PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Drake Johnson (ranked 3011 p4p, 2447 weight class) and Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos (ranked 370 p4p, 305 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Johnson
vs
Xanthopoulos

195 cm
24
180
3 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
180
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Champion Apparel

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Drake Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Chad Campbell and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xanthopoulos throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Xanthopoulos tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Xanthopoulos sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Xanthopoulos throws the kick towards the body but Johnson avoids it.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Xanthopoulos misses the jab.
Xanthopoulos tries to work over Johnson's front leg with a kick but Johnson checks it.
Xanthopoulos misses with a body kick.

Johnson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Xanthopoulos's face as Johnson controls the position.

Johnson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Xanthopoulos throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
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 fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drake Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson shoots and misses
and Xanthopoulos counters with a stiff right hand.
Johnson with a poor takedown
and Xanthopoulos counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Johnson is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos throws a leg kick but Johnson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Xanthopoulos.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Xanthopoulos.
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.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Xanthopoulos sprawls well.
Xanthopoulos throws out a counter right but Johnson avoids it with no problem.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Xanthopoulos sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Xanthopoulos swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Johnson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Xanthopoulos's guard.
Xanthopoulos wants to stand and escape but Johnson is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xanthopoulos keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Xanthopoulos is retaining full guard.
Johnson is pushing down on Xanthopoulos's leg trying to pass to half guard. Xanthopoulos is fighting to maintain full guard but Johnson has managed to sneak the leg through.

Johnson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Xanthopoulos sees it coming and defends easily.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Xanthopoulos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Xanthopoulos won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos pushes Johnson off looking to stand but Johnson dives back in and keeps control.
Xanthopoulos is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Johnson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Xanthopoulos kicks Johnson off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xanthopoulos scores with a jab. Johnson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson lands a nice hook to Xanthopoulos's body. Xanthopoulos takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Johnson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Xanthopoulos's guard.
Johnson prevents Xanthopoulos from getting back to his feet.
Johnson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Xanthopoulos wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Xanthopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson prevents Xanthopoulos from getting back to his feet.

Johnson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Xanthopoulos keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big left from Xanthopoulos misses.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Xanthopoulos tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Xanthopoulos manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson misses the jab.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Xanthopoulos sprawls well. Xanthopoulos wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.

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.
Xanthopoulos tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Xanthopoulos slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Xanthopoulos is looking to clinch.
Xanthopoulos tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
A slow jab from Xanthopoulos misses its intended target.
A slow jab from Xanthopoulos misses its intended target.

Johnson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Xanthopoulos's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xanthopoulos tries to kick Johnson off but Johnson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Xanthopoulos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Xanthopoulos is trying to stand back up but Johnson is controlling him

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos dominated that round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Xanthopoulos misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson attempts a counter takedown but Xanthopoulos avoids it well and moves away.
Xanthopoulos throws a low kick but it's checked well by Johnson.
Xanthopoulos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Xanthopoulos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Xanthopoulos.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Xanthopoulos to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Xanthopoulos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johnson somewhat.
Xanthopoulos misses with a leg kick.
Drake Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Xanthopoulos counters with a crisp one two that drops Johnson! Xanthopoulos thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Johnson to his feet! Johnson is in big trouble!
Oh Johnson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drake Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xanthopoulos tries to clinch up.
Johnson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Xanthopoulos counters with a big left hand that crumples Johnson! He was out before he hit the floor! Brutal knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos!
A victorious Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.