PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mercury Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dos Santos
vs
Johnson

190 cm
25
269 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
270 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Junior Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mercury Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos looks to clinch
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dos Santos throws a combination that misses
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dos Santos swivels and escapes.
Dos Santos looks to clinch

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Dos Santos didn't expect that.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dos Santos is keeping the position for now.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Dos Santos can't keep his opponent in guard - Johnson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dos Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Dos Santos dodges it nicely.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Dos Santos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dos Santos defending well though.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson is trying to control. Dos Santos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Dos Santos kicks off Johnson and gets to his feet.

Dos Santos tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Johnson trying to control the position but instead, Dos Santos has worked for underhooks and has pushed Johnson into the cage.
Dos Santos wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two 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 pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson digs a good body shot into Dos Santos's ribs.
Dos Santos shoots and misses
and Johnson counters with a left and a right that stings Dos Santos.
Dos Santos is breathing heavily.
Dos Santos misses with a combination
and Johnson counters with a one-two to the body.
Dos Santos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Johnson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Dos Santos has wrist control.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Dos Santos's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Johnson trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.
Dos Santos can't keep his opponent in guard - Johnson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dos Santos keeps working.
Johnson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controlling the action here.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Dos Santos dodges it nicely.
Dos Santos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Johnson is keen to just control but Dos Santos is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to Dos Santos's temple.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Dos Santos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mercury Johnson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt
and Johnson counters with a stiff right hand.
Dos Santos misses with a combination
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
Dos Santos with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johnson counters with a nice body shot.
Dos Santos gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Dos Santos misses with a combination

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dos Santos's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.
Dos Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson landing some decent shots from guard.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson landing some decent shots from guard.
Johnson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Dos Santos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnson is pushing down on Dos Santos's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dos Santos is fighting to maintain full guard but Johnson has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to Dos Santos's temple.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dos Santos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dos Santos defending well though.
Dos Santos knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dos Santos defending well though.
Dos Santos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to Dos Santos's temple.
Dos Santos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dos Santos's head.
Johnson working Dos Santos over with strikes.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mercury Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson throwing shots but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Johnson prevents Dos Santos from standing back up.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Dos Santos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dos Santos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson is trying to control. Dos Santos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dos Santos could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Dos Santos is trying to stand back up but Johnson is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mercury 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!

A left and a right from Johnson both land. Nice combination.
Dos Santos throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Johnson counters with a series of strikes. Dos Santos will be more careful next time no doubt.
Dos Santos throws a left and a right that both miss
and Johnson counters with a right hand to the body.
Dos Santos misses with a body punch

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Dos Santos!
Johnson raining down shots from the mount!
Johnson tries to control but Dos Santos wriggling away.
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 Dos Santos's face.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson scoring with strikes but Dos Santos is staying in there.
Johnson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Johnson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Johnson trying to control but Dos Santos is having none of it.
Johnson with the ground and pound from mount.
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!
Dos Santos taking shots to the head.
Johnson tries to control but Dos Santos wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Johnson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Johnson thowing shots but they're missing.
Johnson looking to control but Dos Santos is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dos Santos is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Johnson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Dos Santos?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Johnson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
A nice elbow there by Johnson.
Johnson lands a big elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson with shots to the head and body - Dos Santos looks very uncomfortable down there.
Johnson looking to finish Dos Santos with some ground and pound. This is bad for Dos Santos!
Junior Dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson lands a big shot there that rocks Dos Santos but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson with the ground and pound from mount.
Dos Santos wants to try and get back to his feet.
Mercury Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controlling the pace for now.
Johnson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Johnson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Johnson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson trying to control but Dos Santos is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mercury 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 24:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 25:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 25:30

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