PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hank Savard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Savard
vs
Johnson

196 cm
21
250 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

204 cm
23
250 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hank Savard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Savard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Savard misses with the combination.
Savard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Savard fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Savard.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Savard.
Savard tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Savard tries to clinch up.
Savard throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savard attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Savard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Savard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
Savard fails to land with a series of punches.
Savard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Savard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Johnson gets a clinch.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Savard.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with Savard.
Johnson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Savard closes the distance looking to clinch

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savard swings wildly with an uppercut but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Savard wants to break free but Johnson has control.
Savard stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Savard tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson trying to land knees to the body.
Johnson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Savard can't break the clinch.
Savard can't break the clinch.

Savard breaks the clinch.
Savard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Johnson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savard is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Savard wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Savard is keeping the position for now.
Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Savard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Savard had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Johnson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Savard Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Johnson's back instead.

Savard is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Johnson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Johnson for a finish.
Savard is breathing heavily.
Savard throwing sloppy strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Johnson tries to escape the position.

Savard is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Savard looking to break Johnson's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Johnson remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Savard will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Johnson wants to escape the position.
Johnson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Johnson wants to control but Savard is keeping busy.
Johnson won't allow Savard to pass to mount.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Savard looks to clinch

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.

Johnson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Savard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Johnson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Savard misses with a combination

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Savard has had enough of the clinch but Johnson keeps him there for the moment.

Savard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hank Savard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Savard tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily

and Johnson counters by clinching up.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Savard wants to clinch
and Johnson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Savard.
Savard throws a combination that misses

and Johnson moves into the clinch.

Johnson pulls guard effortlessly.
Savard wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is pulling down on Savard's head to control his posture.

Savard postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Johnson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Savard, into his guard.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Savard is keeping the position.
Savard looking for a sweep. Not yet Savard, not yet.

Savard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Savard trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Savard doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Johnson drops back looking for a leg! Savard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Savard manages to kick Johnson off! Johnson jumps back into Savard's guard.
Johnson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Savard is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Savard misses with a shot to the body
and Johnson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Savard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Johnson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson postures up.
Savard wants to hit a switch here but Johnson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Savard there!
Savard is trying to escape the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson controlling from the full mount.
Savard tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Savard is trying to escape the mount.
Johnson controlling from mount.
Savard wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Savard tries to reverse the position but Johnson maintains control.
Johnson controlling his opponent.
Savard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Savard throws a hook but Johnson avoids it easily.
Savard darts in trying to clinch
and Johnson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Savard misses with a double jab

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Savard is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Savard throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savard tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Johnson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Savard throws a head kick that misses
and Johnson counters with an outside leg kick.
Johnson walks into a straight right hand from Savard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johnson makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Savard really felt that one!
Savard closes the distance looking to clinch

and Johnson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Savard controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

Savard is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savard controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Savard swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Savard chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Johnson can pounce on him.
Savard misses with a double jab

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Savard is defending against the submission attempts here by Johnson.
John Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Johnson prevents Savard from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savard is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Savard working a defensive guard here.
Savard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.

Savard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Savard controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Johnson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Savard has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Johnson doesn't defend quickly enough and Savard has managed to lock this one up! Can Johnson escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Savard on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Hank Savard!