PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kelvin Spong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelvin Spong has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Johnson
vs
Spong

177 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kelvin Spong!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spong lands a body shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Spong.
Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Spong moves into range and connects with a jab.
Johnson shoots in but Spong avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Spong takes the fight into the clinch.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Spong slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Johnson is rocked!

Spong shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Oh Johnson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Spong sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Johnson seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson gets back to full guard.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Spong doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Spong manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing Spong from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong sitting in guard here, content to control.

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spong can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Spong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Spong stands up from Johnson's guard - Spong perhaps looking for a knockout.

Spong closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Spong walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Johnson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Spong on his heels. He'll look to pass Spong's guard now, I'm sure.

Johnson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Spong is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Spong has escaped and now he's on top!
Spong pushing down on Johnson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spong wants to stand up but Johnson has a hold of him and won't allow it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spong looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spong not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kelvin Spong dominated that round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Spong digs a good body shot into Johnson's ribs.
Spong looks to throw the jab but Johnson is out of range.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Spong sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson staying out of range there.
Spong getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Spong throws out a powerful jab.
Spong throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Spong looks to land a combination. Johnson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Johnson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Spong.

Spong has closed the distance and engaged Johnson in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Spong avoiding damage.
Spong lands a nice uppercut.
Spong dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Spong to keep the fight standing.
Spong leaning his opponent against the cage.
Spong gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spong gets through Johnson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Johnson is trying to drag Spong to the mat but Spong just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Spong takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Spong's shoulder, as Spong tries to avoid the shot.
Spong lands an overhand right.
Spong throws a poor cross that misses
and Johnson counters with a one-two to the body.
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 throws a lazy right hand but Spong sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Spong scores with a nice right hand.
Johnson throws a sloppy body shot
and Spong counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Spong clinches with his opponent.
Spong blocks the elbow strike.

Spong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Decent striking displayed by Spong there.
Kelvin Spong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spong works Johnson's body with a nice hook.
Johnson throws a combination that misses
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kelvin Spong seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Spong lands a jab to the head.
Johnson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Johnson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Spong was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnson.
Spong throws a good cross that connects.

Spong drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spong tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Johnson tries to improve position but can't.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kelvin Spong 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!

Johnson throws a hook to the side of Spong's head but Spong sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Spong rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
Johnson trying to land knees to the body.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but Spong turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Johnson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Spong lands a right hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.

Spong drops Johnson onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Johnson is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spong stalling.
Johnson tries to score a body lock takedown but Spong shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stalling in the clinch from Spong.
Spong gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Spong.
Spong lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Still in the clinch, Spong scores with a nice short uppercut.
Spong has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Spong has Johnson pushed against the cage.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right hand to the body from Spong.

Spong breaks the clinch.
Spong throws a shot to the body.
Johnson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Spong misses with the combination.
Good standup being displayed there by Spong as he connects with a hook.
Spong throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd cheers as Spong lands an impressive looking overhand right. Johnson doesn't seem phased though.
Spong cracks Johnson with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Johnson tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Spong pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Johnson is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kelvin Spong!
Kelvin Spong seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.