PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentine Pikul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bob Johnson has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Pikul
vs
Johnson

198 cm
25
293 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valentine Pikul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bob Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pikul shoots in and bounces Johnson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pikul throws a big right hand that misses.
Pikul controlling from the top position.
Pikul content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pikul slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Pikul with a nice head shot there.
Pikul prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pikul showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johnson can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Pikul is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pikul is one step ahead there.
Pikul throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Pikul 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 Pikul, into his guard.
Pikul looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.

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.

Pikul throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Pikul working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to stand but Pikul is controlling from the bottom.
Pikul has control of Johnson's left arm, preventing Johnson from doing any damage.
Johnson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pikul's guard.

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.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pikul is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentine Pikul dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pikul scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Pikul seems to be looking for submissions.
Pikul is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Pikul lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from Pikul there.
Pikul is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.
Pikul content to control rather than advance.
Johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pikul scores with a couple of nice shots.
Valentine Pikul overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pikul not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pikul working the head and body with strikes.
Pikul working Johnson over with strikes.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Pikul content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Pikul works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Pikul.
Pikul controlling the pace for now.
Pikul lands a big shot there that rocks Johnson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Pikul takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pikul is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Johnson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pikul can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Pikul landing strikes from the mount.
Pikul lands with some strikes.
Pikul is landing with some decent strikes but Johnson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Pikul controlling the position easily from mount.
Johnson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Pikul punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pikul landing strikes, looking to finish!
Pikul has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Pikul lands with some strikes.
Pikul tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pikul. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pikul in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Johnson taking shots to the head.
Pikul cracks Johnson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
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!
Pikul pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pikul tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Pikul scoring with strikes but Johnson is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentine Pikul dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pikul closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Johnson to the mat! Johnson manages to get full guard.

Pikul decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Johnson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Pikul won't allow it.
Pikul is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johnson pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Pikul turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Pikul manages to end up in side control.
Johnson tries to escape but Pikul is in control.
Pikul lands a few punches from side control.
Pikul lands a nice forearm strike.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.
Pikul is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Pikul in side control lands a decent elbow.
Pikul trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikul remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Johnson tries to improve position but can't.
Johnson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Johnson is being controlled here.
Pikul scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Johnson to see if he's OK.
Pikul working the ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pikul landing a few strikes.
Pikul lands a decent elbow from side control.
Pikul working the ground and pound from side control.
Johnson seems a little lost for a moment, as Pikul dominates the positioning.
Pikul in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Pikul lands some shots froms side control.
Johnson is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Pikul cracks Johnson with a big right hand but Johnson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Pikul cracks Johnson with a big elbow.
Pikul is putting a hurting on Johnson here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson taking a bit of punishment here - Pikul scoring with strikes.
Pikul happy to just control the position for now.
Johnson is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Pikul working the head and body with strikes.
Pikul wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Valentine Pikul is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pikul landing strikes.
Pikul content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Pikul keeps moving and retains side control.
Pikul is chipping away with strikes.
Pikul landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Bob Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valentine Pikul showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pikul, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:26
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentine Pikul!