PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Dimitru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Faint. Anthony Johnson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Johnson
vs
Dimitru

200 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, 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 Hilo, Nikolai Dimitru!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Dimitru tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.
Dimitru is trying to break free.
Dimitru scores with a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Dimitru just misses with a elbow thrown towards Johnson's brow.
Dimitru is trying to maintain a safe position but Johnson gets an underhook and turns Dimitru into the cage.
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dimitru using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Johnson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dimitru tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dimitru misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dimitru tries to land a knee to the head but Johnson blocks with his arms.
Dimitru tries to land a knee to the head but Johnson blocks with his arms.
Dimitru tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.
Dimitru with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dimitru with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dimitru throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.
Dimitru throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson gets control of Dimitru's arms and successfully pulls guard. Johnson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Dimitru trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson working a defensive guard here.

Johnson has his foot on Dimitru's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dimitru works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dimitru avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dimitru trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dimitru gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dimitru is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson working a defensive guard here.
Dimitru wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Dimitru from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson pulls Dimitru in to control the position.
Johnson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dimitru trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dimitru!

Johnson looking to secure an arm triangle but Dimitru defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson has hold of Dimitru's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Dimitru manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Dimitru wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Dimitru is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Dimitru is looking to improve his position but Johnson isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Dimitru, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Dimitru against the cage but Dimitru circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dimitru clinches but Johnson breaks the clinch

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dimitru looking to throw knees to the head but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Dimitru with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Dimitru misses with a knee strike.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dimitru connects with a knee to the head.

Dimitru is fighting off a takedown attempt but Johnson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Dimitru to the mat. Dimitru regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Johnson trying to control but Dimitru is working from the bottom.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson passes Dimitru's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Johnson wants to work for an arm triangle but Dimitru is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dimitru wants to get back to his feet.

Johnson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dimitru is looking to improve his position.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Dimitru is defending against the submission attempts here by Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Dimitru is defending well.
Johnson trying to control from half guard but Dimitru is working away.
Dimitru is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Dimitru keeps moving.
Dimitru has Johnson pulled in close to control his posture.
Dimitru wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.

Dimitru looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Dimitru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Johnson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

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

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Dimitru has managed to free his arm - good work.
Dimitru has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dimitru is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Johnson is staying active.
Dimitru manages to get to full guard.

Johnson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Dimitru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dimitru wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Dimitru has an active guard here but Johnson has managed to pass into half guard.
Johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Johnson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dimitru sees it coming and defends easily.
Dimitru wants to control but Johnson passes into side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Dimitru tries to clinch up

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dimitru's guard now.
Dimitru is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dimitru is on top in guard.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing Dimitru from standing up.

Johnson wriggles free and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson closes the distance and pushes Dimitru back into the cage.
Dimitru connects with a knee to the head.

Johnson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Dimitru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikolai Dimitru has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Johnson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Anthony Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Johnson!