PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bo Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Funk McTavish (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Funk McTavish will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Johnson
vs
McTavish

172 cm
26
139 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

165 cm
21
150 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Cold Blooded Kemists ↑ 5x160Q

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bo Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Funk McTavish!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McTavish shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McTavish tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.

McTavish gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Johnson is looking to pass into half guard but McTavish pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now McTavish is in guard.
McTavish trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

McTavish got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McTavish has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but McTavish pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing McTavish from controlling successfully.
Johnson controls McTavish momentarily but McTavish frees himself.
McTavish must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but McTavish defends easily.
McTavish slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.
Johnson manages to get back to half guard.
McTavish trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McTavish tries to pass to full mount but Johnson defends it.
Johnson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

McTavish avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McTavish looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McTavish avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing McTavish from controlling successfully.

Johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McTavish is aware though and is defending well.
Johnson working a defensive guard here.
McTavish looking to pass the guard.
McTavish trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McTavish trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but McTavish defends easily.

Johnson is looking for a triangle here but McTavish uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

McTavish tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McTavish working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bo Johnson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Johnson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McTavish manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Johnson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but McTavish manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Johnson has McTavish in his guard.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McTavish trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Johnson isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. McTavish stacks Johnson on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by McTavish!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Johnson has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, McTavish escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by McTavish!
Johnson tries to buck McTavish off but McTavish is having none of it.
Johnson regains half guard.
Johnson is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute McTavish jumps into side control!

McTavish is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johnson has escaped the position, nice work there.
McTavish wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McTavish working away.
McTavish tries to move to mount but Johnson blocks the move with his legs.
McTavish is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Johnson manages to get back to half guard.
Johnson is looking for a sweep. McTavish is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Johnson gets full guard.
McTavish trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McTavish passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Johnson moves into full guard.
McTavish passes into half guard.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for a kimura from the bottom but McTavish passes into side control!
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McTavish is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McTavish is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McTavish tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McTavish has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bo Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McTavish throws a shot to the body.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
McTavish fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Johnson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but McTavish defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is working for a submission of some sort.

McTavish makes his way to full guard, as Johnson worked for a kimura.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McTavish works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McTavish controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McTavish dives on top into guard.
McTavish tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McTavish gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bo Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McTavish trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

Johnson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! McTavish escapes and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Johnson trying to control but McTavish flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McTavish is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
McTavish is trying to stick to Johnson's back but Johnson is turning into McTavish. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in McTavish's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Johnson.
McTavish keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
McTavish wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.

McTavish escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McTavish takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Johnson drops back, looking for a kneebar! McTavish looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. McTavish looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from McTavish!
Bo Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson struggling a bit here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because McTavish is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Funk McTavish has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McTavish trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bo Johnson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bo Johnson!