PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Tank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tank
vs
Johnson

185 cm
28
205 lbs
5 - 12 - 1

180 cm
27
218 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Tank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tank showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Tank is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Johnson's half guard.
Tank missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Tank lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tank lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Johnson gets back to full guard.
Tank has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tank throws and elbow that misses. Johnson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tank's guard. Nice move by Johnson!
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Tank's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tank is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tank knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Tank has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tank utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson tries to stand but Tank is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tank is keeping the position for now.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Tank is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Tank is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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 throwing strikes but missing.
Tank working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson pushes down on Tank's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tank blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Tank dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Johnson misses with an uppercut. Tank saw that one coming.
Johnson throws an off balance right hand

and Tank counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Johnson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tank chips away with some ground and pound.
Tank lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Johnson has momentary wrist control but Tank slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tank lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tank defends it easily.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson throwing short punches from the bottom.
Mike Tank overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tank throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tank's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tank is working Johnson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tank's guard.
Johnson prevents Tank from getting back to his feet.
Tank is wriggling around but Johnson manages to pass to half guard.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tank defending well though.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnson wants to control but Tank is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tank scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Johnson manages to mount him!
Tank is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Johnson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Tank tries to buck Johnson off but he can't manage it.
Johnson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tank really wants to buck Johnson off and get back to his feet.
Johnson thowing shots but they're missing.
Johnson with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mike Tank will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tank looking to score a takedown here. Johnson is defending well but Tank drives through and ends up in Johnson's guard.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tank looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throwing shots but Tank is blocking nicely.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson prevents Tank from standing back up.
Tank blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tank defending well though.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

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.
Tank keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Tank defends it.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stops Tank from getting back to his feet.
Rodrigo Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tank blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tank's head.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tank pushes Johnson off looking to stand but Johnson dives back in and keeps control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Tank.
Well Tank 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mike Tank!