PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnnie Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sauna Majuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rico
vs
Majuri

225 cm
24
300 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

204 cm
23
285 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Johnnie Rico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sauna Majuri!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Damien Edna and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Majuri with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Majuri lands with an overhand left.

It looks like Johnnie Rico has been cut.
Majuri slips a jab from Rico.
Rico ducks under a wild hook from Majuri.
Rico lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Majuri circles away quickly and effectively.
Majuri tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rico gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Majuri to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Majuri trying to control but Rico is working from the bottom.
Majuri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rico swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rico is looking to stand up but Majuri isn't so interested in that idea.
Majuri trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rico manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Majuri manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Poor strikes thrown by Majuri there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Rico tries to hold on but Majuri postures up.
Majuri is trying to control here but Rico has managed to regain half guard.
Majuri throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Majuri is taking a breather. Rico says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Majuri is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Rico reverses the position - he's now on top in Majuri's guard.
Rico would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Majuri manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Majuri misses the jab.
Rico jabs Majuri right on the nose. Majuri blinks but takes it well.
Rico lands with an overhand left.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rico shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Majuri eats them both and turns towards Rico to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Sauna Majuri has been cut.
A punch lands to the side of Majuri 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Majuri misses with a wild combination.
Rico fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Majuri on the side of the head.
Majuri takes one on the button.
Rico stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Majuri.
Majuri swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rico throws a left and a right that both miss
and Majuri counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Majuri 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Majuri trying to control the position from guard on top but Rico is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Majuri forces his way into half guard.

Majuri is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rico has managed to free his arm - good work.
Majuri wants to take a breather but Rico is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Majuri prevents Rico from improving his position.

Majuri is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Majuri is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rico has managed to free his arm - good work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Majuri is looking for a kimura but Rico is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Majuri to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauna Majuri dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rico looks to land a right hand but Majuri moved out of range.
Majuri moves forwards but Rico connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rico scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rico throws an overhand right that lands on Majuri's shoulder, as Majuri tries to avoid the shot.
Rico scores with a one two! Majuri had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rico moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rico throws a right and a left that Majuri avoids nicely.
Rico throws a shot from downtown. Majuri moves away and avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rico scores with a body shot.
Majuri looks to score with a jab to the body but Rico is just out of range.
Majuri avoids a punch combination nicely.
Majuri tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rico swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Majuri throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rico will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Majuri swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rico is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rico lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Majuri showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rico.
Johnnie Rico is winning the standup battle so far.
Majuri missing with a left hand there. Rico was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rico slips a jab and a cross from Majuri.
Majuri avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rico misses with a left hand
and Majuri counters with a low kick, right behind Rico 's knee.

Majuri has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rico has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Majuri with a knee to the head.
Majuri lands an elbow just above Rico 's eye.
Rico is trying to break the clinch but Majuri has him pressed against the cage.
Majuri landing knees to the head.
Majuri stalling.
Rico is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Majuri is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Majuri turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Majuri remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Majuri trying to control the position but Rico is working away.
Majuri looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rico is avoiding damage well.

Majuri swings around for an armbar but Rico sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Majuri's guard.
Majuri keeping moving, preventing Rico from controlling successfully.
Rico won't allow Majuri to get back to his feet.
Rico trying to control the position from guard on top but Majuri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Majuri swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Majuri is controlling Rico's posture.
Sauna Majuri has got the better of the ground game so far.

We're going to have a standup here because Johnnie Rico wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rico with a jab.
Rico getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rico takes one to the chin there.

Johnnie Rico's cut is getting worse.
Majuri scores with a jab to the body.
Rico uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Majuri thows a body shot but no joy.
Rico lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Majuri circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Majuri steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rico.
Johnnie Rico seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Majuri takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Majuri tries for a takedown but Rico sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rico swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Majuri throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Majuri.
Rico slips under a jab from Majuri.
Rico misses with a right hand
and Majuri counters with a leg kick.
Rico thuds his right hand into Majuri's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Johnnie Rico is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rico misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Majuri smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rico scores with a sloppy right hand. Majuri should have avoided that one.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A shot to the body from Rico misses
and Majuri cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rico staying out of range there.
Majuri connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Majuri uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rico.
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 Johnnie Rico will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rico lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rico.
Rico misses with an uppercut.
Majuri throws a solid leg kick but Rico takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Majuri.
Rico misses with a hook. Majuri ducked under it nicely.
Majuri tries to bum rush Rico with a series of wild strikes but Rico uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Majuri fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nice defenses there by Majuri.
Rico misses with a left hand

and Majuri counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rico keeping full guard, as Majuri tries to pass.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Majuri slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rico is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Majuri working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Majuri advances to full mount.
Rico is looking to get to half guard.
Majuri unloads with some shots from mount but Rico bucks and avoids them well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Majuri moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rico has worked his arm free - good work by Rico!
Majuri tries to advance to mount but can't.
Majuri lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Rico prevents Majuri from moving into mount.
Rico tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Majuri wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Majuri throws a strike aimed at the side of Rico's head but Rico avoids it well.
Majuri tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Majuri wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rico keeps working.
Rico tries to buck Majuri off but Majuri is having none of it.
Majuri controls the position from side control.
Rico is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Majuri tries to advance to mount but Rico denies him.
Rico being controlled for a moment.

Majuri tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Majuri has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Majuri has knee on belly and moves into mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sauna Majuri comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Majuri 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sauna Majuri!