PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tarmo Kink (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and EJ Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson has chosen Eminem: Despicable as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kink
vs
Johnson

175 cm
21
150 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

173 cm
23
153 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

BEST NUTRITION,no doping

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NBK Lab

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tarmo Kink!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, EJ Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kink shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Johnson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kink working the ground and pound from side control.
Johnson is not content to let Kink control the position.
Kink working the ground and pound but Johnson is defending the strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Johnson looks to move to half guard but instead Kink has passed into mount! Damn!
Johnson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kink landing strikes, looking to finish!

Kink has control of Johnson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Johnson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Johnson regains half guard.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.
Johnson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kink missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Johnson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kink distracts Johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Kink got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kink has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kink gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Kink from controlling successfully.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Kink from controlling successfully.
Kink is really struggling to control Johnson but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Johnson scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Kink controlling him for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control. Kink wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kink wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Johnson trying to control from half guard but Kink is working away.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Kink defends it.
Kink tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Kink scores with a few weak punches.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Kink sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Kink keeps it at a distance.

Kink shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson gets back to full guard.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Johnson looking for subs off his back but Kink has passed one foot through into half guard.
Kink sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.
Kink lands strikes from half guard.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Kink has control of the leg.
Kink is nestled in close to Johnson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Johnson gets back to full guard.
Kink throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Johnson looks gassed!
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Kink looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kink keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kink is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Kink wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kink is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Kink is doing well to control the position and prevent Johnson from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tarmo Kink will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson tries to clinch but Kink is having none of it.
Kink fails to land the takedown.
Kink circles away from the clinch attempt.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by Kink.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Johnson.
Still in the clinch, Johnson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Johnson lands a hook that snaps the head of Kink backwards.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by Kink.
Kink blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kink blocking some punches.
Kink tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Johnson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kink is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Johnson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarmo Kink. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson lands a left hand.
Johnson misses with a knee strike.
Johnson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kink.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Kink.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by Kink.
Kink tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnson just stands there and leans against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Johnson.
Johnson tries a body shot but Kink blocks it.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Kink has Johnson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Johnson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johnson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Johnson connects with a knee to the head.
Kink blocks an uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Johnson as the two fighters clinch.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by Kink.
Johnson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Johnson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Johnson presses Kink against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Johnson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kink blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kink.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kink tries to pull guard but Johnson won't allow it.
Johnson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Johnson tries a body shot but Kink blocks it.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Kink.
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Kink has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnson down to the mat. Johnson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kink has his takedown stuffed

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johnson cracks Kink with a nice body shot.
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Kink has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnson down to the mat. Johnson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kink is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Johnson wants to free his trapped foot but Kink is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kink is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Johnson works his way into side control.
Johnson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kink struggling a bit here.
Kink is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Kink is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Johnson is controlling him well.
Johnson laying and praying for a moment but Kink takes advantage and regains half guard.
Johnson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kink knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kink is looking to improve his position.
Kink is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Kink or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnson which made him look bad.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kink with a lazy takedown attempt

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kink tries for a takedown. No joy.
Johnson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johnson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kink backwards.
A hook to the body from Johnson.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Kink.
Johnson presses Kink against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nice body punch from Johnson - that landed with a thud.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

EJ Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kink gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.
Kink has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kink keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson lands with a thumping leg kick.
EJ Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kink avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Kink pushes him off.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Johnson tries to clinch but Kink moves out of range.
Kink moves away from the strike by Johnson.
Kink with a poor takedown

and Johnson counters by clinching up.
Kink blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Johnson lands with a left to the head.
Johnson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kink backwards.
Johnson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson lands a right hand.
Kink blocking some punches.
Kink tries to pull guard but Johnson won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarmo Kink. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kink has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Johnson scores with a knee to the head.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kink blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Johnson.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kink backwards.
Kink wants a takedown but no success here.
Johnson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
Johnson working aggressively here.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Johnson.

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.
Kink goes for a takedown in the clinch but Johnson prevents it.
Kink jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Johnson walks away with a smile on his face. Kink gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Kink 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.
Kink scoring with punches to the head and body.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson seems keen to control Kink's posture.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing Kink from standing up.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kink won't allow Johnson to pass to mount.

Johnson 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kink tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kink striking from half guard on the bottom.
Kink on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kink tries to get out of the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kink manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kink is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kink looking for a sweep. Not yet Kink, not yet.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Kink is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kink paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kink working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson is pulling down on Kink's head to control his posture.
Kink trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson is trying to keep Kink in close.
Kink has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kink throws a big right hand that misses.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kink avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kink shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johnson's guard.
Kink trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

Johnson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to EJ Johnson.
I think Johnson 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... EJ Johnson!