PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maniek Krol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Krol
vs
Johnson

185 cm
25
150 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maniek Krol!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krol slips a jab from Johnson.

Johnson scores with a takedown into Krol's guard.
Krol keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Krol wants to get back to his feet but Johnson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Krol really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Krol is breathing heavily.
Johnson with a nice head shot there.
Johnson trying to control but Krol is working from the bottom.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Krol has wrist control.

Krol uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Krol tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Krol manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Krol tries to clinch up.

Johnson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Johnson wants to work for an arm triangle but Krol is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Johnson lands with a punch from half guard.
Johnson trying to control the action but Krol is working from the bottom.
Krol pushes Johnson off looking to stand but Johnson dives back in and keeps control.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Krol is defending against the submission attempts here by Johnson.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krol is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson prevents Krol from standing back up.
Krol is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Krol kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.

Johnson decides to stand up.
Maniek Krol is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Krol swivels and escapes.
Maniek Krol has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krol tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Krol fails in his attempt to clinch.
Krol tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Krol slips a straight right by Johnson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Krol looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Krol closes the distance and clinches.
Krol tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson takes an elbow to the temple.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Johnson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Krol looking to throw knees to the head but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Johnson misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Krol throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.
Johnson tries to break free but Krol pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson can't get the takedown.
Krol tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as Krol controls his hands.
Johnson has Krol pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Krol manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson is trying to maintain a safe position but Krol gets an underhook and turns Johnson into the cage.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson tries to stall but Krol uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Krol unloads a knee to the mid-section. Johnson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson tries to circle away but Krol has him pinned against the cage.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Krol has the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Krol fails in his attempt to clinch.
Krol wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Krol fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Krol saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Johnson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Krol wants to get back to his feet but Johnson drags him back down.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
Krol is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Johnson happy to just control the position for now.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Krol has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Krol pushes Johnson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Johnson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson cracks Krol with a big elbow.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Krol is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Krol is working to avoid the ground and pound but Johnson connects with a decent elbow.
Krol wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson working the ground and pound.
Johnson wants to control but Krol is keeping him busy.

Johnson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Krol is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Krol is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Johnson lands an elbow.

Johnson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working the ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Johnson cracks Krol with a big right hand but Krol just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Johnson looks up at the clock and then as Krol takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Johnson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Joe Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson lands an elbow.
Johnson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Johnson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Johnson trying to control the action but Krol is working from the bottom.

Johnson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Johnson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Krol takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position but Krol is working away.
Johnson lands an elbow.

Johnson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Krol pushes Johnson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Johnson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Johnson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Johnson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Johnson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Krol knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Krol pushes Johnson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Johnson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Krol is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Johnson is putting a hurting on Krol here, landing some big shots from side control.
Johnson trying to control the position but Krol is working away.
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!

Johnson has hold of Krol's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Krol seems comfortable defending it but Johnson has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Krol is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Krol is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Johnson couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Joe Johnson!
Joe Johnson thanked the fans post fight for their support.