PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joules Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter Pirog (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
Pirog

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joules Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Peter Pirog!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Pirog, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Pirog against the cage but Pirog circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Johnson feints and as Pirog raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pirog keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pirog is keeping the position for now.
Johnson content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Joules Johnson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joules Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pirog moves out of range of the body kick.
Pirog displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Johnson is looking to clinch.

Pirog shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Johnson is trying to defend but Pirog finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Pirog passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to hold on but Pirog postures up.
Pirog working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Johnson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johnson tries to get out of the position.
Johnson is working to get back to half guard.
Pirog connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Pirog tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pirog takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pirog is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Pirog shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Pirog showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

Pirog is trying to work for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pirog wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
Pirog thows a huge punch but Johnson dodges it nicely.
Pirog stalling.
Pirog missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pirog is trying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Pirog looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pirog throwing shots but Johnson is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Pirog dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pirog looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pirog tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pirog.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.

Pirog has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Johnson regains guard immediately.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnson is on top in guard.
Pirog has a closed guard, preventing Johnson from standing up.
Pirog is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Pirog is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Johnson gets to his feet - Pirog follows without any prompting.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
Johnson throws a head kick but Pirog moves out of range.
Joules Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Johnson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pirog manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pirog swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pirog working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Pirog keeps moving.
Pirog looking to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Peter Pirog was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Johnson fails with the takedown.

Pirog is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Johnson's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pirog controlling the action here.
Johnson is not content to let Pirog control the position.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Pirog has control of the leg.
Pirog with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Peter Pirog hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Pirog drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Johnson trying to control the position.
Johnson wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Pirog is now in half guard.
Johnson wants to sweep but Pirog has passed to side control!

Pirog looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pirog trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Peter Pirog will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pirog.

Pirog scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.
Johnson tries to bench press Pirog off him but Pirog keeps the position.
Pirog working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is pushing Pirog's head away, looking to escape. Pirog manages to hold on to the position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Pirog's attempts to control the action.
Pirog controlling his opponent.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pirog cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Pirog wants to finish this one by submission but Johnson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Pirog.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to hold on but Pirog postures up.
Johnson tries to reverse the position but Pirog maintains control.
Johnson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Pirog controlling the pace for now.
Johnson is desperately trying to improve his position but Pirog has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Pirog. What's that going to do exactly?
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Pirog's attempts to control the action.
Johnson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Johnson tries to hold on but Pirog postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pirog is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Johnson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Pirog can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Pirog isn't that keen on the idea.
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Pirog's attempts to control the action.
Joules Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Peter Pirog is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Johnson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Pirog comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pirog winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Pirog!