PBP Commentary

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

Johnson
vs
Hemler

204 cm
22
250 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
260 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Karsten Hemler!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hemler fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice body punch from Johnson.
Hemler is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Nice takedown defense from Johnson. No joy for Hemler on that attempt.
Hemler 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 Hemler off to one side.
John Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karsten Hemler.
Hemler stuffs the takedown.
Hemler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Johnson.
Hemler has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Johnson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hemler can't get the takedown.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent Hemler's takedown attempt.
Johnson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hemler.
Stalling in the clinch from Hemler.
Hemler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Johnson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hemler looks gassed!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hemler is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Johnson to the mat. Johnson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Johnson is controlling Hemler's posture.
Johnson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Hemler wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.
Hemler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson looking to control.
Hemler wants to get up but he can't break Johnson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Johnson has control of Hemler's left arm, preventing Hemler from doing any damage.
Hemler wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson pulls Hemler in to control the position.
Hemler looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Johnson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Hemler looks to clinch

so Johnson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Johnson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hemler looking to control.
Johnson is in close to Hemler's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hemler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Hemler wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hemler throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hemler wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hemler working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.
Hemler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hemler is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hemler trying to strike off his back.
Johnson controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hemler is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Johnson 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.

Hemler shoots and misses

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
Hemler is looking to regain half guard here but Johnson keeps moving and retains side control.
A lull in the action here as Johnson stalls from top position.
Hemler is trying to get back to half guard.
Hemler is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Johnson wants to control but Hemler is keeping him busy.
Hemler struggling a bit here.
Hemler is breathing heavily.
Hemler sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Johnson slips a nice elbow through Hemler's hands, connecting with Hemler's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hemler looking for a kimura from the bottom but Johnson passes into side control!
Hemler is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Johnson is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Hemler is trying to escape the mount.
Hemler regains half guard.

Hemler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hemler is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hemler punching from the bottom.
Hemler is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hemler is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Johnson trying to control but Hemler is having none of it.
Hemler tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hemler working to try and regain half guard.

Johnson has hold of Hemler's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hemler manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Hemler from getting the reversal.
Hemler regains half guard.
Hemler is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hemler avoid being mounted?
Johnson trying to control from half guard but Hemler is working away.

Hemler looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hemler trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Hemler wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Hemler wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hemler is looking to improve his position.

Hemler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hemler looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hemler wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Hemler controlling him for the moment.
Johnson pulls Hemler in close to his closed guard and prevents Hemler from doing any damage or advancing position.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hemler!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Johnson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Hemler darts in trying to clinch
and Johnson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hemler is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Johnson thows a body kick. Hemler tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Hemler blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Hemler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hemler wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.

Hemler is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hemler looking for a sweep. Not yet Hemler, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hemler is trying to hold Johnson in close to prevent damage but Johnson has managed to pass into half guard.

Hemler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hemler punching from the bottom.
Johnson is tying to control. Hemler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hemler shoots and misses

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Hemler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hemler lands a knee to the body.

Hemler ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hemler no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hemler wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson stays in close to Hemler's body and controls the position.
Hemler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hemler wants to stand and escape but Johnson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Hemler has wrist control.

Hemler working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Hemler is keeping the position.
Hemler trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hemler closes the distance and clinches.

Hemler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hemler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Hemler didn't expect that.
John Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karsten Hemler.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Hemler.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hemler working a defensive guard here.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Hemler is retaining full guard.

Hemler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hemler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hemler had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Johnson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Hemler Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Johnson's back instead.
Hemler landing with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Hemler is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Johnson is defending well though. Hemler let's go of the attempt for now.
Hemler is landing with strikes from the back.

Hemler is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Johnson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Johnson for a finish.
John Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hemler throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Hemler throwing wild punches that miss their target.

Hemler looking for the choke from the back.
Karsten Hemler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hemler is not going to allow Johnson to sit and survive in this position.
Hemler is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Johnson up.

Johnson is rocked!
Hemler lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Hemler.

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 John Johnson.
Well Johnson 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Johnson!