PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Don Johns (ranked 2826 p4p, 3491 weight class) and Doyle Brunson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Johns
vs
Brunson

191 cm
42
220
23 - 19 - 0

177 cm
22
215
1 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 19 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Don Johns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Doyle Brunson!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johns ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Brunson moves away.
Johns jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johns misses with a body punch
and Brunson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Brunson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Don Johns has been cut.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Brunson 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.
Brunson blocks the body kick.
Brunson now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Brunson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johns connects with a body shot.
Brunson swings for the body but Johns moves out of range.
Brunson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Johns swings for the body but Brunson moves out of range.
Brunson swings for the body but Johns moves out of range.
Johns misses with a shot to the body
and Brunson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A punch combination from Brunson misses.
Johns takes a swing at Brunson's ribcage but misses.
A shot to the body from Brunson misses
and Johns counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Johns.
Brunson throws a body shot but no joy.
Brunson takes a swing at Johns's ribcage but misses.
Johns is looking to counter punch.
Johns tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brunson looks to score with a jab to the body but Johns is just out of range.
Johns lands a glancing blow to the side of Brunson's head.
Don Johns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A cross from Johns lands.
Johns throws a hook to the side of Brunson's head but Brunson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Brunson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Brunson misses with a wild combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Brunson.
Johns lands a head kick!

Brunson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Johns definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ground and pound from Brunson.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brunson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johns defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johns looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Brunson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Johns with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Brunson lands a nice short elbow.
Brunson 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.
Brunson throws a strike but Johns avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Brunson trying to control but Johns is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brunson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Brunson tries to score with some ground and pound. Johns controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Johns is working to avoid the ground and pound but Brunson connects with a decent elbow.
Johns is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Brunson lands an elbow.
Brunson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Brunson working the head and body with strikes.
Johns is trying to get back to his feet.
Brunson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johns. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Johns throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Brunson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Johns counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Brunson thinking.
Johns wants to clinch up but Brunson keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brunson slips a jab from Johns.
Brunson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Brunson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johns manages to avoid it.
Johns thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johns misses with a two punch combination.
Brunson dodges the punch combination from Johns.

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

Johns makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Brunson.
Johns slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Brunson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Brunson lands with a shot to the body.

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

Johns kicks Brunson off and gets to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Brunson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johns.
Brunson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Don Johns will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Don Johns's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Brunson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johns.

Brunson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Johns manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Johns will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Brunson trying to control but Johns is working from the bottom.
Brunson throws a strike but Johns rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Johns trying to control the position from guard on top but Brunson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brunson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johns.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johns drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Brunson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Johns has Brunson in his guard.

Doyle Brunson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Johns working for a triangle but Brunson defends it easily.
Brunson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Johns working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Brunson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Brunson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Brunson working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johns had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Brunson defends it easily.

Johns is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Brunson works over Johns with some ground and pound from guard.
Brunson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Brunson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Brunson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johns escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Brunson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johns wants to sweep but no luck.
Brunson landing some decent shots from guard.

Johns looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Brunson has picked Johns up and slammed him! Johns can't keep hold of the triangle and Brunson manages to pass to side control!
Johns tries to improve position but can't.
Brunson looks up at the clock and then as Johns takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Brunson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Brunson working the ground and pound from side control.

Johns is rocked!
Brunson cracks Johns with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Brunson immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Johns is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Brunson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Doyle Brunson!