PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rich Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Junior
vs
Johansson

175 cm
25
159 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

181 cm
27
163 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rich Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Christian Johansson!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johansson defends it nicely.

Junior shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johansson's guard.
Johansson trying to keep a closed guard but Junior is proving a slippery customer.

Junior avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Junior stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johansson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Johansson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Junior doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Junior manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johansson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johansson keeping moving, preventing Junior from controlling successfully.
Junior trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johansson's head.
Johansson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Junior controls the pace.
Johansson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Junior wants to control from the top but Johansson keeps moving.

Junior got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johansson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Junior has managed to get both his arms back between Johansson's legs - danger averted.
Junior has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Junior is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johansson being controlled here, momentarily.
Junior is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johansson keeping full guard, as Junior tries to pass.

Johansson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Junior gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior wants to pass the guard but Johansson is keeping the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johansson wants to sweep here but Junior controlling him for the moment.
Johansson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Johansson looking to control.
Johansson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Johansson is looking for a triangle but Junior pushes his legs off easily.
Johansson has momentary wrist control but Junior slips an elbow through the middle.
Junior trying to control the position from guard on top but Johansson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johansson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior passes Johansson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Johansson is pressing down on Junior's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Junior trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.
Junior working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johansson's head.
Junior with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Junior drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Junior jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Junior avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Junior tries to free his leg and advance position but Johansson is retaining full guard.
Junior trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.
Junior postures up in Johansson's guard and throws a big left but Johansson blocks it.
Johansson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Junior postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Junior chips away with some ground and pound.
Junior is looking to work some ground and pound but Johansson has wrist control.
Johansson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Junior trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.
Johansson being controlled here, momentarily.
Johansson keeping moving, preventing Junior from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Junior works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Johansson felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Johansson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Junior is working away from the top position though.
Junior working Johansson over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Junior throws a body shot but no joy.

Junior closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Johansson quickly recovers to half guard.
Junior lands strikes from half guard.
Rich Junior overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johansson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Junior.

Junior is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Junior trying to mount his opponent but Johansson defends it.
Junior working over Johansson with some ground and pound. Johansson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Junior missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johansson is trying to control but Junior manages to pass to mount!
Junior wants to control the pace but Johansson is squirming around nicely.
Johansson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Johansson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Johansson cracks Junior with a solid left hand.
Junior pulls Johansson in to control the position.
Johansson passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Junior is trying to maintain the position but Johansson is very close to passing his half guard.
Junior wants to get back to full guard.
Junior trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Johansson is landing with some decent strikes but Junior is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Johansson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Junior is trying to escape the mount.
Junior throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
BOOM! Johansson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Junior manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Johansson blocks the strikes from Junior.
Johansson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Junior's head.

Junior is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johansson pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Junior with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Junior is looking for a sweep. Johansson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johansson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Johansson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Junior gets full guard.
Junior has momentary wrist control but Johansson slips an elbow through the middle.
Johansson takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Johansson is looking to work some ground and pound but Junior has wrist control.
Junior throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Johansson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johansson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Junior's head.
Junior trying to strike off his back.
Johansson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Junior working for a triangle but Johansson defends it easily.
Johansson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Johansson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johansson chips away with some ground and pound.
Johansson is working Junior over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Junior throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Junior has momentary wrist control but Johansson slips an elbow through the middle.
Junior wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Johansson is now in half guard.

Junior looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Christian Johansson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Johansson connects with a nice looking jab.
Junior shoots in for a double leg but Johansson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johansson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A left lands for Johansson.
Junior dives in for a single leg takedown but Johansson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Junior drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Junior is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johansson can do to turn this around?
Johansson is looking to reverse the position.
Johansson can't do much from the bottom here.
Johansson sneaks back into half guard.
Johansson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Junior is working away from the top position though.
Junior content to control rather than advance.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior drops an elbow to the side of Johansson's head.
Junior looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Junior lands a nice short elbow.
Junior missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johansson trying to hold on to Junior's head to control him but Junior postures up.

Junior is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Junior thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johansson's head.
Junior trying to mount his opponent but Johansson defends it.
Johansson is trying to get back to full guard.
Junior throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johansson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Junior is working away from the top position though.
Johansson moves into full guard.
Junior's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Junior trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Junior postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Junior slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Johansson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Junior wants to control from the top but Johansson keeps moving.
Johansson working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Junior preventing the sweep.
Junior passes into half guard.
Johansson wants to get back to full guard.
Junior wants to pass to mount but Johansson is defending the position.
Johansson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Junior is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Junior is trying to work for a kimura but Johansson is defending well.
Junior throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nice strikes from Junior there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson is pressing down on Junior's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Junior trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Junior trying to control the position from guard on top but Johansson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Junior postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Junior throws a big right hand that misses.
Junior slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Johansson is letting Junior control him for a moment.

Junior is trying to get an arm triangle but Johansson is defending well.
Johansson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johansson is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Junior showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Junior has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rich Junior!
Our winner, Rich Junior, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.