PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mertsi Peltola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Calvin Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Peltola
vs
Johnson

182 cm
30
212 lbs
21 - 16 - 1

185 cm
34
217 lbs
27 - 22 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Mertsi Peltola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Calvin Johnson!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Peltola pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Peltola misses the jab.
Despite the aggression on Johnson's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Peltola throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Johnson was covering up waiting for the punch and Peltola finishes the takedown easily into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.
Peltola wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnson is on top in guard.

Johnson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Peltola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've been hearing good reports from Peltola'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.

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

Peltola is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.
Peltola controlling the position.
Peltola looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
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.
Let's hope that Johnson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Peltola keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Peltola looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Johnson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Peltola keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Peltola shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johnson's guard.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Peltola.
Peltola throws a strike but Johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Peltola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Peltola looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peltola gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Peltola wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Peltola wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Johnson controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mertsi Peltola will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Peltola shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Johnson throws a counter combo.
Johnson misses with a shot to the body
and Peltola counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Peltola on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Peltola fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Peltola moves away and avoids it.
Peltola appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Johnson throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Peltola down.
The fighters circling - Peltola throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Peltola uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnson.
Peltola takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
An attempted straight right counter from Peltola misses the target.
Peltola shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mertsi Peltola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Peltola with that takedown attempt.
Johnson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson slips under a jab.
Johnson lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Good leg kick by Johnson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Johnson lands a head shot.

It looks like Mertsi Peltola has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Peltola cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Peltola gets tackled into the cage by Johnson. Johnson maintains the clinch.
Peltola throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Johnson lands with a left to the head.
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 misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johnson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nice body punch from Johnson - that landed with a thud.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Johnson.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Peltola.
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Peltola's elbow.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Peltola pressing his opponent against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Johnson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Peltola is trying to pull guard but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Peltola misses with a punch on the inside.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Peltola drops his hands for a split second and Johnson immediately capitalizes on the opportunity by smashing a powerful hook into Peltola face, sending his mouthguard sailing through the air, much to the delight of the crowd. Johnson follows up with a right hand that knocks Peltola into next week. He's out cold and this fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Calvin Johnson!
A relieved looking Calvin Johnson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.