PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcelo Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bryan Johnson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Garcia
vs
Johnson

171 cm
24
169 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

183 cm
26
180 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcelo Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bryan Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Garcia drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Garcia decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.
Johnson takes one on the button.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Garcia circles away easily
letting Garcia counter with a right hand.
Garcia will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Garcia connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.

Johnson tries to sprawl but Garcia drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Garcia wants to stand up but Johnson has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garcia decides to stand up.
Garcia fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Johnson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Johnson misses with a takedown

and Garcia moves into the clinch.
Marcelo Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Johnson.

Garcia tightens his grip and picks Johnson up, before dumping him to the ground. Johnson manages to land in guard.

Johnson is working an open guard so Garcia takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Garcia tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Garcia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Garcia scores with a body shot.

Johnson scores with a takedown into Garcia's guard.
Johnson looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson prevents Garcia from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garcia keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Garcia wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.

Garcia has his feet on Johnson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Garcia looks to land a right hand but Johnson moved out of range.
Johnson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Garcia sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johnson somewhat.

Garcia closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Garcia lands in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garcia stands up and waves to Johnson to follow him.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Johnson has Garcia up against the cage in a clinch.

Garcia has clasped his hands together around Johnson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garcia stands up.
Johnson is looking to land body kicks.
Garcia throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Garcia scores with a crisp jab that stopped Johnson in his tracks.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Garcia circles away easily
and Garcia counters with a left to the body.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Garcia's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garcia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Garcia dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

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

Garcia has picked Johnson up - he's going for a ride! Garcia dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Garcia stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bryan Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Johnson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Garcia counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.
Garcia wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcelo Garcia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson is keen to just control but Garcia is a slippery customer.
Garcia tries to kick Johnson off but Johnson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Johnson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Garcia defending well though.
Johnson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Garcia is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

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.
Garcia trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Johnson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Garcia is surviving well by controlling Johnson's body position as best he can.
Johnson with good strikes from the mount here!
Garcia is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Johnson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Garcia manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Johnson prevents Garcia from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position but Garcia is working away.
Johnson prevents Garcia from escaping the position.

Johnson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Johnson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Johnson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Johnson prevents Garcia from escaping the position.

Johnson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Johnson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Garcia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Garcia is trying to buck Johnson off.

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 tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Johnson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Johnson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Garcia is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Johnson asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Johnson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Garcia knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan 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! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Garcia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson moves to clinch but Garcia breaks away
and Garcia counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Garcia to acknowledge the strikes.
Johnson throws a leg kick

and Garcia counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Garcia breaks the clinch.
Garcia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson shoots in but Garcia avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Garcia circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Marcelo Garcia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Garcia looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Garcia!
Garcia moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
No joy there for Garcia, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Garcia throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.

Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Garcia tries to escape but Johnson is in control.
Johnson tries to move to mount but Garcia blocks the move with his legs.
Garcia is trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Garcia has escaped the position, nice work there.

Johnson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Garcia, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia prevents Johnson from moving into mount.
Garcia wants to get back to his feet but Johnson drags him back down.

Garcia throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Garcia pinned against the cage. Garcia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Marcelo Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Johnson.
Johnson defending well as Garcia loads up on a big left hand.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garcia pushes Johnson off looking to stand but Johnson dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.
Garcia wants to get back to his feet.
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 Garcia's temple.

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.
Garcia pushes Johnson off looking to stand but Johnson dives back in and keeps control.

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.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Johnson lands a nice short elbow.
Garcia wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
Johnson prevents Garcia from standing back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcelo Garcia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Garcia has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcelo Garcia!