PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Draco Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teppo Peppo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnson
vs
Peppo

198 cm
24
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
19
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Draco Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teppo Peppo!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Peppo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Peppo tries to clinch up.
Peppo throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.

Johnson has Peppo up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson tries for a takedown. No joy.

Johnson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
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.
Peppo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Johnson working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Peppo's thigh. Peppo counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Peppo trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Peppo has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Johnson prevents Peppo from taking his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to stand.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Peppo trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Peppo looking to control but Johnson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Peppo won't let Johnson get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Peppo controlling the pace for now.
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 really trying hard to get back to his feet.
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.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Peppo is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Johnson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Johnson shrugs it off.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Johnson trying desperately to get to his feet.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
BOOM! Peppo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Peppo tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Peppo looking to control and managing it successfully.

Peppo looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
A nice elbow there by Peppo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peppo lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Johnson hang on?
Johnson wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Peppo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Johnson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Peppo controlling his opponent.
Johnson is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Peppo has taken his back!
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Peppo scores with strikes from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Peppo from getting a body triangle.
Johnson holding both Peppo 's hands and preventing any damage.
Will Peppo go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Peppo really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Johnson.
Peppo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Peppo missing with strikes.

Peppo has his opponent's back but Johnson is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Peppo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teppo Peppo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Peppo swinging wildly here.

Johnson pushes Peppo up against the cage in a clinch.
Peppo has Johnson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Johnson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Johnson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Peppo trying to control but Johnson postures up.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Peppo is defending well.
Peppo is breathing heavily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Peppo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson stalling away here and it's allowed Peppo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Johnson postures up in Peppo's guard and throws a big left but Peppo blocks it.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson connects with a couple of short punches.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Peppo keeps moving.
Johnson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Johnson tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson grinds an elbow into Peppo's temple.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Peppo keeps working.
Johnson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Peppo stops Johnson from passing to mount.
Johnson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Peppo works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Peppo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Peppo won't allow it.
Johnson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johnson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Peppo hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Peppo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Peppo is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Johnson lands a heavy elbow.
Johnson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Johnson with a couple of short strikes.
Johnson breaks from Peppo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Johnson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Peppo's face.
Peppo is working to get back to half guard.
Johnson with shots to the head and body - Peppo looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson shoots in and drives through. Peppo sprawls well.
Peppo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Johnson here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Peppo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.
Peppo lands a leg kick that knocks Johnson off balance momentarily.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Peppo sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Draco Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Peppo thuds his shin into the meat of Johnson's side.
Johnson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Peppo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Peppo counters with a two punch combo.

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Peppo sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Peppo defends it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.

Johnson 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.
Peppo regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Johnson.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

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.
Peppo pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Peppo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.
Peppo throwing strikes but missing.

Johnson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Peppo closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson prevents Peppo from breaking the clinch.

Peppo is fighting off a takedown attempt but Johnson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Peppo to the mat. Peppo regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Peppo looking to control.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson won't allow Peppo to get back to his feet.
Johnson works over Peppo with some ground and pound from guard.
Draco Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Peppo is keeping the position for now.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Peppo holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson passes Peppo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Johnson trying to control from half guard but Peppo is working away.
Johnson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Johnson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Johnson is landing with some decent strikes but Peppo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

And that's the end of the fight!
Draco Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

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