PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arystoteles Papas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Justin Bieber ft. Ariana Grande - Let Me Think Bout You. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnson
vs
Papas

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arystoteles Papas!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Papas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Papas 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.
Papas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Papas moves away.
Papas dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
Arystoteles Papas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Johnson misses.
Papas missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A looping hook to the body misses from Papas. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Papas misses with a body punch
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Papas. Papas circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Papas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Johnson cracks a nice hook into Papas's ribs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Papas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Johnson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Johnson lands a left hand.
Johnson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Papas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Johnson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Johnson.
Papas looks winded!
Johnson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Papas can't break the clinch.
Johnson lands a body shot.
Papas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papas tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Papas drops back down to his feet.
Johnson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Johnson works on Papas's body with a couple of short punches.
Johnson lands a left hand.
Johnson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Johnson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Johnson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Papas wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Papas controls the action.
A left hand lands to the body for Johnson.
Johnson misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from Johnson on the inside.
Papas working hard to break the clinch.
Johnson scores with a nice hook to the head.
A shot in the inside from Johnson.
Johnson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Papas has had enough of the clinch but Johnson keeps him there for the moment.
Papas tries to pull guard but Johnson won't allow it.
Anthony Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arystoteles Papas.
Johnson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Johnson.
Johnson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Johnson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Johnson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right from Johnson.
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 Papas over against the cage.
Johnson scores with a shot to the side of Papas's head.
Johnson cracks Papas with a nice body shot.
Johnson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Johnson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson gets a clinch.
Papas blocks an uppercut.
Johnson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Johnson is working Papas over against the cage.
A body shot lands from Johnson.
Johnson works on Papas's body with a couple of short punches.
Johnson scores with a shot to the side of Papas's head.
Johnson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Papas backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson lands a body shot.
Papas is breathing heavily.
Johnson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Johnson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Johnson scores with a shot to the side of Papas's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good body shot from Johnson.
Johnson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Johnson gets through Papas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Papas is trying to push Johnson away but Johnson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Papas avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Johnson pushes Papas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Johnson.
Johnson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Johnson lands a left hand.

Papas is rocked!
Johnson dips a shoulder and cracks Papas with a mighty uppercut! Papas falls back against the cage and Johnson unloads with a barrage of strikes! Papas is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Johnson screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anthony Johnson!
Our winner, Anthony Johnson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.