PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joules Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Mussardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joules Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnson
vs
Mussardo

190 cm
23
205 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

175 cm
28
205 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joules Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Mussardo!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Konstantin Menshow and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mussardo misses with a lunging right hand

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Johnson.

Johnson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Mussardo is trying to control but can't.
Mussardo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mussardo.
Johnson is stalling in the full guard.
Mussardo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mussardo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Mussardo wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Mussardo has wrist control.

Mussardo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mussardo 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.
Johnson landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Mussardo keeps moving.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Mussardo.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Mussardo keeps moving.
Mussardo controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Johnson distracts Mussardo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mussardo trying to control the position.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Mussardo looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Mussardo looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Johnson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Mussardo dodges it nicely.
Johnson working Mussardo over with strikes.

Mussardo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johnson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mussardo's head.
Mussardo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Johnson is trying to control. Mussardo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Mussardo dodges it nicely.
Mussardo wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mussardo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mussardo wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
Mussardo is trying to control but can't.

Mussardo kicks Johnson off and gets back to his feet.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mussardo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mussardo looks winded!
Mussardo shoots and misses

and Johnson counters by clinching up.
Johnson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Mussardo tries to pull guard but Johnson forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Joules Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Mussardo.

Johnson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Mussardo clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mussardo grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Johnson looking to hold on to the position here but Mussardo rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Mussardo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mussardo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Mussardo pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mussardo trying to control the position.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Mussardo keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mussardo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Mussardo keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joules Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mussardo moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Mussardo sprawls well.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mussardo.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.
Mussardo trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Mussardo tries to score with some ground and pound. Johnson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson parries the strikes from Mussardo easily there. Mussardo is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Johnson to escape.
Mussardo is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Mussardo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johnson has escaped the position, nice work there.

Mussardo tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Mussardo trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson controls the position for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mussardo tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Mussardo.

Mussardo is trying to get an arm triangle but Johnson is defending well.
The strikes coming from Mussardo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mussardo throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Johnson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Mussardo should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Mussardo is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Mussardo is controlling him well.

Mussardo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mussardo is trying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mussardo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson tries to kick Mussardo off but Mussardo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mussardo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.
Mussardo is nestled in close to Johnson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mussardo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Johnson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Johnson tries to roll over but Mussardo keeps him under control.
Mussardo is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Johnson!
Johnson blocking the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mussardo unloads with some shots from mount but Johnson bucks and avoids them well.
Mussardo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Johnson is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Mussardo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mussardo but Mussardo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mussardo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mussardo lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Mussardo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mussardo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mussardo.
A punch combination from Mussardo misses.
Sloppy strikes from Mussardo. Those never looked like landing.
Mussardo cracks Johnson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joules Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mussardo misses with a low kick as Johnson jumps back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mussardo dips to his left and cracks Johnson with an uppercut!
Mussardo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Mussardo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Johnson checks a leg kick.
Ivan Mussardo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mussardo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Mussardo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mussardo throws a low kick but Johnson moves out of range easily.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Mussardo sprawls well.
Mussardo works Johnson's body with a nice hook.
Joules Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Mussardo tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Mussardo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mussardo finds it's way round the side to connect with Johnson's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Mussardo.
Mussardo looks to clinch

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mussardo won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson wants to take a breather but Mussardo manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Johnson.
Mussardo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Johnson is staying active underneath Mussardo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson trying to control from the bottom.

Mussardo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johnson defends it well.
Johnson tries to roll over but Mussardo keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mussardo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.

Mussardo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Johnson trying to hold on to Mussardo's head to control him but Mussardo postures up.
Mussardo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.

Mussardo is working for a kimura but Johnson is defending it quite comfortably.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mussardo is keen to just control but Johnson is a slippery customer.
Johnson trying to control but Mussardo postures up.
Joules Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson is controlling Mussardo's trapped leg to prevent Mussardo from advancing to side control.
Mussardo trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Mussardo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mussardo avoids it really well and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mussardo but Mussardo pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Mussardo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mussardo 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!