PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mack Johnstown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Zangief (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mack Johnstown has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnstown
vs
Zangief

190 cm
23
265 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

187 cm
24
247 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mack Johnstown!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Victor Zangief!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zangief checks the leg kick.
Johnstown tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Zangief gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zangief tries for a takedown but Johnstown manages to get underhooks.
Zangief dodges an elbow strike from Johnstown.
Johnstown misses with an elbow strike.
Johnstown lands a hook that snaps the head of Zangief backwards.
Johnstown misses with a body punch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Johnstown throws an elbow but misses.

Zangief gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Johnstown is not content to let Zangief control the position.
Zangief sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Johnstown manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Johnstown wants to sweep here but Zangief controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnstown throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Zangief throwing strikes but missing.
Johnstown can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zangief controls the pace.
Zangief in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zangief loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnstown managing to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnstown wants to sweep but no luck.
Zangief controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Johnstown buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Johnstown lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Victor Zangief has been cut.
Johnstown connects with a leg kick. Zangief looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Johnstown moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Johnstown misses with the combination.

Zangief shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Johnstown manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Johnstown trying to control the position here.
Johnstown trying to keep a closed guard but Zangief is proving a slippery customer.
Zangief controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zangief loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zangief wants to stand but Johnstown has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zangief preventing the sweep.
Johnstown is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zangief slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Zangief drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Johnstown wants to control but Zangief postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnstown is looking to reverse the position.
Johnstown can't do much from the bottom here.
Johnstown is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
We've been hearing good reports from Johnstown's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Zangief works to advance to full mount. Johnstown defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Johnstown is trying to escape the mount.
Zangief thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Johnstown wants to control but Zangief is having none of it.
Johnstown is squirming around, avoiding Zangief's attempts to control the action.
Johnstown keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Victor Zangief will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Victor Zangief's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zangief slips under a jab from Johnstown.
Johnstown stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnstown wants it to stay on the feet.
Zangief keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Zangief is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnstown stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnstown wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnstown looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zangief takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johnstown throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mack Johnstown seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zangief tries to clinch there but Johnstown circles away.
Johnstown tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Zangief manages to circle out of the way.
Johnstown works the jab nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zangief chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Johnstown can pounce on him.
Zangief shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnstown half committed to a counter leg kick.
Mack Johnstown has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Zangief.
Johnstown buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Zangief scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnstown tries to get to full guard but Zangief has control of the leg.
Johnstown is working hard here to advance position.
Zangief throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnstown is looking to improve his position.
Johnstown trying to control but Zangief postures up.
Johnstown gets full guard.

Johnstown is looking for a triangle here but Zangief uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Johnstown struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zangief tries to stand but Johnstown is controlling his head.

Zangief is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johnstown knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Johnstown is looking for a sweep.
Zangief trying to control the position but Johnstown is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnstown tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A lull in the action here.
Johnstown defending against the ground and pound.
Victor Zangief has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zangief throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Johnstown tries to buck Zangief off but Zangief is having none of it.
Zangief trying to control the action but Johnstown is working from the bottom.
Johnstown is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zangief throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zangief happy to just control the position for now.
Johnstown sneaks back into half guard.
Johnstown wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnstown wants to control but Zangief is keeping busy.
Zangief is trying to control. Johnstown wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mack Johnstown dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Victor Zangief's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Zangief shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnstown pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnstown tries to land a leg kick but Zangief saw it coming and moves away.
Zangief feints the counter takedown.
Zangief blocks a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Johnstown throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johnstown paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
An inside leg kick lands from Johnstown.

Zangief looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zangief wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnstown keeps working.
Johnstown has a hand on Zangief's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Zangief takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Johnstown is desperately trying to improve his position but Zangief has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zangief tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zangief prevents Johnstown from getting the reversal.
Zangief trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Johnstown tries to hold on but Zangief postures up.
Zangief in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Johnstown is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zangief sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Zangief misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Johnstown is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zangief throws some wild stikes that Johnstown manages to avoid easily.
Johnstown tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zangief misses with a head shot.
Johnstown is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Zangief punching from mount but Johnstown doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Johnstown is in a horrible position here. Zangief smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zangief prevents Johnstown from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Zangief.
Johnstown is trying to escape the mount.
Johnstown slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Johnstown trying to control here.
Zangief has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnstown is looking for a sweep. Zangief is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnstown moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Zangief won't allow Johnstown to sweep him here.
Zangief is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
You can see that Zangief has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
Johnstown can't keep his opponent in guard - Zangief advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnstown has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zangief is working away from the top position though.
Johnstown moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Johnstown being controlled here, momentarily.
Johnstown working a defensive guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zangief stops Johnstown from standing up.
Zangief preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Zangief comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zangief 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Victor Zangief!
After winning the bout, Victor Zangief thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.