and steps away. kurkela gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
johnson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
kurkela is looking to control johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can kurkela avoid being mounted?
johnson controlling the action here.
kurkela trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, johnson seems content to control.
kurkela is holding on to half guard well.
kurkela pushes johnson off looking to stand but johnson dives back in and keeps control.

johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so kurkela is just riding it out for now. johnson eventually gives up the hold.

kurkela pushes johnson off and gets back to his feet.
johnson moves in looking to clinch but kurkela pushes him off.
johnson works kurkela's body with a nice hook.

That's four 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.
kurkela throws a combination that misses

and johnson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by johnson.
johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
johnson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
kurkela wants to control but johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
kurkela looks like he's trying to stand up.

kurkela has one foot on johnson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but kurkela swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
kurkela throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
kurkela fails with the takedown
and johnson counters with a good low kick that kurkela was not able to check.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but kurkela avoids it really well and circles away.
johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ted johnson dominated that 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.

kurkela tries to close the distance and clinch but johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but kurkela swats him away and circles back towards the center.

kurkela looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for johnson!
johnson tries to hold on but kurkela pushes him away.
kurkela can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as johnson is looking to escape.
ted johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
johnson tries to hold on but kurkela postures up.
kurkela looking to control but johnson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
johnson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
kurkela controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson really wants to buck kurkela off and get back to his feet.
johnson wants to hold on but kurkela pushes him away.
kurkela takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
johnson tries to hold on but kurkela postures up.
kurkela controlling from the full mount.
kurkela looking to control but johnson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
kurkela lands a big shot there that rocks johnson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
kurkela trying to control but johnson is having none of it.

kurkela looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
kurkela looking to control and managing it successfully.
kurkela tries to control but johnson wriggling away.

Despite being in the dominant position, janpeter kurkela just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
kurkela falls off balance throwing a combination
and johnson counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
johnson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of kurkela's head.
johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around kurkela's waist but kurkela gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing johnson off to one side.
kurkela falls off balance throwing a combination

and johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for kurkela!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
kurkela regains half guard.
johnson wants to pass the guard but kurkela is defending well.
johnson prevents kurkela from standing back up.
johnson is thwarting kurkela's attempts to control the position.
kurkela tries to kick johnson off but johnson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
kurkela is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

kurkela pushes johnson off and gets back to his feet.
kurkela tries to clinch but johnson is having none of it.
kurkela displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from johnson.
kurkela fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
kurkela tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but johnson swivels and escapes.

kurkela moves into the clinch.
johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
johnson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
kurkela lands with a right to the head.
johnson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite kurkela's efforts to push away.

kurkela breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
johnson looks for a takedown but kurkela sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for ted johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
kurkela tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

janpeter kurkela showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

kurkela throws a nice looking combination but johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - kurkela circles away.
kurkela swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and johnson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

johnson darts in and clinches kurkela up against the cage.

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

johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
kurkela is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
kurkela has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. johnson is working away from the top position though.
kurkela keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
kurkela wants to control but johnson is keeping busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson wants to stand up but kurkela is controlling the position.

kurkela kicks johnson off and gets back to his feet.

johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

kurkela is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and johnson defends well.
johnson content to stall in guard here.

kurkela pushes johnson off and gets back to his feet.
kurkela throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and johnson counters with a series of strikes. kurkela will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
kurkela throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting johnson counter with a right hand.
johnson tries to clinch there but kurkela circles away.
johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. kurkela sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
johnson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
kurkela throws a left and a right that both miss

and johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
johnson lands an elbow inside that kurkela shrugs off.

kurkela escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
ted johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
kurkela misses with a combination
and johnson counters with a three punch combo that has kurkela backing up. kurkela nods at johnson to acknowledge the strikes.
johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

kurkela shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
johnson is in all sorts of trouble here.
johnson tries to hold on but kurkela pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
kurkela controlling the position easily from mount.
johnson wants to control but kurkela is having none of it.
johnson flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
kurkela controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
johnson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
johnson is squirming around, avoiding kurkela's attempts to control the action.
johnson manages to regain half guard. Good work.

johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to ted johnson.
I think johnson 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... janpeter kurkela!