PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Salas (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
Salas

190 cm
23
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

211 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bobby Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ricky Salas!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salas closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Salas's guard now.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Johnson wants to stand but Salas has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Salas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salas is keeping the position for now.
Salas wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salas wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Johnson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Salas looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Salas looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Salas!
Salas is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salas creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Johnson sneaks back into half guard.
Johnson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Salas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Salas's back!
Will Johnson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Salas fending off the submission attempt from Johnson.
Salas just trying to survive but Johnson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Johnson gets his hands free as Salas looks to control.
Salas tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Johnson unloading with bombs!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson trying to control but Salas is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The referee warns Salas that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Salas taking shots to the head.
Johnson trying to control but Salas is having none of it.
Salas is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Salas wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Salas is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.
Salas is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Johnson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Johnson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salas tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.

Johnson is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Salas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Johnson 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.

Salas closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Salas pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Salas is defended easily by Johnson.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Johnson here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Salas tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Salas!
Johnson tries to control but Salas wriggling away.
Salas is trying to reverse the position but instead Johnson has taken his back - oops!
Salas is trying to break free.

Salas is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Johnson gets his way!

Salas is in a bad position with Johnson working for a choke. Salas manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Salas is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Salas defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Salas trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Salas controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salas is looking to advance position but Johnson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Johnson wants to control the pace but Salas is squirming around nicely.

Johnson is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Salas.
Bobby Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salas tries to land a front kick but Johnson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A left and a right from Salas both land. Nice combination.
Salas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Salas persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Bobby Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Salas.
Salas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Salas after a bit of a struggle.
Johnson stops a takedown attempt from Salas.
Salas wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Salas is trying to maintain a safe position but Johnson gets an underhook and turns Salas into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to break free but Salas pushes him back against the cage.
Salas wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.

Johnson gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Johnson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Salas is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Salas avoid being mounted?

Salas pushes Johnson off and gets back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Salas shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Johnson is trying to defend but Salas finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Salas not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ricky Salas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Salas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Salas.
Johnson scores with a head kick. Salas tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Salas rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Salas has managed to free his arm - good work.
Johnson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salas is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Salas wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Salas won't allow it.
Salas is looking to escape.
Johnson is thwarting Salas's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Salas from improving his position.
Salas is trying to control but can't.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.

Salas has one foot on Johnson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salas throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Salas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Salas tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Salas.
Salas is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.

Salas feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Salas pushing down on Johnson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Johnson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Johnson trying to get back to full guard but Salas takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Salas is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Salas. Johnson shrugs it off though.
Salas tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salas lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Salas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johnson's waist but Johnson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Salas off to one side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Salas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Salas has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Salas!