PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Amir Zuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Johnson's choice of entrance music: tribal entrance. This should be fireworks!

Zuka
vs
Johnson

188 cm
28
194 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

183 cm
24
195 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Hell's Kitchen Clothing
MADE IN GERMANY

Core Tokyo
MADE IN GERMANY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Amir Zuka!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Leo Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zuka.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zuka circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Zuka motions for Johnson to come forward. Zuka throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zuka is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Zuka moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Zuka wants to clinch.
Zuka wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zuka.
Zuka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Johnson checks a leg kick.
Johnson blocks a leg kick.
A right-left combo lands from Johnson.
Zuka pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Johnson shoots in and bounces Zuka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zuka wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Zuka is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stops Zuka from standing up.
Zuka looking to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zuka keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Zuka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zuka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zuka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.
Johnson controlling Zuka's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Zuka wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.
Zuka looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zuka looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Johnson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

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.
Johnson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Zuka trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Zuka works his way to full guard. Good work.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zuka wants to get back to his feet but Johnson passes into half guard.
Zuka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Leo Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Zuka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zuka looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zuka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson scores with a body shot.
Zuka tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zuka looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zuka is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuka tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zuka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Johnson blocks the leg kick.
Zuka looks to land a body kick but Johnson moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson stuns Zuka with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zuka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zuka throws a low kick but Johnson moves out of range easily.
Zuka stuffs the takedown.
Zuka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zuka tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Zuka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zuka.
Johnson lands a nice shot that snaps Zuka's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zuka throws a leg kick but Johnson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zuka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson throws a good cross that connects.
Zuka pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Johnson connects with a single shot there.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Zuka avoids nicely.
Zuka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Zuka rather than just go for the knockout.
Zuka throws a head kick that misses.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zuka's head.
Zuka wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.

Zuka pushes Johnson off and gets back to his feet.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Zuka moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
The crowd cheers as Johnson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zuka doesn't seem phased though.
Zuka pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Johnson checks a low kick from Zuka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zuka is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Zuka throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Zuka throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.
Zuka tries to land a front kick but Johnson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Johnson checks the leg kick.
Zuka is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Johnson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike.
Johnson avoiding damage as Zuka throws knees to the body.
Johnson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zuka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Leo Johnson has been cut.
Johnson pushes Zuka back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Johnson lands a nice uppercut.
A hook to the body from Johnson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Leo Johnson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zuka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson checks a leg kick.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged Zuka in a clinch.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Zuka.
A short right from Johnson.
Johnson scores with a hook to the body.
Zuka misses with an elbow strike.
Zuka throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Johnson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Zuka can't fight it off and eventually Johnson manages to take the fight to the floor. Zuka looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zuka wants to improve his position but instead Johnson has moved into half guard.
Zuka is looking to get back to is feet but Johnson passes into side control.
Johnson cracks Zuka with a big elbow.
Zuka tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.
Zuka gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Zuka is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Zuka is looking to escape.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zuka defending well though.
Zuka is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zuka slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Zuka is retaining full guard.
Johnson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuka keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Zuka working a defensive guard here.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zuka is on top in guard.
Zuka trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zuka wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zuka trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Johnson really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leo Johnson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A head kick misses from Zuka.
Zuka wants to clinch but Johnson slips to the side

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zuka's guard now.
Zuka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zuka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson throws and elbow that misses. Zuka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Zuka!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zuka trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zuka wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Zuka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Zuka from controlling successfully.
Zuka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zuka is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Amir Zuka has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Zuka throws an elbow but it misses.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zuka scores a nice knee to the body.
Zuka displaying some good clinch control by pressing Johnson up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Johnson.
Zuka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Johnson is defending well for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zuka.
Zuka trying to land knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Johnson.
Johnson lands a body punch in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Johnson.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
Johnson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zuka prevents the takedown attempt.
Johnson is leaning against Zuka and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Zuka blocks a body shot from Johnson.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
A knee to the head by Zuka.
Zuka trying to land knees to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Zuka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Johnson is defending well for now.
Zuka tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.
A body shot lands from Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson gets through Zuka's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Johnson lands a nice uppercut.
Johnson scores with a shoulder strike.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zuka landing knees to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Zuka trying to stall but Johnson improves his position.
Johnson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zukas head.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by Zuka.
Johnson is working Zuka over against the cage.
Zuka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Johnson managing to block the knees to the body from Zuka.
Stalling in the clinch from Zuka.
A left hand lands to the body for Johnson.
Johnson digs a right hand underneath Zuka's ribcage. Zuka let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short right from Johnson.
A right handed body shot lands from Johnson.
Johnson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Johnson on the inside.
Zuka's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Johnson looking for a takedown.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Johnson scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Johnson.
Johnson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Zuka misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zuka or not.
Johnson gets through Zuka's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Johnson works on Zuka's body with a couple of short punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Zuka is rocked!
Johnson creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Zuka with a big uppercut! Zuka tries to clinch up but Johnson pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Zuka to the mat! Zuka covers up and Johnson unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Leo Johnson!
Leo Johnson is the new middleweight champion!