PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nick Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pallai Zoltan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zoltan is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Sub Bass Monster - Hol a szeretet?. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Zoltan

179 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
143 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pallai Zoltan!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zoltan 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.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Zoltan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zoltan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Johnson passes into half guard.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Zoltan dodges it nicely.
Zoltan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Johnson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Zoltan to get to his feet.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zoltan tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Johnson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Zoltan moves into full guard.
Johnson 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Zoltan.
Johnson wants to stand but Zoltan is controlling his posture from full guard.
Johnson content to stall in guard here.
Zoltan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Zoltan is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Johnson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Zoltan goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Johnson is on top in guard.
Johnson advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zoltan is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Johnson is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zoltan looks gassed!
Zoltan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson content just to control the position here.
Zoltan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.

Johnson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Zoltan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johnson lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoltan is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zoltan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Johnson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Johnson trying to control but Zoltan is having none of it.
Zoltan regains half guard.
Zoltan is looking to escape.
Johnson sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Johnson stalling away here and it's allowed Zoltan to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four 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.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Zoltan 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.
Zoltan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Zoltan prevents Johnson from getting the reversal.

Zoltan goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Johnson turns into him and now he's in Zoltan's guard.

Zoltan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson pushes Zoltan up against the cage in a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zoltan misses with an elbow over the top.
Zoltan looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zoltan misses with an elbow over the top.
Johnson blocks the elbow strike.
Zoltan lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Zoltan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zoltan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Johnson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Zoltan creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Johnson pulls guard effortlessly.

Johnson kicks Zoltan off and gets to his feet.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zoltan wants to get back to full guard.

Johnson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Zoltan to get to his feet.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is taking a breather. Zoltan says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Johnson working over Zoltan with some ground and pound. Zoltan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Johnson works his way into side control.
Zoltan is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Johnson is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Zoltan is bucking up trying to escape but Johnson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Zoltan is trying desperately to improve position.
Zoltan slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zoltan wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johnson is landing with some decent strikes but Zoltan is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Zoltan manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Zoltan with the active half guard here but Johnson passes nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoltan is looking for a sweep.
Johnson works to advance to full mount. Zoltan defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Zoltan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Johnson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Johnson with good strikes from the mount here!
Johnson with shots to the head and body - Zoltan looks very uncomfortable down there.
Zoltan manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Johnson decides to stand and escape the position.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoltan wants a takedown but no success here.
Nick Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pallai Zoltan.
Zoltan pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Johnson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zoltan looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zoltan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Johnson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zoltan uses from the top position.
Nick Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zoltan is pushing down on Johnson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Johnson is fighting to maintain full guard but Zoltan has managed to sneak the leg through.

Zoltan 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.

Zoltan seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.

Zoltan is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnson is just riding it out for now. Zoltan eventually gives up the hold.
Zoltan passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zoltan looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Zoltan jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Johnson is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Johnson and Zoltan has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Zoltan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Zoltan has hold of Johnson's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Johnson seems comfortable defending it but Zoltan has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Johnson is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Johnson is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Zoltan couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Pallai Zoltan!