PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pauli Johansson (ranked 2551 p4p, 291 weight class) and Erlend Jahr (ranked 2162 p4p, 257 weight class). Pauli Johansson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Johansson
vs
Jahr

182 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

168 cm
29
184 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pauli Johansson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erlend Jahr!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johansson misses with a straight right.
Jahr wants to counter with a clinch but Johansson pushes him away.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Jahr has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Johansson throws a head kick but Jahr moves out of range.
Johansson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jahr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johansson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Jahr staying out of range there.
Johansson connects with a crisp jab.

Jahr has Johansson up against the cage in a clinch.

Jahr has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Johansson regains guard immediately.
Jahr slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Johansson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Jahr tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Johansson sneaks out the side door and pushes Jahr away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson looks to land a combination but Jahr avoids it well.

Johansson tries to keep at a distance but Jahr has taken the fight into the clinch.

Johansson breaks the clinch.
Jahr on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Johansson. Johansson obviously looking to wear him down.

Jahr closes the distance and clinches.
Johansson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Jahr prevents a takedown attempt there.
Johansson has Jahr pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jahr manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johansson blocks an uppercut.
Jahr is trying to pull guard but Johansson has him pressed against the cage.
Jahr goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jahr is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johansson is defending well.
Johansson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jahr prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pauli Johansson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jahr has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Johansson uses from the top position.
Johansson is in close to Jahr's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jahr had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Johansson defends it easily.
Johansson stopping the sweep attempt from Jahr.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jahr is on top in guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Johansson pulls Jahr in to control the position.
Johansson can't keep his opponent in guard - Jahr advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Johansson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jahr tries to pass the half guard into mount. Johansson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jahr stops Johansson from getting back to his feet.
Jahr trying to advance position but Johansson counters by regaining guard.
Johansson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jahr wants to control from the top but Johansson keeps moving.
Jahr looking to pass the guard.
Jahr engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Jahr slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Johansson manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jahr is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Johansson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jahr.
Johansson trying to control here.
Jahr trying to control from half guard but Johansson is working away.
Johansson is trying to stand up here but Jahr is controlling him well.

Johansson has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Jahr is on him like a limpet, forcing Johansson back against the cage.

Johansson manages to break the clinch.
Johansson throws a shot from downtown. Jahr moves away and avoids it.
The fighters circling - Johansson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jahr checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pauli Johansson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Johansson misses with a looping right.
Jahr doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Donk. Johansson catches Jahr right on the button with a cross.
Jahr wants to clinch up but Johansson keeps it at a distance.
Johansson is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Johansson lands with a nice body punch.
Johansson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johansson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Jahr tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johansson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johansson looks to throw the jab but Jahr is out of range.
No joy there for Johansson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johansson lands a nice shot that snaps Jahr's head back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johansson misses the jab.
Pauli Johansson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jahr keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johansson.
Johansson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Jahr under the eye.
Johansson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johansson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jahr tries to clinch up.
Johansson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Jahr rushes Johansson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Johansson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good leg kick by Johansson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Johansson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johansson throws a right and a left that Jahr avoids nicely.
Jahr is looking to clinch.
Pauli Johansson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johansson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jahr checks a low kick from Johansson.
Jahr tries to clinch up.
An attempted straight right counter from Johansson misses the target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jahr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jahr on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson clobbers Jahr with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Jahr tries to clinch up.
Johansson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jahr takes one on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jahr slips a jab and a cross from Johansson.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Johansson, right into the meat.
Johansson throws a shot from downtown. Jahr moves away and avoids it.
Johansson cracks Jahr with a good jab.
Jahr slips a jab and a cross from Johansson.
And Jahr tries to counter it with a takedown but Johansson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Johansson misses with a jab, cross combination.
A jab from Johansson misses.
Jahr slips under a jab from Johansson.

Jahr gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johansson is trying to drag Jahr to the mat but Jahr just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Jahr decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jahr is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jahr looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johansson is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jahr is on top in guard.

Johansson can't keep his opponent in guard - Jahr advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Jahr is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Johansson trying to control but Jahr postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson is holding on to half guard well.
Johansson is looking to control Jahr's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johansson avoid being mounted?
Johansson wants to get back to full guard.

Jahr is working for a kimura but Johansson is defending it quite comfortably.

Jahr seems to be working for a kimura but Johansson defends the submission attempt.

Jahr is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johansson defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Johansson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jahr fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johansson, pushing him back against the cage.
Johansson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jahr pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Johansson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johansson keeps the fight on the outside.
Johansson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jahr can do to turn this around?
Jahr uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johansson.
Jahr tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johansson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice body punch from Johansson.
Jahr tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jahr slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jahr tries to clinch up.
A head kick from Johansson lands but Jahr takes it in his stride.
Jahr tries to clinch up but Johansson circles away and keeps his distance.
Johansson misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Johansson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jahr moves in looking to clinch but Johansson pushes him off.
Nice shot by Johansson.
Jahr fails with an attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jahr tries to pull guard but Johansson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Johansson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Jahr avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jahr swings wildly with an uppercut but Johansson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jahr fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johansson stops a takedown attempt from Jahr.

Johansson has hold of one of Jahr's legs. Jahr is fighting the takedown attempt but Johansson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Jahr is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johansson defends well.
Johansson is working Jahr over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson preventing the sweep.
Johansson scoring with punches to the head and body.

Jahr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Erlend Jahr has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jahr is trying to keep Johansson in close.
Johansson is looking to stand up but Jahr won't let him.
Johansson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson wants to control from the top but Jahr keeps moving.
Johansson is looking to stand up but Jahr won't let him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A punch lands to the side of Jahr 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A swing and a miss from Johansson.
Erlend Jahr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jahr tries to clinch but Johansson moves out of range.
Jahr keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johansson.
Pauli Johansson is winning the standup battle so far.
Johansson misses with a leg kick.
Johansson connects with an inside leg kick.
Johansson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Jahr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johansson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jahr tries to clinch but Johansson moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jahr drives through and clinches with Johansson against the cage.
Jahr stalling the fight.
Johansson lands a nice shot to the body.
Johansson struggles to land a body shot inside as Jahr controls his hands.

Johansson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johansson throws a hook but Jahr blocks it.
Johansson throws a jab but it's blocked by Jahr.
Johansson misses with a looping right.
Johansson cracks Jahr with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jahr blocks a jab.
Johansson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Danga de danga de dang - Johansson scores with a four punch combination!

Jahr gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johansson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jahr pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pauli Johansson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pauli Johansson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johansson manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pauli Johansson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johansson, 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pauli Johansson!