PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ravistra Bullkheli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarik Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bullkheli
vs
Johnson

155 cm
40
142 lbs
25 - 11 - 0

184 cm
36
157 lbs
26 - 20 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Sully's Bar & Grill

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ravistra Bullkheli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Tarik Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bullkheli tries to score with a low kick but Johnson moves his leg out of the way.
Johnson feints and then cracks Bullkheli's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bullkheli down.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bullkheli.
Johnson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bullkheli.
Bullkheli throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bullkheli throws a looping overhand right but Johnson ducks down to avoid it.
Bullkheli looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Johnson checks a low kick from Bullkheli.
Bullkheli looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Bullkheli throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnson.
Bullkheli looks to land a right hand but Johnson moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A leg kick checked by Johnson.
Johnson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bullkheli.

Bullkheli darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.
Johnson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bullkheli backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Johnson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bullkheli gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bullkheli working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bullkheli throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Johnson told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bullkheli tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Bullkheli back against the cage.
Bullkheli tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Johnson pulls guard successfully.
Johnson lands a decent punch to the body there.
Bullkheli content to stall in guard here.
Bullkheli sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Johnson's guard.
Bullkheli controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Bullkheli has control of the leg.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to get back to full guard here but Bullkheli has managed to pass to side control instead.
Johnson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bullkheli prevents Johnson from improving his position.
Johnson connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Bullkheli seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Bullkheli trying to mount his opponent but Johnson defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard.
Bullkheli wants to free his trapped foot but Johnson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Johnson wants to control but Bullkheli is keeping busy.
Johnson tries to roll over but Bullkheli keeps him under control.
Bullkheli trying to control the pace.
Johnson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bullkheli is looking to advance position but Johnson won't allow it.
Johnson trying to hold on to Bullkheli's head to control him but Bullkheli postures up.

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.
Johnson gets back to full guard.
Bullkheli trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bullkheli tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Bullkheli content to stall in guard here.
Bullkheli trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Johnson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bullkheli.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bullkheli gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bullkheli fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bullkheli presses Johnson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bullkheli after a bit of a struggle.
A short uppercut from Bullkheli.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Bullkheli will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bullkheli scores with a leg kick.
Bullkheli is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Bullkheli thows a leg kick but Johnson checks it
and Johnson counters with a solid body kick.
Bullkheli moves to clinch but Johnson breaks away
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bullkheli throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bullkheli throws a body kick that misses.
Bullkheli takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Johnson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bullkheli thows a leg kick but Johnson checks it
and Johnson counters with a series of strikes. Bullkheli will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson slips under a jab from Bullkheli.
Bullkheli dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
Bullkheli is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Johnson's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bullkheli throws a quick inside leg kick.
Johnson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Bullkheli fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bullkheli thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Johnson if he has to take too many more of those.
Bullkheli tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnson was well out of range. Poor timing from Bullkheli.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with Bullkheli.

Johnson drags the fight down to the ground.
Bullkheli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bullkheli controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Bullkheli stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bullkheli just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson counters with a body kick.
Bullkheli thumps Johnson with a low kick.
Bullkheli works Johnson's body with a nice hook.
Johnson takes a swing at Bullkheli's ribcage but misses.
Bullkheli throws a predictable looking body shot
and Johnson counters with a slapping leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A looping hook to the body misses from Bullkheli. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Johnson scores with a kick to the midsection.
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bullkheli misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson defending well as Bullkheli loads up on a big left hand.
Bullkheli finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Bullkheli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Bullkheli misses with a straight right.
Bullkheli tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bullkheli does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Johnson lands a nice shot that snaps Bullkheli's head back.
Bullkheli moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Bullkheli is looking to clinch.
Bullkheli looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
Johnson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bullkheli wants to clinch.
Bullkheli takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Bullkheli gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bullkheli lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bullkheli has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bullkheli gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Bullkheli 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.
Bullkheli fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bullkheli gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Johnson cracks Bullkheli with a nice body shot.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by Bullkheli.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bullkheli pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ravistra Bullkheli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarik Johnson.
Johnson with a nice cross.
Bullkheli throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bullkheli on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tarik Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bullkheli looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
Bullkheli misses with a shot to the body
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bullkheli, pushing him back against the cage.
Bullkheli is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Johnson is keeping busy.
Bullkheli blocks an elbow strike.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Bullkheli pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Johnson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Bullkheli just misses with a punch to the body.
Ravistra Bullkheli is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bullkheli swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Bullkheli connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bullkheli throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bullkheli tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Johnson throws out a counter right but Bullkheli avoids it with no problem.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.
Ravistra Bullkheli is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bullkheli wants to clinch
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bullkheli throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson catches Bullkheli with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bullkheli tries to clinch up.
Bullkheli misses with a body punch
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.
Bullkheli throws a lazy uppercut
and Bullkheli takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bullkheli lands a jab to Johnson's midsection.

Bullkheli closes the distance and clinches.
Bullkheli tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bullkheli lands with a right to the head.
Bullkheli lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bullkheli throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnsons head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bullkheli swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bullkheli working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Johnson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bullkheli.
Ravistra Bullkheli has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
Bullkheli working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Johnson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bullkheli scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bullkheli.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
Bullkheli is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Johnson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ravistra Bullkheli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarik Johnson.
Bullkheli misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bullkheli blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bullkheli backwards.
Bullkheli goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bullkheli pushes Johnson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Bullkheli fails to land.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bullkheli after a bit of a struggle.
Johnson wants a takedown.
Bullkheli working aggressively here.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Bullkheli.
Bullkheli scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bullkheli looking to stall.
Bullkheli takes a shot to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Johnson tries to work over Bullkheli's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bullkheli doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Johnson presses Bullkheli against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A shot in the inside from Bullkheli.
Bullkheli holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Bullkheli trying to control the position but instead, Johnson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bullkheli into the cage.
Johnson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Johnson.
Johnson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bullkheli's elbow.
Bullkheli misses with a punch on the inside.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson lands a nice elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short uppercut from Johnson.
Bullkheli misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bullkheli lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Johnson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Bullkheli scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Bullkheli slows down the pace here.
Bullkheli misses with a punch to the body.
Nice body punch from Johnson.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

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 Ravistra Bullkheli.
I think Bullkheli 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ravistra Bullkheli!
Ravistra Bullkheli really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Sully's Bar & Grill logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.
Tarik Johnson spoke after the fight, saying 'I tried my best, i think this may be my last fight, i would like to thank everybody that helped me get to where i am today.'.