PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johny Witson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jos Mykhaylenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Witson
vs
Mykhaylenko

185 cm
20
201 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
28
196 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

DTK Designs (Laundry)
Speed Junkie Supplements Q160-158-155 (95%Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johny Witson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jos Mykhaylenko!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Witson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Witson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mykhaylenko throws a lazy head kick
and Witson counters with a nice leg kick.
Mykhaylenko misses with a head kick.
Mykhaylenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Mykhaylenko tries to clinch

and Witson moves into the clinch.
Mykhaylenko prevents a takedown attempt there.
Witson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Witson looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johny Witson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mykhaylenko gets underhooks to prevent Witson's takedown attempt.
Witson wants to take the fight to the mat but Mykhaylenko manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mykhaylenko prevents the takedown attempt.
Witson is looking for a takedown.
Witson tries for a takedown. No joy.

Mykhaylenko manages to break the clinch.
Jos Mykhaylenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mykhaylenko tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Witson counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mykhaylenko fails with the takedown
and Witson counters with a body kick that stops Mykhaylenko in his tracks momentarily.
Mykhaylenko tries to clinch up
and Witson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Mykhaylenko's knee momentarily.

Witson darts in and clinches Mykhaylenko up against the cage.
Witson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mykhaylenko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Witson tries to pull guard but Mykhaylenko forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Witson prevents Mykhaylenko from breaking the clinch.
Mykhaylenko wants to get back to striking at distance but Witson won't allow it.
Mykhaylenko gets underhooks to prevent Witson's takedown attempt.
Mykhaylenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Witson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mykhaylenko is looking to break free of the clinch but Witson has double underhooks.
Witson is working for takedown but Mykhaylenko is calmly controlling the position for now.
Witson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mykhaylenko after a bit of a struggle.
Witson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Witson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mykhaylenko uses from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mykhaylenko throws an elbow that misses. Witson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mykhaylenko's guard. Nice move by Witson!
Mykhaylenko is trying to control the position but Witson postures up.
Witson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Witson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Witson postures up in Mykhaylenko's guard and throws a big left but Mykhaylenko blocks it.
Witson's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mykhaylenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Witson.
Witson throws a big right hand that misses.
Mykhaylenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Witson working some strikes from top position.
Witson won't allow Mykhaylenko to sweep him here.
Mykhaylenko wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Mykhaylenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Witson.
Witson throws a big right hand that misses.
Witson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mykhaylenko keeping moving, preventing Witson from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mykhaylenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mykhaylenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Witson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Witson looking to sit in guard and control but Mykhaylenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mykhaylenko is fighting to break Witson's control of his arms but Witson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Witson tries to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Witson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Witson scoring well with a low kick there.
Mykhaylenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Witson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mykhaylenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mykhaylenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Witson. Mykhaylenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mykhaylenko wants to clinch but Witson slips to the side
and Witson counters with an inside leg kick.
Mykhaylenko wants to clinch
and Witson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Witson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Witson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jos Mykhaylenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mykhaylenko tries to clinch up but Witson circles away and keeps his distance.
Mykhaylenko is breathing heavily.
Mykhaylenko tries to clinch but Witson moves away
and Witson counters with a nice body kick.
Mykhaylenko misses with a two punch combination.
Mykhaylenko sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Both fighters circling a little - Witson finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Witson thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Mykhaylenko if he has to take too many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mykhaylenko throws out the jab.

Mykhaylenko gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Witson stays in close to Mykhaylenko's body and controls the position.
Mykhaylenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Witson.
Witson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Witson stands and steps away. Mykhaylenko gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Johny Witson is winning the standup battle so far.

Witson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Witson wants to work for an arm triangle but Mykhaylenko is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mykhaylenko tries to roll over but Witson keeps him under control.
Johny Witson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mykhaylenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Witson.
Witson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mykhaylenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Witson is trying to control. Mykhaylenko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Witson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Witson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nice strikes from Witson there.
Witson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witson slows the pace down in half guard.
Witson trying to control from half guard but Mykhaylenko is working away.
Witson uses his free foot to push down on Mykhaylenko's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Mykhaylenko.
A nice elbow there by Witson.
Witson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Witson controlling the position easily from mount.
Witson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Mykhaylenko?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Witson working the ground and pound effectively.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Witson tries to control but Mykhaylenko wriggling away.
Mykhaylenko holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Witson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Witson controlling the pace for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Witson throwing strikes here but Mykhaylenko is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Witson dominated that second round.
That's time! Witson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Witson lands with a nice body kick.
Mykhaylenko tries to clinch
and Witson makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Mykhaylenko really felt that one!
Witson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mykhaylenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Witson thows a body kick. Mykhaylenko tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Mykhaylenko's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Witson scores with a leg kick.
Witson lands a jab to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Witson connects with a body shot that sends Mykhaylenko's belly button to the back.
Mykhaylenko has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Witson.
Nice body kick from Witson.
Witson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Witson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ground and pound from Witson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The ground and pound from Witson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Mykhaylenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Witson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mykhaylenko keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witson is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Mykhaylenko's shoulder. That is not cool.
Witson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Witson landing strikes.
Witson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Witson working the ground and pound but Mykhaylenko is defending the strikes.
Mykhaylenko looks to move to half guard but instead Witson has passed into mount! Damn!
Witson with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mykhaylenko in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Witson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mykhaylenko's face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Witson working the ground and pound effectively.
Mykhaylenko suckers Witson into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Mykhaylenko is now in Witson's guard!
Johny Witson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Witson is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Johny Witson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A head kick by Mykhaylenko misses
and Witson counters with an outside leg kick.
Mykhaylenko closes the distance looking to clinch
and Witson counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Witson chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Witson shoots in and bounces Mykhaylenko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Witson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mykhaylenko can do to turn this around?
Mykhaylenko wants to sweep but no luck.
Witson content to stall in guard here.
Witson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mykhaylenko for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Witson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johny Witson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Witson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:25
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johny Witson!