PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paul Eclaro (ranked 635 p4p, 381 weight class) and Sven Johansson (ranked 57 p4p, 33 weight class). Eclaro comes to the cage accompanied by I'm The Boy. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Eclaro
vs
Johansson

168 cm
29
155
18 - 6 - 0

182 cm
25
148
13 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Uncle Rufus Clothing .Co
30th Century Beer Store

Shadow Realm Apparel
Uncle Rufus Clothing .Co

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 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Eclaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sven Johansson!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johansson lands an overhand right.
Johansson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Eclaro manages to avoid it.
Eclaro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Eclaro walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Eclaro takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Eclaro just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab lands there for Johansson.
Eclaro swings for the body but Johansson moves out of range.
Johansson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Johansson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Eclaro walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Eclaro uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johansson.
Eclaro changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Johansson misses with a body shot.
Johansson avoids the body shot from Eclaro.
Eclaro throws a body punch but Johansson moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johansson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Eclaro.
Johansson has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Eclaro is landing a low percentage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson throws an overhand right that lands on Eclaro's shoulder, as Eclaro tries to avoid the shot.
Johansson lands with a good body shot.
Johansson misses with a wild body shot.
Johansson misses with a straight left.
Johansson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Johansson looks to land a left hand but Eclaro moved out of range nicely.
Eclaro tries to counter with a takedown but Johansson is quick to defend against it.
Eclaro takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Eclaro ducks under a wild hook from Johansson.
Eclaro attempts a counter takedown but Johansson avoids it well and moves away.
Johansson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Eclaro sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Johansson misses the target.
Eclaro attempts a counter takedown but Johansson avoids it well and moves away.
Eclaro misses with a wild body shot.
Eclaro misses with a wild body shot.
Eclaro 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.
Eclaro throws a jab but it's blocked by Johansson.
Johansson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Sven Johansson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson misses with an uppercut. Eclaro saw that one coming.
Johansson throws a shot from downtown. Eclaro moves away and avoids it.
Johansson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Eclaro looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Johansson!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Eclaro tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Eclaro has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Eclaro is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johansson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Check out the look on Eclaro's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Johansson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Eclaro wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Johansson dodges the ground and pound from Eclaro.
Eclaro tries to advance to mount but Johansson denies him.
Johansson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Johansson struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eclaro is looking to take a break and control but Johansson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johansson is looking to regain half guard here but Eclaro keeps moving and retains side control.
Eclaro tries to score with some ground and pound. Johansson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The strikes coming from Eclaro are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Eclaro throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Johansson tries to bench press Eclaro off him but Eclaro keeps the position.
Eclaro working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Johansson wants to get back to his feet but Eclaro drags him back down.
Eclaro sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Johansson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Eclaro wants to control but Johansson is keeping him busy.
Eclaro misses with the ground and pound.
Johansson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson dodges the ground and pound from Eclaro.
Johansson prevents Eclaro from moving into mount.
Johansson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Eclaro asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Johansson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johansson is trying to get back to half guard.
Johansson is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Eclaro is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Eclaro thowing shots but they're missing.
Eclaro avoids the attempt from Johansson to control.
Eclaro punching from mount but Johansson doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Eclaro scoring with strikes but Johansson is staying in there.
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 Paul Eclaro will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johansson lands a really nice looking cross but Eclaro seems unphased.
Eclaro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johansson.
Eclaro feinted with a counter takedown.
Johansson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Eclaro decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johansson's guard.

Johansson pushes Eclaro off and gets back to his feet.
Eclaro is looking to wear down Johansson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Johansson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Eclaro on the side of the head.
Johansson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johansson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Eclaro's hands.
Johansson misses with a wild body shot.
Johansson throws a right hand that misses

and Eclaro decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johansson's guard.

Johansson pushes Eclaro off and gets back to his feet.
Johansson throws a hook but Eclaro blocks it.
Johansson looks to land a right hand but Eclaro moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eclaro takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Johansson tries to sprawl but Eclaro drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Eclaro trying to advance position but Johansson counters by regaining guard.
Paul Eclaro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johansson wants to stand up but Eclaro is controlling him.
Eclaro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johansson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Eclaro is in close to Johansson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Eclaro might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johansson wants to sweep here but Eclaro controlling him for the moment.
Eclaro has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Eclaro postures up in Johansson's guard and throws a big left but Johansson blocks it.
Eclaro slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Eclaro tries to move into full mount but can't pass Johansson's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson is trying to get back to half guard.
Eclaro scores with a couple of short elbows.
Eclaro tries to score with some ground and pound. Johansson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Johansson is looking to regain half guard here but Eclaro keeps moving and retains side control.
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!
Johansson wants to control but Eclaro postures up.
Eclaro tries to move into full mount but can't pass Johansson's legs.
Johansson is pushing Eclaro's head away, looking to escape. Eclaro manages to hold on to the position though.
Eclaro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johansson keeps working.
Johansson dodges the ground and pound from Eclaro.
Johansson struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson wants to get back to his feet.
Johansson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Eclaro.
Eclaro has control of an arm but Johansson manages to advance to Eclaro's back!
Eclaro tries to roll but Johansson sticks to his back.
Eclaro looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Johansson has good solid back control here.
Eclaro is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Johansson controlling the position well here. Eclaro rolled but Johansson kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Will Johansson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eclaro wants to escape the position.
Johansson keeps control of the position easily here as Eclaro tries to buck him off.
Eclaro turns into Johansson and is now in his guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Johansson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

A looping hook to the body misses from Eclaro. Johansson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Johansson swings for the body but Eclaro moves out of range.
Eclaro takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sven Johansson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johansson avoids the body shot from Eclaro.
Eclaro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johansson.
Eclaro appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johansson. Eclaro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Eclaro misses with a wild body shot.
Johansson throws out a counter right but Eclaro avoids it with no problem.
Johansson lands a lovely overhand right.
Johansson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Eclaro.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johansson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Some wild striking there from Johansson.
Eclaro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Johansson misses.
Johansson throws out a loose jab but Eclaro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johansson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Eclaro.
Johansson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Eclaro misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Johansson counters with a nice uppercut.
The fighters circle momentarily. Johansson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Johansson looks to land a right hand but Eclaro moved out of range.
Johansson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Eclaro misses with a takedown attempt - Johansson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johansson misses with a body shot.
Johansson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Eclaro fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eclaro tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johansson swivels and escapes.
Johansson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Eclaro.
Eclaro attempts a counter takedown but Johansson avoids it well and moves away.
Johansson moves out of range of the strikes.
Johansson looks to land a left hand but Eclaro moved out of range nicely.
Sven Johansson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eclaro misses with an uppercut. Johansson saw that one coming.
Johansson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Eclaro. Eclaro circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
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!
Eclaro takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Eclaro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Eclaro tries for a takedown but Johansson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Eclaro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johansson digs a good hook to Eclaro's body.
Eclaro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johansson.
Eclaro tries to counter with a takedown but Johansson is quick to defend against it.
Johansson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Johansson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Johansson misses the shot to the body.
Johansson throws a right hand that misses

and Eclaro counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johansson won't be happy with that.

Johansson bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Eclaro slips under a jab from Johansson.
Eclaro half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johansson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Johansson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Johansson misses with a hook.
Eclaro moves out of range as Johansson strikes.
Eclaro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johansson.
Johansson cracks Eclaro with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson misses with a right hand

and Eclaro decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johansson's guard.
Johansson keeping full guard, as Eclaro tries to pass.
Eclaro postures up in Johansson's guard and throws a big left but Johansson blocks it.
Eclaro passes into half guard.
Johansson is trying to control but can't.
Eclaro wants to pass to mount but Johansson is defending the position.
Eclaro prevents Johansson from improving his position.

Eclaro is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johansson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Johansson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johansson is positioning himself well to prevent Eclaro advancing to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Johansson really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Eclaro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johansson.
A left and a right from Johansson both land. Nice combination.
Johansson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Eclaro.
Johansson swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Eclaro decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johansson's guard.
Eclaro passes into half guard.
Eclaro working the head and body with strikes.
Eclaro working over Johansson with some ground and pound. Johansson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Eclaro trying to advance position but Johansson counters by regaining guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Eclaro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Eclaro throws a big elbow that misses.
Johansson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Eclaro is one step ahead there.
Johansson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eclaro trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Johansson wriggles free and stands up.
Eclaro looks to land a left hand but Johansson moved out of range nicely.

Eclaro drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Johansson manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Johansson manages to break the clinch.
Eclaro misses with a shot to the body
enabling Johansson to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big left from Johansson misses.
Eclaro appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Eclaro moves out of range of the strikes.
Johansson misses with a lunging right hand

and Eclaro counters with a takedown into side control.

Johansson bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eclaro defending well as Johansson loads up on a big left hand.
Johansson missing with a left hand there. Eclaro was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johansson misses with a body shot.
Johansson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Eclaro sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Eclaro appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Johansson lands a jab to the head.
Johansson throws a big shot that misses.
Johansson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Eclaro ducks right into an uppercut from Johansson.
Johansson looks to throw the jab but Eclaro is out of range.
Johansson avoids the body shot from Eclaro.

Eclaro looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Johansson!
Eclaro working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eclaro working the head with strikes.
Johansson is looking to reverse the position.
Eclaro creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Johansson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Johansson is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Eclaro working away.
Johansson tries to bench press Eclaro off him but Eclaro keeps the position.
Johansson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Eclaro's best efforts.
Johansson trying to control from the bottom.
Eclaro throwing shots but Johansson is blocking nicely.
Eclaro tries to pass the half guard into mount. Johansson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Johansson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Eclaro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson is staying active underneath Eclaro, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Eclaro stops Johansson from getting back to his feet.
Eclaro tries to pass to full mount but Johansson defends it.
Eclaro throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Eclaro working the head and body with strikes.
Johansson is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Eclaro jumps into side control!
Eclaro in side control, throwing shots but Johansson defends.
Eclaro working away.
Eclaro has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Johansson!
Johansson tries to hold on but Eclaro postures up.
Poor strikes thrown by Eclaro there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Johansson wants to hold on but Eclaro pushes him away.
Eclaro with shots to the head and body - Johansson looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Sven Johansson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Eclaro's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Johansson misses with a body shot.
Eclaro appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Paul Eclaro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johansson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johansson misses with a straight right.
Johansson misses with a shot to the body

and Eclaro counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Johansson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johansson.
Eclaro passes into half guard.

Johansson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Eclaro misses the shot to the body.
A nice side step and Johansson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Eclaro looks to score with a jab to the body but Johansson is just out of range.
Johansson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Eclaro counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Johansson!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Eclaro is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johansson has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
What's Johansson going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Johansson is trying to get back to his feet.

Eclaro tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Johansson tries to improve position but can't.

Eclaro looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Johansson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Eclaro landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Eclaro trying to control the action but Johansson is working from the bottom.
Eclaro passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Johansson!
Eclaro wants to control the pace but Johansson is squirming around nicely.
Johansson tries to hold on but Eclaro postures up.
Johansson is looking to get to half guard.
Eclaro punching from mount but Johansson doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eclaro controlling from the full mount.
Johansson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Johansson tries to lock up and control but Eclaro gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Johansson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Eclaro haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Eclaro landing shots from mount.

Johansson bucks Eclaro off and manages to get back to his feet!
Johansson cracks Eclaro with a good jab.
Eclaro misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johansson.
Johansson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Eclaro drives through with a takedown into Johansson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Johansson wriggles free and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Eclaro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johansson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Eclaro.
Johansson throws an overhand right that lands on Eclaro's shoulder, as Eclaro tries to avoid the shot.
Eclaro tries to counter with a takedown but Johansson is quick to defend against it.
Johansson throws the left hand but Eclaro avoids the punch easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Johansson as he connects with a hook.
Eclaro on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Eclaro walks into a straight right hand from Johansson.
Eclaro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Eclaro looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Johansson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Johansson throws a right hand that misses

and Eclaro counters with a takedown into side control.
Eclaro scoring with punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sven Johansson.
I think Johansson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 46:49
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 47:49
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 46:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sven Johansson!
After winning the bout, Sven Johansson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.