PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Punk Cara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunther Johanssen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gunther Johanssen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Punk Cara's chin.

Cara
vs
Johanssen

185 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

193 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Punk Cara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gunther Johanssen!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, John Mangel and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johanssen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cara as he avoids it easily.
Cara misses with a takedown attempt - Johanssen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cara fails in his attempt to clinch.

Johanssen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cara looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
You can see the frustration on Cara's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cara is looking for a sweep.
Johanssen is looking to take a break and control but Cara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johanssen is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Cara struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johanssen decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Cara closes the distance and pushes Johanssen back into the cage.
Johanssen tries to pull guard but Cara forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Johanssen is trying to maintain a safe position but Cara gets an underhook and turns Johanssen into the cage.
Johanssen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Johanssen tries to pull guard but Cara won't allow it.
Punk Cara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gunther Johanssen.
Cara has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Johanssen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Cara has clasped his hands together around Johanssen's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Cara is trying to get an arm triangle but Johanssen is defending well.
Cara throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cara throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Johanssen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Johanssen tries to roll over but Cara keeps him under control.
Johanssen trying to control from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johanssen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cara.
Johanssen wants to control but Cara is keeping busy.
Johanssen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Johanssen looks gassed!
Johanssen wants to sweep but no luck.
Johanssen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johanssen looking for a sweep. Not yet Johanssen, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cara keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johanssen's head.
Cara passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cara grinds an elbow into Johanssen's temple.
Johanssen is looking for a sweep.

Cara is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johanssen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Cara tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cara lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cara is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johanssen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Johanssen controls the position for a moment.

Cara tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Cara is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johanssen has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Punk Cara dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johanssen misses with a double jab

and Cara counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Johanssen moves into full guard.
Punk Cara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johanssen 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.

Cara drops back looking for a leg! Johanssen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Johanssen manages to kick Cara off! Cara jumps back into Johanssen's guard.
Johanssen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cara is one step ahead there.
Cara tries to free his leg and advance position but Johanssen is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johanssen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cara throwing strikes but missing.
Johanssen keeping full guard, as Cara tries to pass.

Cara drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cara jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johanssen is keeping the position for now.
Johanssen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cara manages to get himself to full guard.

Cara is looking for a triangle but Johanssen pushes his legs off easily.

Johanssen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cara has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johanssen has managed to get both his arms back between Cara's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johanssen wants to pass the guard but Cara is keeping the position.

Johanssen gets to his feet. Cara looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Cara fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Johanssen to the ground. Cara is now in Johanssen's guard.
Cara has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Johanssen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cara defends well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cara preventing the sweep.
Johanssen keeping moving, preventing Cara from controlling successfully.
Johanssen 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cara trying to control but Johanssen is working from the bottom.
Cara wants to pass the guard but Johanssen is keeping the position.
Johanssen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cara shoots for a takedown but Johanssen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johanssen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cara changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johanssen tries to avoid it but Cara manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johanssen to the ground. Johanssen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Johanssen. Those never looked like landing.
Cara circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cara shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johanssen pinned against the cage. Johanssen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Punk Cara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cara uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johanssen.
Johanssen moves to clinch but Cara breaks away

and Cara decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johanssen's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johanssen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cara postures up in Johanssen's guard and throws a big left but Johanssen blocks it.
Johanssen throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cara got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johanssen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cara has managed to get both his arms back between Johanssen's legs - danger averted.
Johanssen pulls Cara in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Punk Cara dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cara tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johanssen swivels and escapes.
Cara shoots in for a double leg but Johanssen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cara avoids the head kick by Johanssen.
Cara closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johanssen circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Punk Cara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cara fails with the takedown.
A leg kick checked by Cara.

Johanssen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cara is trying to defend but Johanssen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Johanssen controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Johanssen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johanssen connects with a nice short shot to Cara's temple.
Cara wants to improve his position but Johanssen is controlling well.
Johanssen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cara is looking to control Johanssen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cara avoid being mounted?
Cara is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Cara is trying to control but Johanssen manages to pass to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johanssen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Johanssen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Cara is looking to improve his position but Johanssen isn't that keen on the idea.
Johanssen controlling from mount.

Johanssen looking for a guillotine from mount but Cara is having none of it.
Cara is desperately trying to improve his position but Johanssen has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johanssen tries to control but Cara wriggling away.
Cara is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Cara is working to get back to half guard.
Johanssen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cara wants to control but Johanssen is having none of it.
Punk Cara is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johanssen trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johanssen looking to finish with strikes here!
Cara is trying desperately to improve position.
Johanssen controlling from the full mount.
Cara holds on to Johanssen as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cara working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gunther Johanssen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cara has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Punk Cara!