PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Pera (ranked 35 p4p, 6 weight class) and Gunnar Johnsson (ranked 201 p4p, 29 weight class). Gunnar Johnsson has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Pera
vs
Johnsson

150 cm
25
177 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

180 cm
31
178 lbs
21 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Pera!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gunnar Johnsson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pera with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pera lands a glancing blow to the side of Johnsson's head.
Johnsson misses with a hook
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Johnsson throws a looping overhand right but Pera ducks down to avoid it.
Johnsson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnsson scores with a jab. Pera acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Pera throws a leg kick which misses Johnsson's front leg but catches the back leg as Johnsson tries to avoid it.
Pera swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Johnsson counter with a right hand.
Johnsson checks a leg kick nicely.
Johnsson's coach down at Hunter MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Johnsson's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Pekka Pera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pera.
Pera throws a half hearted mid kick.
Johnsson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Pera.
Pera takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Pera feinted with a counter takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnsson tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnsson missing with a left hand there. Pera was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnsson tries to score with a low kick but Pera moves his leg out of the way.

Pera closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Johnsson did well to prevent Pera getting side control.
Pera trying to control the action but Johnsson is working from the bottom.
Pera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnsson tries to get to full guard but Pera has control of the leg.
Johnsson trying to hold on to Pera's head to control him but Pera postures up.
Johnsson is staying active underneath Pera, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnsson wants to improve his position but Pera is controlling well.
Pera working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pera stalling.
Pera prevents Johnsson from improving his position.
Pera throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Johnsson to regain full guard.
Pera throwing strikes but missing.
Johnsson pulls Pera in close to his closed guard and prevents Pera from doing any damage or advancing position.
Pera wants to pass the guard but Johnsson is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pera controls from within his opponent's guard.
Johnsson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Johnsson trying to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Pera throws a body kick that misses.
Pera wants to clinch up but Johnsson keeps it at a distance.
Johnsson checks a low kick from Pera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pera with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Johnsson to score with a decent uppercut.
Gunnar Johnsson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab, jab by Pera - just one landing.
Pera throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Johnsson on the side of the head.
Pera will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A swing and a miss from Johnsson.
Johnsson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Pekka Pera has been cut.
Pera throws out a loose jab but Johnsson uses good head movement to avoid it.

Pera gets a clinch.
Pera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnsson.
Pera tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnsson's elbow.
The referee calls for Pera to work.
Pera is stalling here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pekka Pera's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Johnsson lands the left hand.
Pera connects with a good right hand that stumbles Johnsson. Johnsson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pera lands a right hook to the body.
Pera looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A big left from Pera misses.
Pera slips under a jab from Johnsson.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Pera. Johnsson shrugs it off though.
A leg kick checked by Johnsson.
Johnsson digs a good body shot into Pera's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pera shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Pera gets a clinch.
Johnsson blocks a body shot from Pera.
Pera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pera is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnsson can do to turn this around?
Pera doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnsson wants to get back to striking at distance but Pera won't allow it.
Pera swings wildly with an uppercut but Johnsson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pera misses with the head strike.
Pera tries to work over Johnsson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Johnsson breaks from the clinch.
A low kick from Pera misses
enabling Johnsson to counter with a crisp jab.
Pera scores with a nice right hand.
Pera scores with a body shot.
Pera lands with a thumping leg kick.
Johnsson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pera sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johnsson tries to work over Pera's front leg with a kick but Pera checks it.
Pera doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnsson counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pera slips under a jab.
Pera tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Johnsson manages to circle out of the way.
Johnsson throws a body punch but Pera moves out of range.
Johnsson looks to score with a jab to the body but Pera is just out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Pera on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Johnsson avoids the body shot from Pera.
Pera darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Pera lands with a good body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pera throws a body punch but Johnsson moves out of range.
Johnsson thinks about the counter body kick.
Pera tries to score with a low kick but Johnsson moves his leg out of the way.
Pera drops his hands momentarily and Johnsson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Pera.
Pera fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Johnsson.
Johnsson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson walks into a straight right hand from Pera.
Nice defenses there by Pera.
As Johnsson backs away, Pera returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Pera throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Johnsson cracks Pera with a right hand to the side of the head.
A combination from Johnsson does no damage.
A little feinted left hand from Pera on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Pera walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Pera darts in and clinches Johnsson up against the cage.
Johnsson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Pera fails to land.
Pera tries to work over Johnsson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Johnsson can't break the clinch.
Johnsson lands a right hand.
Johnsson prevents a body shot from Pera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson is trying to force a seperation but Pera has the dominant position.
Pera misses with the head strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pera misses with a punch to the body.
Pera misses with the head strike.
Johnsson misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Pera.
Johnsson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johnsson taking a breather.

Johnsson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A leg kick checked by Pera.
Pera with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pera walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Johnsson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Johnsson throws out a loose jab but Pera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnsson throws a body punch but Pera moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pekka Pera will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pekka Pera's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnsson throws a low kick but Pera avoids it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Johnsson.
Pera takes one to the side of the head.
Pera fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Johnsson checks it well.
Pera moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pera misses with a looping left.
A slow jab from Johnsson misses its intended target.

Johnsson tries to sprawl but Pera drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Johnsson is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnsson wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pera winds up and cracks Johnsson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Johnsson is trying to get back to full guard.
Johnsson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pera.
Ground and pound from Pera.
Pera throwing shots but Johnsson is blocking nicely.
Pekka Pera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnsson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pera scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pera thows a huge punch but Johnsson dodges it nicely.
Johnsson is trying to stand up here but Pera is controlling him well.
Johnsson keeping hold of Pera's head, controlling as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pera throwing shots but Johnsson is blocking nicely.
Pera thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Pera lands a nice short elbow.
Nice strikes from Pera there.
Pera has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Pera trying to control the action but Johnsson is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnsson is trying to stand back up but Pera is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pera looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Pera missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pera not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pera not doing much here.
Johnsson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnsson trying to control but Pera postures up.
Johnsson tries to get to full guard but Pera has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Johnsson lands with a hook. Pera tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Johnsson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A low kick from Johnsson is predictable there
and Pera counters with a slapping leg kick.
Johnsson swats away the attempt to clinch by Pera.
Pera connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pera looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnsson is just out of range.
Johnsson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Pera closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Johnsson did well to prevent Pera getting side control.

Johnsson manages to escape and get back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pera clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Pekka Pera's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pera throws a body punch but Johnsson moves out of range.
Pera takes a jab right on the kisser.

Pera rushes Johnsson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Johnsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pera checks a leg kick nicely.
Pera scores with a jab to the head.
Johnsson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Peras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A big left from Pera misses.
Pera throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnsson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johnsson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Gunnar Johnsson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnsson as he jumps to the side.
Pera tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnsson throws a head kick that half lands.
A low kick from Johnsson is predictable there
and Pera counters with a slapping leg kick.
Pera throws a leg kick that misses.
Pera lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Pera.
Johnsson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnsson wants to slow Pera down by chopping away at his legs.
Pera throws a leg kick but Johnsson sees it coming and moves out of range.
It seemed like Johnsson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Pera misses with a body shot
and Johnsson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A big right from Pera misses.
Johnsson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Pera thows a leg kick but Johnsson checks it
and Johnsson counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Pera blocks the low kick.
Pera throws a leg kick that misses.
Pera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pera lands a nice looking kick to the body. Johnsson takes a step back to recover.
The fighters circling - Pera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnsson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johnsson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pera throws a body shot but no joy.
Pera doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pera gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Pera throws a body shot but no joy.
Pera scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pera moves out of range of the body kick from Johnsson.
Pera tried to score with a low kick but Johnsson checks it.
Johnsson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Pera chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Pera lands a slapping body shot.
Pera throws a front kick aimed at Johnsson's knee but Johnsson avoids it well.
Pera feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Johnsson's calf.
Pera lands a nice leg kick that just misses Johnsson's sensitive parts.
Pera closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Pera lands a nice hook to Johnsson's body. Johnsson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by Johnsson as he connects with a hook.
Pera throws a leg kick which misses Johnsson's front leg but catches the back leg as Johnsson tries to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Johnsson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Johnsson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pera throws a nice inside leg kick.
Johnsson throws a push kick but Pera slaps the foot to one side.
Pera attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
And Johnsson responds with a good body kick, but Pera manages to step out the way in time.
Johnsson checks the leg kick.
Johnsson throws out a counter right but Pera avoids it with no problem.
Nice body kick from Pera.
Johnsson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Pera clinches up against the cage.
Pera swings wildly with an uppercut but Johnsson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnsson tries to work over Pera's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pera.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Pekka Pera will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pekka Pera's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pera moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Johnsson misses with a low kick as Pera jumps back.
Pera throws a lazy right hand but Johnsson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Pera closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Johnsson quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Johnsson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Johnsson is looking to stand up but Pera isn't so interested in that idea.
Pera being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnsson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pera's guard.

Pera wants to sweep but no luck.
Pera keeping full guard, as Johnsson tries to pass.
Pera wants to sweep here but Johnsson controlling him for the moment.

Johnsson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gunnar Johnsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Pera.
Pera throws out a leg kick but Johnsson moves out of range and Pera only half commits.
Johnsson just misses with a punch to the body.
Pera half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnsson throws a leg kick that misses.
Pera tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnsson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pera somewhat.
Johnsson throws a front kick aimed at Pera's knee but Pera avoids it well.
Pera is looking to clinch but Johnsson is avoiding it.
Pera lands a lovely overhand right.
Pera takes one to the side of the head.
Johnsson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson looks to score with a jab to the body but Pera is just out of range.
Johnsson needs to keep his hands up - Pera had a free shot at his head there.
Pera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnsson.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pera, right into the meat.
Johnsson just misses with a punch to the body.
Pera uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnsson.
Pera throws a nice inside leg kick.
Pera misses the jab.
Pera slips under a jab from Johnsson.
Johnsson thows a leg kick but Pera checks it
and Pera counters with an outside leg kick.
Johnsson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pera is looking to counter the offense by Johnsson and move into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pera turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Pera scores with a shot to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Johnsson.
That kick from Pera tenderised Johnsson's leg. Johnsson is trying to keep his angry face on.
Johnsson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pera lands a nice leg kick that just misses Johnsson's sensitive parts.
Johnsson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Pera fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Johnsson on the side of the head.
A jab from Johnsson misses.
Johnsson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Johnsson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Pera misses with a low kick as Johnsson jumps back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pekka Pera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pera 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 50:45
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pekka Pera!
Pekka Pera retains his welterweight title!
A relieved looking Pekka Pera thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.