PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jack Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jokke Mela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mela is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Da Rockwilder . Jack Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnson
vs
Mela

165 cm
33
147 lbs
16 - 16 - 0

170 cm
30
144 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jack Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jokke Mela!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mela moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Johnson scores with a jab to the head.
A jab from Mela misses.
Mela scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mela shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Mela wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mela shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Mela just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Mela moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Jack Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jokke Mela.
Decent striking displayed by Johnson there.
Mela misses with a takedown
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
Mela scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Mela throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mela uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Mela misses the target.
The crowd cheers as Mela lands an impressive looking overhand right. Johnson doesn't seem phased though.
Mela ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Mela fails with a takedown attempt.
Mela connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Jokke Mela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Mela.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mela slips a jab from Johnson.
Mela throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mela tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnson was well out of range. Poor timing from Mela.
Mela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Mela misses with a jab to the body
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mela rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson drops his hands momentarily and Mela takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Mela misses with a body shot.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mela. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mela fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Mela misses.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Mela doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Johnson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mela tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mela looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson wants to stand but Mela has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jokke Mela will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jack Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mela drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mela trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.

Mela goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Johnson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Mela's guard! Nice work there by Johnson!
Johnson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Johnson decides to stand and escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mela looks to throw the jab but Johnson is out of range.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mela.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Mela's shoulder, as Mela tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson ducks right into an uppercut from Mela.
Mela waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johnson.
Mela cracks a nice hook into Johnson's ribs.
Mela throws an overhand right that lands on Johnson's shoulder, as Johnson tries to avoid the shot.
Mela tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela throws a jab when Johnson was well out of range.
Johnson tries to clinch up
and Mela counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mela shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johnson defends it nicely.
Mela throws a jab when Johnson was well out of range.
Mela takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson with a jab.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mela sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johnson looks to land a combination. Mela sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Mela connects with a good right hand that stumbles Johnson. Johnson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mela with a hook.
Johnson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The crowd cheers as Mela lands an impressive looking overhand right. Johnson doesn't seem phased though.
Mela looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Mela persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Jack Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jokke Mela.
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mela has time to react.
Mela shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Mela is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mela misses the shot to the body.
A combination from Mela does no damage.
Mela throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Mela takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Mela shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Johnson sprawls well. Johnson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mela gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jack Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Mela changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Mela manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
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 Jack Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mela will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mela fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Mela with a hook.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Mela is just out of range.
Mela jabs Johnson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A cross from Mela lands.
Johnson slips a jab from Mela.
Mela slips a jab from Johnson.
Jokke Mela seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mela throws a poor cross that misses

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mela avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Johnson keeps control of Mela as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mela is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mela has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mela struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Mela goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mela fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mela can't break the clinch.

Mela breaks from the clinch.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Mela, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Mela.
Mela throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Mela jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Mela gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mela takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jack Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jokke Mela.
Mela ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mela misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mela moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Mela tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mela somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mela misses with a looping left.
Mela looks to throw the jab but Johnson is out of range.
Mela stuns Johnson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mela looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Mela.
Nice defenses there by Johnson.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mela misses with a takedown
and Johnson counters with a one-two to the body.
Mela fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Mela looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Johnson!
Mela takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Mela's attempts to control the action.
Johnson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mela controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jokke Mela really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mela fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Johnson!
No luck for Mela with that takedown attempt.
Mela misses with a jab to the body
and Johnson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mela shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jack Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jokke Mela.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson drags the fight down to the ground.
Mela stays in close to Johnson's body and controls the position.
Mela slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mela trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Mela misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Mela drags him back down.
Mela working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mela wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.

Mela working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Mela wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Johnson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Johnson is not content to let Mela control the position.

Johnson bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Mela throws an overhand right that lands on Johnson's shoulder, as Johnson tries to avoid the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Jokke Mela will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Mela misses with a hook.
Mela waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johnson.
Mela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Mela shoots and misses
and Mela takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Mela moves out of range.
Mela takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Mela misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mela shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Jack Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jokke Mela.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Mela shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Mela's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mela is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Mela slips a jab and a cross from Johnson.
Mela throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnson.
Mela lands a head shot.
Mela shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mela fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mela scores with a jab to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Jokke Mela is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Johnson.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Mela.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Johnson misses.
Mela swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Mela cracks Johnson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Jack Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mela.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
Mela with a nice cross.
Mela shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mela manages to avoid it.
Mela blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Mela shoots in.
The fighters circling - Johnson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jab, jab by Mela - just one landing.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Mela avoids it well.
Jab from Mela.

Johnson has managed to clinch.
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mela avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mela stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mela 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 47:48
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 47:49
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jokke Mela!
Jokke Mela thanked the fans post fight for their support.