PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rolif Cheperov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rolif Cheperov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cheperov
vs
Johnson

197 cm
18
188 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rolif Cheperov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cheperov looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cheperov.
Cheperov swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Cheperov throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Johnson misses with the combination.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cheperov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cheperov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson punishes Cheperov's body with a nice straight punch.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cheperov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cheperov throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cheperov keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson tries to clinch but Cheperov moves out of range.
Johnson wants to clinch.
Cheperov keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Johnson throws a right hand that Cheperov ducks under and follows up with a left that Cheperov also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheperov throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Cheperov fails to land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cheperov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cheperov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Cheperov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cheperov throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Cheperov misses with a double jab.
Cheperov swinging wildly here.
Cheperov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cheperov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cheperov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Cheperov misses with a few strikes there.
Cheperov throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Cheperov throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Cheperov misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Some wild striking there from Cheperov.
Cheperov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Johnson wants to clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch but Cheperov moves out of range.
Cheperov fails to land with a series of punches.
Cheperov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cheperov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cheperov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cheperov fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Cheperov keeps it at a distance.
Cheperov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Cheperov circles away.
Cheperov lands a two punch combo.
Cheperov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Cheperov swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.

Johnson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Johnson swings wildly with an uppercut but Cheperov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Still in the clinch, Johnson scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cheperov can't break the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Johnson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cheperov wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.

Cheperov manages to break the clinch.
Johnson tries to bum rush Cheperov with a series of wild strikes but Cheperov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cheperov throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Cheperov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
No joy there for Cheperov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Cheperov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cheperov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Cheperov avoids it well.
Johnson lands a jab-cross combination.
Cheperov throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
Cheperov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cheperov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cheperov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cheperov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cheperov fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson wants to clinch.

That's four 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.
Johnson stalks Cheperov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cheperov's face. Cheperov staggers backwards, shaken.
Cheperov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Cheperov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Cheperov circles away and keeps his distance.
Cheperov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Johnson moves into the clinch.

Johnson drags the fight down to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Johnson has Cheperov pulled in close to control his posture.
Cheperov wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Johnson controlling Cheperov's posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Johnson working for a triangle but Cheperov defends it easily.
Cheperov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cheperov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnson is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Johnson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Johnson throws a series of punches but Cheperov moves out of range.
Cheperov looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Cheperov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cheperov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Cheperov.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Cheperov pushes him off.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cheperov is trying to force a seperation but Johnson has the dominant position.
Johnson gets through Cheperov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Johnson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cheperov keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cheperov is trying to force a seperation but Johnson has the dominant position.
Johnson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cheperov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Johnson in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Johnson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
No joy there for Cheperov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rolif Cheperov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheperov swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Cheperov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Cheperov keeps it at a distance.
Cheperov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Some wild striking there from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cheperov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
Cheperov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A right-left combo lands from Cheperov.
Johnson works Cheperov's body with a nice hook.
Cheperov throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cheperov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cheperov throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Cheperov circles away.
Cheperov throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cheperov throws a combination. Johnson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cheperov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
No joy there for Cheperov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cheperov lands a two punch combo.
Cheperov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Cheperov.
Johnson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Cheperov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Cheperov circles away and keeps his distance.
Cheperov throws a one two combo.
Cheperov is working the combinations to good effect here.
Johnson misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Johnson duly obliges.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Cheperov keeps it at a distance.
Cheperov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cheperov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cheperov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Cheperov looks to land a combination. Johnson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cheperov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cheperov misses with a two punch combination.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cheperov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cheperov misses with a wild combination.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cheperov backs up against the cage.
Some wild striking there from Cheperov.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cheperov circles away quickly and effectively.
Cheperov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cheperov throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cheperov tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cheperov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Johnson darts in and clinches Cheperov up against the cage.
Cheperov is trying to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Cheperov is controlling the position.
Johnson keeps control of Cheperov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Johnson tries to break free but Cheperov pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson keeps control of Cheperov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cheperov's efforts to push away.
Johnson is trying to break free.
Cheperov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Cheperov is controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cheperov gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Cheperov holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnson drops back down to his feet.
Rolif Cheperov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Johnson.
Cheperov has had enough of the clinch but Johnson keeps him there for the moment.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cheperov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cheperov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cheperov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Cheperov against the cage.
Cheperov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Cheperov breaks from the clinch.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cheperov tries to circle away but Johnson has him pinned against the cage.

Johnson pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
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.

Johnson uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cheperov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged Cheperov in a clinch.
Cheperov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.

Cheperov tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheperov tries to break free but Johnson pushes him back against the cage.
Cheperov working hard to break the clinch.
Cheperov tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cheperov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnson tries to clinch but Cheperov moves out of range.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson throws a body punch but Cheperov moves out of range.
Cheperov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A combination from Cheperov does no damage.
Cheperov throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cheperov misses with a wild combination.
Cheperov fails to land with a series of punches.
Cheperov misses with a series of wild punches.
Cheperov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cheperov misses with a two punch combination.

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.
Some wild striking there from Cheperov.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cheperov looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Cheperov throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Some wild striking there from Johnson.
Cheperov swinging wildly here.
Cheperov swinging wildly here.
Cheperov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cheperov looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Cheperov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cheperov swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson tries to clinch but Cheperov is having none of it.
Cheperov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cheperov throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
No joy there for Cheperov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheperov misses with the combination.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cheperov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cheperov throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.

Johnson rushes Cheperov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cheperov is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Cheperov wants to break free but Johnson has control.
Cheperov wants to break free but Johnson has control.
Johnson cracks Cheperov with a nice body shot.
Cheperov can't break the clinch.
Cheperov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cheperov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Johnson keeps control of Cheperov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cheperov is trying to force a seperation but Johnson has the dominant position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cheperov.
Johnson wants to break free but Cheperov has control.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Cheperov keeps him there for the moment.
Cheperov working hard to break the clinch.
Cheperov is trying to break free.
Cheperov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Johnson working hard to break the clinch.
Cheperov is trying to break free.

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.
Cheperov tries to circle away but Johnson has him pinned against the cage.
Johnson tries to break free but Cheperov pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson has Cheperov pressed against the cage, preventing Cheperov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cheperov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cheperov misses with a wild combination.
Cheperov slips under a jab.
Cheperov throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Cheperov circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Cheperov.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cheperov.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cheperov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cheperov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rolif Cheperov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryan Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

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