PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denis Gotsov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Denis Gotsov will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Johnson
vs
Gotsov

168 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
21
265 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Johnson !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denis Gotsov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gotsov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

It looks like Denis Gotsov has been cut.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gotsov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gotsov 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.
Gotsov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gotsov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gotsov winds up and cracks Johnson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gotsov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Gotsov.
Johnson trying to control from the bottom.
Gotsov lands strikes from half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gotsov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gotsov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gotsov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gotsov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ground and pound from Gotsov.
Gotsov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Johnson is pressing down on Gotsov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gotsov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Gotsov preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gotsov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gotsov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson 's head.
Gotsov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gotsov lands a couple of digs.
Gotsov wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gotsov scoring with some ground and pound.
Gotsov connects with a couple of short punches.
Johnson working a defensive guard here.
Gotsov wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Gotsov chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotsov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Gotsov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gotsov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gotsov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gotsov lands a couple of digs.

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.
Gotsov tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Gotsov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gotsov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Gotsov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gotsov connects with a couple of short punches.
Gotsov postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson 's brow.
Gotsov stands up over Johnson , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gotsov works over Johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
Gotsov pushing down on Johnson 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gotsov controlling the pace.
Johnson wants to control but Gotsov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Gotsov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Denis Gotsov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gotsov ducks under a wild hook from Johnson .
Gotsov tries to counter with a clinch but Johnson shakes him off and moves away.
A jab from Johnson misses.
Gotsov wants to counter the offense by Johnson and move into the clinch position.
Johnson misses with a looping right.
Gotsov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Johnson misses with a right hand

and Gotsov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gotsov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gotsov working some strikes from top position.
Gotsov cracks Johnson with a solid left hand.
Denis Gotsov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gotsov trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Gotsov working some strikes from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gotsov works over Johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
Gotsov wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Gotsov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotsov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gotsov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Gotsov drops back looking for a leg! Johnson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Johnson manages to kick Gotsov off! Gotsov jumps back into Johnson 's guard.
Gotsov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gotsov controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gotsov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Gotsov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gotsov lands a couple of elbows.
Gotsov cracks Johnson with a solid left hand.
Gotsov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gotsov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gotsov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotsov content to stall in guard here.
Gotsov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johnson 's head.
Gotsov connects with a couple of short punches.
Gotsov controlling from the top position.
Gotsov connects with a couple of short punches.
Gotsov scoring with some ground and pound.
Gotsov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gotsov is continuing to stall.
Gotsov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gotsov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gotsov postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson 's brow.
Gotsov trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gotsov advances position into side control!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Gotsov connects with a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Gotsov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Denis Gotsov's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Johnson looks to throw the jab but Gotsov is out of range.
Gotsov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Gotsov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gotsov is working Johnson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gotsov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gotsov passes Johnson 's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gotsov lands with a punch from half guard.
Gotsov working over Johnson with some ground and pound. Johnson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gotsov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johnson defends it well.
Ground and pound from Gotsov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gotsov frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gotsov working Johnson over with strikes here.
Johnson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Gotsov looking for a guillotine from mount but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gotsov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Gotsov has control of Johnson 's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Johnson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Gotsov working Johnson over with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gotsov scoring with strikes but Johnson is staying in there.
Gotsov looking to control but Johnson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gotsov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Johnson manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Gotsov staying calm.
Gotsov working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotsov lands an elbow.
Gotsov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Johnson down.

Gotsov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johnson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gotsov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gotsov cracks Johnson with a big right hand but Johnson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Gotsov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gotsov is putting a hurting on Johnson here, landing some big shots from side control.

Gotsov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johnson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Check out the look on Gotsov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gotsov working the ground and pound.

Gotsov is trying to get an arm triangle but Johnson is defending well.
Michael Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Denis Gotsov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Johnson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Denis Gotsov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gotsov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 26:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 26:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denis Gotsov!