PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Johnson (ranked 4848 p4p, 538 weight class) and Roberts Dzerkalis (ranked 4534 p4p, 503 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Dzerkalis

192 cm
25
272 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
230 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paul Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Roberts Dzerkalis!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson clinches.
Dzerkalis takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Roberts Dzerkalis has been cut.

Johnson jumps into guard, dragging Dzerkalis to the mat.
Dzerkalis wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Dzerkalis looking to pass the guard.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dzerkalis on the ground.

Johnson manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Johnson clinches with his opponent.
Johnson avoiding damage.

Dzerkalis manages to pull guard.

Dzerkalis has an active guard here but Johnson has managed to pass into half guard.
Dzerkalis is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Johnson jumps into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dzerkalis trying to remain calm as Johnson controls from the top position.

Johnson stands up and beckons Dzerkalis to his feet.

Dzerkalis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Johnson is defending against the submission attempts here by Dzerkalis.
Dzerkalis is keen to just control but Johnson is a slippery customer.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.

Dzerkalis is working for a submission of some sort.
Johnson has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Dzerkalis is on him like a limpet, forcing Johnson back against the cage.
Johnson slows down the pace here.
Johnson looking to throw knees to the head but Dzerkalis is blocking nicely.
Dzerkalis wants a takedown.
Johnson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Johnson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Dzerkalis clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
I would not like to be Dzerkalis right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johnson controlling well, preventing Dzerkalis from escaping the position.
Johnson controls the position.
Johnson gets his hands free as Dzerkalis looks to control.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Johnson controlling well, preventing Dzerkalis from escaping the position.

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.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Johnson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson doesn't have the hooks in and Dzerkalis manages to turn into his guard.
Dzerkalis throwing strikes from guard but Johnson blocks nicely.
Dzerkalis trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dzerkalis is looking to advance position but Johnson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roberts Dzerkalis's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnson lands in his opponent's guard.

Dzerkalis is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Johnson scores with a knee to the head.
Johnson lands a knee to the head.
Johnson scores with a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dzerkalis drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Johnson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Johnson lands a hook that snaps the head of Dzerkalis backwards.
Knees to the body from Johnson.
Paul Johnson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Dzerkalis is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson landing knees to the body.

Johnson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Johnson stands and steps away. Dzerkalis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Dzerkalis against the cage.
Johnson is leaning against Dzerkalis and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Johnson scores a nice knee to the body.
Johnson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dzerkalis backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Johnson.
Johnson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Johnson lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dzerkalis takes a knee right on the jaw!
Johnson lands an elbow inside.
Johnson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Dzerkalis takes a knee to the side of the body.

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

Johnson stands up.

Johnson closes the distance and pushes Dzerkalis back into the cage.
Johnson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Dzerkalis takes a knee to the side of the body.
Johnson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dzerkalis backwards.

Johnson has clasped his hands together around Dzerkalis's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Dzerkalis is looking to get back to his feet here but Johnson is keeping cool and he's managed to take Dzerkalis's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dzerkalis is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Johnson.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dzerkalis can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Johnson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Roberts Dzerkalis's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson connects with an inside leg kick.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Dzerkalis against the cage.
Johnson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dzerkalis backwards.
Johnson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Johnson with a knee to the head.

Johnson manages to pull guard.

Johnson has his feet on Dzerkalis's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Dzerkalis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dzerkalis napping and manages to drive through into side control!
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!
Johnson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Dzerkalis will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Johnson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Johnson passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Dzerkalis!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dzerkalis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Johnson content just to control the position here.
Paul Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dzerkalis manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Johnson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Dzerkalis 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 Dzerkalis off to one side.

Dzerkalis drives through with a takedown into Johnson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Johnson has Dzerkalis pulled in close to control his posture.
Dzerkalis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson kicks Dzerkalis off and gets to his feet.
Roberts Dzerkalis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson looking to score a takedown here. Dzerkalis is defending well but Johnson drives through and ends up in Dzerkalis's guard.

Johnson stands and steps away. Dzerkalis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into Dzerkalis's guard.

Dzerkalis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Johnson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dzerkalis, up you get!

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Johnson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
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!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Johnson avoiding damage.
Johnson is working Dzerkalis over against the cage.
Dzerkalis has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Johnson seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Dzerkalis can turn it around.
Johnson scores a nice knee to the body.
Johnson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dzerkalis's face.

Dzerkalis is fighting off a takedown attempt but Johnson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Dzerkalis to the mat. Dzerkalis regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Dzerkalis wants to get back to his feet but Johnson passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roberts Dzerkalis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

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