PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Ivanovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demarcus Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Demarcus Johnson was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Ivanovic
vs
Johnson

180 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Ivanovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Demarcus Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ivanovic is defended easily by Johnson.
Johnson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Ivan Ivanovic has been cut.
Ivanovic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johnson's waist but Johnson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ivanovic off to one side.
Ivanovic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Johnson! But no joy.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ivanovic.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Ivanovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ivanovic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivanovic blocks a jab.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
Ivanovic went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.

Johnson drops Ivanovic with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Ivanovic looks back up at him and smiles so Johnson waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Ivanovic is rocked!
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!
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Oh Ivanovic is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ivanovic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ivanovic seems to have got his legs back now.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Ivanovic has the dominant position.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Ivanovic has the dominant position.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Ivanovic breaks the clinch.
Johnson misses with the combination.

Ivanovic moves into the clinch.
Ivanovic jumps guard but Johnson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Ivanovic has him pressed against the cage.
Ivanovic jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Johnson walks away with a smile on his face. Ivanovic gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ivanovic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Johnson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Ivanovic - the referee stops the clock and Johnson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Ivanovic. Johnson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ivanovic stalks Johnson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Johnson's face. Johnson staggers backwards, shaken.
Ivanovic is looking to clinch.
A left and a right from Johnson both land. Nice combination.
Johnson looks winded!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice takedown defense from Johnson. No joy for Ivanovic on that attempt.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Ivanovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ivanovic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ivanovic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Johnson slips under a jab from Ivanovic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanovic tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ivanovic counters with a nice body kick.
Johnson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Demarcus Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson throws a right hand that Ivanovic ducks under and follows up with a left that Ivanovic also avoids with ease.
Ivanovic lands with a slapping head kick.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Ivanovic avoids nicely.

Ivanovic clinches.
Ivanovic is trying to pull guard but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson is trying to push Ivanovic away but Ivanovic has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ivanovic goes for a takedown in the clinch but Johnson prevents it.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Ivanovic keeps him there for the moment.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ivanovic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throws a lazy uppercut
and Ivanovic makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ivanovic.
A little jabbing left from Johnson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson throws a right and a left that Ivanovic avoids nicely.
Ivanovic seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ivanovic connects with a solid leg kick.
Ivanovic moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ivanovic is defended easily by Johnson.
Good standup being displayed there by Johnson as he connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demarcus Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Ivanovic's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ivanovic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ivanovic shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ivanovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ivan Ivanovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ivanovic gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnson.
Ivanovic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It seemed like Johnson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Demarcus Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ivanovic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson lands with a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivanovic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Ivanovic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Ivanovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson tries to bum rush Ivanovic with a series of wild strikes but Ivanovic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ivanovic walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanovic needs to keep his hands up - Johnson had a free shot at his head there.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ivanovic fails with the takedown.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Ivanovic went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Johnson misses with a straight right.
Ivanovic lands with a kick to the ribs.
Ivanovic tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ivanovic closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Ivanovic pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ivanovic on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Ivanovic closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Johnson tries to circle away but Ivanovic has him pinned against the cage.

Ivanovic breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanovic throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Ivanovic is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Johnson.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Ivanovic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ivanovic lands a high kick!
Ivanovic walks into a straight right hand from Johnson.
Demarcus Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ivanovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson misses with the combination.
Ivanovic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ivanovic tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Ivanovic fails to land the takedown.
Johnson is looking for the big counter here.
Johnson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Johnson misses the jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ivanovic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice shot by Johnson.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ivanovic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ivanovic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ivanovic gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ivanovic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnson.

Ivanovic moves into the clinch.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ivanovic has him pressed against the cage.
Ivanovic is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Johnson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Ivanovic breaks from the clinch.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ivanovic tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Johnson defends well and Ivanovic ends up having to push Johnson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson misses with a right hand

and Ivanovic counters by moving into the clinch.
Ivanovic has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Ivanovic.
Johnson can't break the clinch.

Ivanovic jumps guard and drags Johnson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demarcus Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ivan Ivanovic's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Ivanovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Johnson throws a right hand that Ivanovic ducks under and follows up with a left that Ivanovic also avoids with ease.

Johnson drops Ivanovic with a beautiful combination! Ivanovic stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Johnson is looking for the KO!
Ivanovic walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Johnson lands an uppercut, right on the button! Ivanovic tumbles backwards into the cage, staring vacantly into space! He's got no idea where he is, who he is or what day it is... Poor guy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Demarcus Johnson!