PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manny Johnson (ranked 6628 p4p, 431 weight class) and Alexander Rogov (ranked 5867 p4p, 0 weight class). Rogov comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Metallica - Enter Sandman kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Alexander Rogov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnson
vs
Rogov

180 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

174 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

Juggernaut And Gladiators(90% Laundry)

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Manny Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Rogov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rogov to the ground. Johnson is now in Rogov's guard.

Rogov 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 stops a takedown attempt from Rogov.
Johnson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
Johnson misses with the head strike.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rogov. Rogov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rogov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rogov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Rogov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Johnson defends it well.
Johnson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rogov's hands.
Rogov shoots in but no luck this time.
Manny Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Rogov.
Rogov tries a head kick but it misses.
A little feinted left hand from Johnson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rogov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rogov sneaks out the side door and pushes Johnson away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Rogov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Rogov persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
An inside leg kick lands from Johnson.
Rogov tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rogov.
Manny Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Rogov avoids nicely.

Rogov gets tackled into the cage by Johnson. Johnson maintains the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Rogov with a poor takedown
and Johnson counters with a stiff right hand.

Johnson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rogov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rogov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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.
Rogov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rogov.
Rogov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rogov.
Rogov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Johnson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Rogov circles away.
Rogov fails with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rogov swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rogov wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson lands a nice knee to the body.

Johnson gets control of Rogov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Johnson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rogov throws a big elbow that misses.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rogov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rogov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Rogov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johnson wants to stand but Rogov is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson tries to clinch up but Rogov circles away and keeps his distance.
Rogov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rogov somewhat.
Rogov takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Johnson connects with a solid leg kick.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Rogov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Rogov. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rogov can do to turn this around?

Johnson takes the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rogov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Johnson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rogovs head.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Rogov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rogov with the counter takedown but Johnson avoids it easily.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Rogov is avoiding it.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Rogov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Rogov circles away and keeps his distance.
Rogov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Manny Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Rogov.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Rogov tries to counter with a clinch but Johnson shakes him off and moves away.

Johnson rushes Rogov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rogov goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rogov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.
Rogov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a high kick!
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Rogov shoots in.
Rogov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rogov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rogov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Rogov circles away.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Rogov circles away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Johnson.
Manny Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogov tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson tries to clinch but Rogov moves out of range.
Rogov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rogov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rogov fails with a takedown attempt.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as Rogov controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Johnson leaning against his opponent.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rogov takes an elbow to the temple.
Johnson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Rogov won't allow it.
Johnson stalling in the clinch but Rogov improves position.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rogov tries to pull guard but Johnson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Manny Johnson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rogov is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Rogov has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rogov wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Johnson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rogov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rogov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.
Johnson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Rogov tries to move into range but Johnson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Rogov misses the target.
Manny Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson lands with a nice body punch.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Rogov fails with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a series of strikes. Rogov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Manny Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Rogov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rogov shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but Rogov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Johnson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Rogov is avoiding it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Johnson.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rogov.
Rogov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson tries to clinch but Rogov is having none of it.
Johnson misses with the combination.
Rogov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Good leg kick by Johnson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Johnson.
Rogov 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 Rogov off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Johnson clinches up with Rogov and pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson tries to work over Rogov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rogov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johnson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rogov has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rogov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
It looked like Johnson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Rogov wants to counter the offense by Johnson and move into the clinch position.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into Rogov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rogov managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rogov is proving hard to escape from.
Rogov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Johnson stands up from Rogov's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rogov dodges the punch combination from Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Rogov against the cage.
Rogov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Johnson is pushing Rogov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Johnson is trying to push Rogov away but Rogov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Alexander Rogov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson scores with a knee to the head.
Johnson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but Rogov blocks with his arms.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rogov's defenses.
Manny Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rogov prevents it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:26

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