PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Don Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pops Maellard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's entrance music is Miami Vice Theme Song. A fine choice. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Johnson
vs
Maellard

186 cm
28
200 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

183 cm
30
188 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Don Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pops Maellard!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maellard throws a low kick but Johnson moves out of range easily.
Maellard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.

Maellard rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
Maellard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Maellard misses with a hook to the ribs.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Maellard.
Maellard misses with a hook to the ribs.
Maellard working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Maellard has Johnson pressed against the cage.
Maellard lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee is keeping an eye on Maellard - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Maellard tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Maellard misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Maellard.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as Maellard controls his hands.
Johnson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Maellard.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Maellard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Maellard lands a right hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Maellard misses with a punch on the inside.
Maellard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Maellard struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Maellard digs a right hand into Johnson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Johnson's gas tank.
A short body shot lands from Maellard as the two fighters clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maellard tries to circle away but Johnson has him pinned against the cage.
Maellard lands a hook that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Maellard works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Maellard struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Maellard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Maellard fails to land.
Maellard makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.
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!
Maellard misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Maellard.
Maellard misses with a hook to the ribs.
Maellard is struggling to control the position.
Maellard lands a left hand.
Maellard blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maellard misses with a punch on the inside.
Maellard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Maellard.
Maellard stalling the fight.
Maellard has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Maellard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.
Maellard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maellard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Maellard gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.
Maellard is pushing Johnson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Maellard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maellard lands a body shot in the clinch.
Maellard has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.
Maellard tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
A short body shot lands from Maellard as the two fighters clinch.

Maellard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maellard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johnson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maellard sprawls and moves away.
Maellard tries a head kick but it misses.
Maellard thumps Johnson with a low kick.
Johnson slips under a jab.
Johnson feinted with a counter takedown.
Maellard misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pops Maellard dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Maellard moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
A body shot lands from Maellard.
Maellard is struggling to control the position.
Maellard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Maellard throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Maellard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maellard misses with the head strike.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Johnson blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Come on Maellard - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Maellard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Maellard has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.
Maellard lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maellard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Johnson blocking some punches.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maellard stalls.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Maellard scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Maellard slowing the pace effectively.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maellard tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Maellard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Maellard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Maellard fails to land.
Maellard blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
Johnson lands an elbow inside that Maellard shrugs off.
Maellard misses with a punch on the inside.
Maellard can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Maellard throws a head punch that misses.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pops Maellard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maellard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
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!
Maellard throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Johnson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Maellard scores with a leg kick.
Maellard throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson moves out of range as Maellard strikes.
Johnson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Johnson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Maellard throws a right hand that misses
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maellard takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Johnson misses its target.
Maellard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Maellard wants it to stay on the feet.
Maellard tries a quick counter leg kick but Johnson is wise to it.
Maellard misses with a looping right.
Maellard lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Maellard.
Maellard throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnson.
Maellard looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
Maellard misses with a straight right.
Johnson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Maellard tries a head kick but it misses.
Maellard throws a leg kick
and Johnson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Maellard connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Maellard jabs Johnson right on the nose. Johnson blinks but takes it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Maellard.
Johnson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Pops Maellard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maellard scoring well with a low kick there.
Maellard throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Maellard.
Johnson scores with a hook.
Maellard throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maellard sprawls and moves away.
Maellard wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Maellard drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.
Johnson taking a breather.
Pops Maellard seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Johnson blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pops Maellard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Maellard lands a jab to the nose.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnson moves out of range as Maellard strikes.
Maellard goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
It looked like Johnson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Maellard misses with a series of wild punches.
Maellard thows a leg kick but Johnson checks it

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maellard can't keep his opponent in guard - Johnson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Johnson wants to control but Maellard is keeping him busy.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Johnson stops Maellard from getting back to his feet.
Johnson 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.
Maellard is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Maellard defends it.
Maellard is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Maellard wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but Maellard defending well.
Johnson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Maellard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Maellard defends it well.
Johnson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Maellard wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson wants to take a breather but Maellard is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maellard tries to kick Johnson off but Johnson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Johnson controlling the action here.

Maellard has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Johnson is on him like a limpet, forcing Maellard back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Johnson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maellard backwards.
Johnson blocking some punches.
Johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maellard's efforts to push away.

Johnson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Maellard can't fight it off and eventually Johnson manages to take the fight to the floor. Maellard looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Maellard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Maellard keeps moving.
Johnson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Maellard is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maellard is keeping the position for now.
Maellard has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Maellard keeps moving.
Johnson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Maellard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maellard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Don Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pops Maellard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Maellard pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Don Johnson.
I think Maellard 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pops Maellard!
A victorious Pops Maellard thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
The defeated Don Johnson had this to say: 'It never happens this way when I'm on TV.'.