PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sakuragi Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Putin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Johnson
vs
Putin

185 cm
26
133 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

180 cm
29
148 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sakuragi Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vladimir Putin!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Igor Prikhodko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Putin checks it well.

Putin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Johnson did well to prevent Putin getting side control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.
Putin lands with a punch from half guard.
Putin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
Putin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Johnson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.

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

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Putin pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Putin seems to be looking for submissions.
Putin works his foot free and advances to mount.
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Johnson is looking to get to half guard.
Putin wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
Johnson can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Putin is working for a guillotine from mount but Johnson frees his head quite easily.
Johnson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Johnson has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Putin escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Putin!
Putin controlling the position from side mount.
Johnson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Johnson gets full guard.
Putin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Putin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Putin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Putin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Putin dominated that round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johnson gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Putin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Putin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnson.
A low kick from Johnson is predictable there
and Putin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Putin dives in and scores a takedown into Johnson's guard.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Putin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Putin lands a couple of digs.

Johnson working for submissions but it's allowed Putin to get to half guard.
Putin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson taking some punishment here, with Putin in his half guard.
Putin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Putin decides to return to a standing position.
Johnson misses with a takedown

and Putin counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Johnson's guard now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Johnson has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Putin is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Johnson.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Putin is chipping away with strikes.
Putin staying calm.

Putin tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson is looking to reverse the position.
Johnson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Putin's best efforts.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Putin seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.
Putin controlling the pace.
Putin is pressing down on Johnson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Johnson is holding on for now.
Johnson gets back to full guard.
Putin distracts Johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Putin passes into half guard.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Putin.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Putin working Johnson over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Putin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson misses with a takedown
enabling Putin to counter with a crisp jab.
Putin thuds a left hand into Johnson's body.
Johnson misses with a combination
and Putin counters with a stiff right hand.
A nice combination there by Putin.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Putin is just out of range.
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Putin shoots in and bounces Johnson off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Putin passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putin is nestled in close to Johnson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard but Putin has mounted him!
Putin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
A nice elbow there by Putin.

Putin is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Johnson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Putin controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.
Johnson is trying to reverse the position but instead Putin has taken his back - oops!
A lull in the action here.
Johnson tries to roll but Putin sticks to his back.
Putin punishes Johnson with strikes from the back mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Putin working for a choke but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson rolls, trying to escape but Putin keeps control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vladimir Putin has got the better of the ground game so far.

Johnson defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Putin's arms.
Johnson tries to escape the position.
Putin is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Putin gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Putin gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Putin apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Putin stuns Johnson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Johnson with a poor takedown
and Putin makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Vladimir Putin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sakuragi Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick
and Putin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Putin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Johnson sprawls well initially but Putin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Putin moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Johnson.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Putin keeps moving and retains side control.
Putin is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Johnson will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Johnson is trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Putin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Putin 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Vladimir Putin!
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Vladimir Putin!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Vladimir Putin!

Vladimir Putin wins by unanimous decision!