PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ulysses Battleby (ranked 785 p4p, 167 weight class) and Sven Johansson (ranked 73 p4p, 18 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Battleby
vs
Johansson

179 cm
34
151
16 - 9 - 0

182 cm
25
148
13 - 4 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ulysses Battleby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sven Johansson!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Battleby fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Battleby has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Johansson finds it's way round the side to connect with Battleby's head.
Battleby loads up on a big right hand but Johansson slips the punch.
Battleby uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johansson.
Johansson misses with a wild body shot.

Battleby moves into range and clinches up with Johansson.
Battleby struggles to land a body shot inside as Johansson controls his hands.
Johansson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Johansson avoiding damage.
Johansson can't find room to land a body shot as Battleby controls the action.
Johansson misses with a punch on the inside.
Johansson throws a head punch that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Battleby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Johansson throws a punch but it's blocked by Battleby.
Battleby misses with a body punch.
Battleby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Battleby fails to land.
Johansson prevents a body shot from Battleby.
Johansson blocks an uppercut.
Battleby is working Johansson over against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battleby throws a punch but it's blocked by Johansson.
Johansson misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johansson.
Battleby lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johansson backwards.
Johansson misses with the head strike.
Battleby prevents a body shot from Johansson.
Johansson struggles to land a body shot inside as Battleby controls his hands.
Johansson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Battleby lands a left hand.
Johansson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Johansson is trying to maintain a safe position but Battleby gets an underhook and turns Johansson into the cage.
Battleby lands a nice uppercut.
Johansson misses with a punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Battleby.
Johansson lands a nice uppercut.

Battleby escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fighters circling - Johansson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johansson throws a poor cross that misses
and Battleby counters with a stiff right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big right from Johansson misses.
It looked like Battleby wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Johansson clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Battleby blocks an uppercut.
Battleby throws a head punch that misses.
Battleby lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johansson backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Battleby fails to land.
Johansson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Battleby creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Johansson misses with a punch on the inside.
Battleby lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johansson backwards.

Battleby breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A shot to the liver by Johansson. Beautiful body shot.
Johansson misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Battleby counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A nice inside leg kick there by Battleby. That's going to slow Johansson down.
Johansson throws a jab when Battleby was well out of range.
Sven Johansson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Battleby uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johansson.
Johansson misses with a hook to the body
and Battleby counters with a nice uppercut.
Johansson throws a body punch but Battleby moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battleby slips a straight right by Johansson.
Battleby went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A slow jab from Johansson misses its intended target.
A quick step to the side and Battleby tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Battleby tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johansson catches Battleby with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A big left from Johansson misses.
Battleby takes one to the chin there.
Battleby misses the shot to the body.
Johansson throws out a counter right but Battleby avoids it with no problem.

Johansson has Battleby up against the cage in a clinch.
Johansson stalling against the cage.
Johansson scores with a shoulder strike.
Battleby tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johansson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Battleby's elbow.
A hook to the body from Johansson.

Battleby breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Battleby gets tackled into the cage by Johansson. Johansson maintains the clinch.
Battleby fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johansson scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johansson misses with some punches.
Johansson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johansson blocks an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Battleby.
Johansson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Battleby misses with a hook from the clinch.
Battleby swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johansson lands a right hand.

Battleby's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johansson looks to throw the jab but Battleby is out of range.
Battleby tries to counter by clinching up but Johansson breaks away and moves out of range.
Battleby slips a straight right by Johansson.
Johansson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Battleby blocks a jab.
Nice body punch from Johansson.
We've been told by Battleby's head coaches at FIGHT FOUNDERS (CA) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Battleby displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johansson throws out the jab.
It looked like Battleby was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sven Johansson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Johansson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice defenses there by Battleby.
Battleby appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Johansson in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Battleby takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Johansson throws a hook to the side of Battleby's head but Battleby sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Battleby takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Battleby throws a hook to the side of Johansson's head but Johansson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johansson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Johansson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Battleby moves away.
Johansson lands a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johansson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Battleby stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Battleby bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johansson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Battleby drops his hands momentarily and Johansson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Battleby counters with a nice body kick.
Battleby takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Johansson throws a combination. Battleby tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Battleby tries to clinch up.
A countering left hand to the body from Johansson misses.
Battleby bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Battleby pushes Johansson away with a front kick.
Johansson throws a lazy uppercut
and Battleby counters with a nice kick to the body.
Johansson is breathing heavily.
Battleby gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johansson.
A big left from Battleby misses.
Battleby throws a head kick that misses.
Johansson misses with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Battleby on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Battleby slips a straight right by Johansson.
Battleby wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Johansson throws a poor cross that misses
and Battleby connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johansson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Battleby takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Johansson misses the jab.
Johansson misses with a wild body shot.
Johansson tries to clinch there but Battleby circles away.
As Johansson backs away, Battleby returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
The fighters circling - Johansson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johansson tries to close the distance and clinch but Battleby swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johansson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Battleby is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Johansson.
Johansson throws a right hand that misses
and Battleby connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson misses with a straight left.
Johansson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A big left from Johansson misses.
Johansson throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Battleby counter with a right hand.
Battleby takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Johansson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johansson blocks an uppercut.
Johansson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Battleby lands a body punch in the clinch.
Johansson working aggressively here.
Battleby lands with a short shot to the head.
Battleby lands a right hand that snaps the head of Johansson backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Johansson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Johansson throws a head punch that misses.
Battleby misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Battleby goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Battleby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Battleby tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johansson's elbow.
Johansson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Battleby swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johansson lands a right hand.
Battleby scores with a shoulder strike.
A nice left hand lands by Battleby.
Johansson tries a body shot but Battleby blocks it.
Battleby lands with a short shot to the head.
Johansson takes a shot to the head.
Battleby throws a punch but it's blocked by Johansson.
Battleby working aggressively here.
Ulysses Battleby has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Johansson has a couple of punches blocked by Battleby.
A short right from Battleby.
Johansson takes a shot to the head.
Battleby fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Battleby fails to land.
Battleby lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Battleby lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Battleby scores with a shoulder strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sven Johansson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johansson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Battleby's head backwards.
Johansson tries to clinch but Battleby moves out of range.
Battleby bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johansson connects with a body shot that sends Battleby's belly button to the back.
Johansson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Battleby manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johansson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Battleby makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Battleby uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johansson.
Johansson connects with a right hand. Battleby shakes it off.
Battleby keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Battleby moves forwards but Johansson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Johansson tries to clinch but Battleby moves out of range.
Johansson misses with a right hand

and Battleby moves into the clinch.
Johansson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson throws a punch but it's blocked by Battleby.
Battleby lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Johansson lands with a right to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Battleby.
Johansson lands with a light punch inside.
Johansson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Johansson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johansson has a couple of punches blocked by Battleby.
Battleby goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Johansson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Battleby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johansson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johansson blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johansson.
Battleby is working Johansson over against the cage.
Johansson has a couple of punches blocked by Battleby.
Battleby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Battleby.
Battleby makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johansson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johansson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Battleby lands a body punch.
Johansson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Battleby lands a hook to the side of the head.
Battleby lands a shot to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Battleby.
Battleby misses with a short punch on the inside.
Battleby softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Battleby lands a left hand.
Johansson lands with a right to the head.
Still in the clinch, Battleby scores with a nice short uppercut.
Johansson is trying to maintain a safe position but Battleby gets an underhook and turns Johansson into the cage.
Battleby lands a hook to the side of the head.
Battleby tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johansson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Battleby.
Johansson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Battleby has a couple of punches blocked by Johansson.
Johansson tries to work over Battleby's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Johansson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Battleby misses with a body punch.
Battleby pushes Johansson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battleby tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johansson misses with a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Battleby.
Battleby is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Battleby blocking some punches.
Battleby lands a left hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Battleby creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Battleby misses with a short punch on the inside.
Battleby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Battleby.
Battleby lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Battleby escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Battleby throws a jab when Johansson was well out of range.
Sven Johansson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Battleby defending well as Johansson loads up on a big left hand.

Battleby lands a big right hand that sends Johansson crashing to the mat! Battleby stays standing though and waves Johansson back to his feet!

Johansson is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johansson moves away from the strike by Battleby.
Johansson is still on wobbly legs! Can Battleby finish him?
Battleby takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Battleby instigates a clinch.
Battleby lands a left hand that snaps the head of Johansson backwards.
Johansson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johansson misses with a body punch.
A right handed body shot lands from Johansson.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Johansson.
Johansson seems to have recovered his senses.
Johansson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Battleby or not.
Battleby digs a right hand into Johansson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Johansson's gas tank.
Johansson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Battleby throws a punch but it's blocked by Johansson.
Johansson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Battleby.
Battleby lands an uppercut.
Johansson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johansson wants to stall.
Battleby misses with a punch on the inside.
Johansson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johansson can't find room to land a body shot as Battleby controls the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ulysses Battleby clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

The fighters circling - Battleby throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johansson misses with a wild body shot.
Battleby tries to clinch up.
Battleby smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Battleby staying out of range there.

Johansson clinches up with Battleby and pushes him back against the cage.
Johansson tries a body shot but Battleby blocks it.
Johansson blocking some punches.
Johansson swings wildly with an uppercut but Battleby uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johansson is trying to maintain a safe position but Battleby gets an underhook and turns Johansson into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Battleby lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Battleby lands a shot to the body.
Johansson is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Battleby lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Battleby cracks Johansson with a nice body shot.
Battleby works on Johansson's body with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battleby lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johansson backwards.
Battleby lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Johansson.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Battleby.
Battleby scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Battleby scores with a shoulder strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Battleby creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Battleby misses with a punch on the inside.
Battleby swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johansson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Battleby up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Battleby.
Johansson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Battleby.
A short right from Battleby.
Battleby tries to work over Johansson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Battleby lands a left hand.

Battleby breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johansson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Johansson misses with an uppercut. Battleby saw that one coming.
Johansson swings for the body but Battleby moves out of range.
Battleby tries to counter by clinching up but Johansson breaks away and moves out of range.
Battleby slips under a jab.
Johansson misses with a body punch
letting Battleby counter with a right hand.
No joy there for Johansson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Battleby scores with a shot to the body.
Battleby ducks under a wild hook from Johansson.
An attempted straight right counter from Battleby misses the target.
Johansson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Battleby makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Johansson pushes Battleby up against the cage in a clinch.
Johansson taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Battleby scores with a nice short uppercut.
Battleby lands a body shot in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Battleby.
Battleby stalls.
Battleby lands a right hand.
Battleby scores with a nice hook to the head.
Johansson blocks a body shot from Battleby.
A short uppercut from Battleby.
A head punch on the inside from Johansson fails to land.

Battleby escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Battleby gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Battleby lands with a light punch inside.
Battleby lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
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!
Battleby lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Battleby lands a nice uppercut.
Battleby lands with a right to the head.
Battleby lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Johansson to his knees! Battleby keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ulysses Battleby!
An out of breath Ulysses Battleby thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.