PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jack Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlo Gambino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Johnson
vs
Gambino

165 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jack Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Carlo Gambino!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gambino is looking to clinch.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Johnson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gambino is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gambino has escaped and now he's on top!

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gambino defends it easily.

Gambino avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Gambino defends easily.
Gambino would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Johnson has his foot on Gambino's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gambino works his way back into a safe position though.
Gambino tries to stand but Johnson is controlling from the bottom.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gambino gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gambino wants to stand but Johnson is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gambino gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Gambino wants to get up but he can't break Johnson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gambino defends it easily.
Gambino is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gambino wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gambino doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gambino manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gambino wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Gambino stands up from Johnson's guard - Gambino perhaps looking for a knockout.

Johnson scores with a takedown into Gambino's guard.

Johnson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gambino is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gambino has escaped and now he's on top!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gambino is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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

Johnson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gambino defends well.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Gambino defends easily.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing Gambino from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Johnson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gambino wants to stand but Johnson is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gambino gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Gambino controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gambino is looking to clinch.
Gambino tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.

Johnson 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.

Johnson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gambino looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gambino looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gambino!

Gambino decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.
Gambino tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Gambino tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gambino looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Gambino still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Gambino has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

Gambino decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.

Johnson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnson lands in his opponent's guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Johnson working for a triangle but Gambino defends it easily.
Gambino wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Johnson is working an open guard so Gambino takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson has his foot on Gambino's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gambino works his way back into a safe position though.

Gambino stands up and waves to Johnson to follow him.

Johnson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

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

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Johnson is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Gambino to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
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.

Johnson has gone for a leg lock! Gambino slips out almost immediately though and dives into Johnson's guard.

Johnson has his foot on Gambino's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gambino works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

Johnson working for a triangle but Gambino defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gambino fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Gambino.
Gambino tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.

Johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Gambino has his foot on Johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnson works his way back into a safe position though.

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

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gambino decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Gambino is looking to clinch.
Gambino tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gambino moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.

Johnson feints and as Gambino raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gambino dives on top into guard.
Gambino tries to stand but Johnson is controlling from the bottom.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gambino gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gambino trying to stand up but can't free himself from Johnson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson working for a triangle but Gambino defends it easily.
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!

Johnson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gambino defends well.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gambino defends it easily.
Gambino has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnson is proving hard to escape from.

Gambino is sitting in close to Johnson's body. Johnson has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Gambino is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Gambino is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Johnson.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Jack Johnson!