PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hans Lankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Lankari's choice of entrance music: AC/DC - Thunderstruck. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Lankari

173 cm
23
155 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

177 cm
25
142 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hans Lankari!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson lands a jab to Lankari's midsection.
Johnson wants to land a leg kick but Lankari is out of range.
Lankari fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lankari.
Lankari ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Lankari shoots in.
Lankari moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Lankari doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
Lankari avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Lankari is able to avoid easily.
Johnson catches Lankari with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Lankari has a takedown stuffed.
Michael Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hans Lankari.
Johnson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lankari was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnson.
Lankari fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lankari shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lankari's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lankari throws a one two combo.

It looks like Michael Johnson has been cut.

Lankari dives in and scores a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Johnson managing to control the position.
Lankari is stalling in the full guard.

Lankari got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lankari has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
Lankari is stalling in the full guard.
Lankari won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Lankari from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hans Lankari wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lankari walks into a jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lankari misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lankari stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Johnson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lankari was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnson.
Lankari looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
A big left from Johnson misses.
Johnson misses with a right hand
and Lankari counters with a head kick. That will keep Johnson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Lankari is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Lankari down.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Johnson breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A slow jab from Lankari misses its intended target.

Johnson takes the fight into the clinch.
Johnson prevents Lankari from breaking the clinch.
Lankari misses with a body punch.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Michael Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Lankari shoots in.
Johnson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Johnson throws a lazy uppercut
and Lankari cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Lankari gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Johnson stands and throws Lankari's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Johnson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lankari rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Johnson's guard! Nice work there by Lankari!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lankari wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Lankari pushes his legs off easily.

Johnson working for submissions but it's allowed Lankari to get to half guard.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lankari performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael Johnson's cut.
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 throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lankari stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Johnson looks to throw the jab but Lankari is out of range.
Johnson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lankari.
Johnson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Johnson lands a body shot.
Johnson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lankari counters with a straight right hand.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Lankari lands a right hook to the body.
Lankari fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
A jab from Johnson finds it's way through Lankari's defenses.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Lankari avoids nicely.
Johnson misses with a lunging right hand

and Lankari moves into the clinch.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Michael Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Lankari moves out of range.
Michael Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lankari doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
Lankari tries to clinch up.

Lankari dives in and scores a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Johnson looking to control.

Lankari postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Johnson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lankari, into his guard.
Lankari throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Lankari keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Lankari is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Lankari from getting back to his feet.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Lankari has his hands on Johnson's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Lankari gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lankari wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johnson kicks Lankari off and gets to his feet.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to pass to mount but Lankari is defending the position.
Lankari wants to get back to full guard but Johnson has mounted him!

Johnson looking for a guillotine from mount but Lankari is having none of it.
Johnson is looking to work his way around to Lankari's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Lankari is in all sorts of trouble here.

Johnson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Lankari tries to reverse the position but Johnson maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Lankari to control.

Johnson working for a guillotine from mount but Lankari is in no mood to give up.
Michael Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Johnson goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Lankari turns into him and now he's in Johnson's guard.

Johnson is looking for a triangle here but Lankari uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lankari has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
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 Michael Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael Johnson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Lankari moves away and avoids it.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand
and Lankari counters with a nice body kick.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Johnson working Lankari over with knees to the body.
Lankari's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Johnson is looking to break free of the clinch but Lankari has double underhooks.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Lankari blocks a low kick nicely.
Johnson has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lankari.
Johnson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lankari moves away from the strike by Johnson.

Johnson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Lankari to the ground. Johnson is now in Lankari's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lankari trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Lankari gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lankari defends it easily.

Johnson is working an open guard so Lankari takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Lankari shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Johnson throws out a powerful jab.
Johnson misses with a shot to the body
and Lankari cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lankari doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lankari is not content to let Johnson control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is working for a submission of some sort.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson prevents Lankari from standing back up.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lankari keeps working.

Johnson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Johnson is working for a submission of some sort.
Lankari is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lankari punching from the bottom.
Lankari is trying to get back to full guard.

Lankari kicks Johnson off and gets back to his feet.
Lankari keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Lankari scores with a head kick.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Lankari fails with the takedown.
Michael Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hans Lankari.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lankari takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lankari misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Lankari is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Lankari jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Johnson walks away with a smile on his face. Lankari gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Johnson throws a one two combo.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lankari throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnson.
Lankari shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Lankari's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson swinging wildly here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lankari takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lankari tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hans Lankari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lankari takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Johnson!
A relieved looking Michael Johnson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.