PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Don Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emiliano Zapata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Miami Vice Theme Song. Zapata comes into a darkened arena with his song building. EINA kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Don Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnson
vs
Zapata

186 cm
30
200 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

189 cm
29
190 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
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 9 - 9 - 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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emiliano Zapata!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged Zapata in a clinch.
Zapata lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Johnson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Johnson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zapata wants to control but Johnson postures up.
Zapata prevents Johnson from moving into mount.
A lull in the action here.
Johnson throws a strike aimed at the side of Zapata's head but Zapata avoids it well.

Johnson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson staying calm.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Zapata rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Johnson's guard! Nice work there by Zapata!
Zapata trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.
Zapata works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zapata prevents Johnson from improving his position.
Johnson is positioning himself well to prevent Zapata advancing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zapata.
Zapata not doing much here.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Zapata prevents Johnson from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Well, if Zapata is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Johnson is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Body Pain_14elite_700$+VM that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Zapata thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Johnson throws a right hand that misses
and Zapata counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Zapata looks to land a right hand but Johnson moved out of range.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Zapata shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zapata avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A good leg kick by Zapata.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zapata.
Johnson connects with a body shot that sends Zapata's belly button to the back.
Zapata throws a solid leg kick but Johnson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Zapata.
Johnson lands a nice looking body shot.

Johnson rushes Zapata and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zapata misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson managing to block the knees to the body from Zapata.
Zapata misses with a knee strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson is working for takedown but Zapata is calmly controlling the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zapata throws a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zapata or not.
Johnson avoids a wild elbow strike from Zapata.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as Zapata controls his hands.
Zapata can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson throws a jab but it's blocked by Zapata.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand
enabling Zapata to counter with a crisp jab.
Zapata misses with an attempted mid kick.
Johnson scores with a punch to the head.

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Zapata's guard.

Zapata escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zapata keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Zapata uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
Zapata looking to slow down the pace here.

Zapata is fighting off a takedown attempt but Johnson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Zapata to the mat. Zapata regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Zapata is keeping the position.
Don Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Zapata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zapata is keeping the position for now.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Zapata keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapata has his hands on Johnson's head, controlling the position.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson trying to control but Zapata is working from the bottom.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Johnson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Zapata is retaining full guard.
Zapata can't keep his opponent in guard - Johnson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zapata has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson decides to stand up.
Zapata slips a straight right by Johnson.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zapata looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Zapata sprawls well.
Zapata let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Johnson gets a double leg takedown into Zapata's guard.
Zapata keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson advances position into side control!

Johnson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Zapata gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Johnson with a couple of short strikes.
Johnson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zapata looks a forlorn figure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zapata tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Zapata is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Zapata, which made it look bad.
Zapata tries to move into range but Johnson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Johnson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zapata. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
A quick step to the side and Johnson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Zapata counters with a straight right hand.
Zapata defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Zapata circles away.
Zapata leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson lands with a good body shot.
That kick from Johnson tenderised Zapata's leg. Zapata is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Johnson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Johnson cracks Zapata with a good jab.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Emiliano Zapata seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson looks to land a right hand but Zapata moved out of range.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Zapata sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zapata misses with a series of wild punches.
An attempted straight right counter from Johnson misses the target.
Johnson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Zapata gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Johnson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Johnson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zapata's guard.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Zapata is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapata is holding on to half guard well.
Johnson is pressing down on Zapata's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zapata is holding on for now.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zapata can do to turn this around?
Zapata is trying to get back to full guard.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Zapata is defending well.
Johnson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Zapata!
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!
Zapata is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Johnson has taken his back.

Johnson is looking for a choke. Zapata gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Zapata manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata looking to pass the guard.

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zapata can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zapata forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson tries to kick Zapata off but Zapata keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Zapata is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johnson is looking to control Zapata's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnson avoid being mounted?
Zapata prevents Johnson from improving his position.
Zapata content to control rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson is staying active underneath Zapata, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Johnson!
Don Johnson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.