PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Johnsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Heymen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnsson comes into the arena with Kashmir - Led Zeppelin blaring out of the sound system. Heymen has chosen Straight Outta Compton- NWA as his entrance music. 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.

Johnsson
vs
Heymen

180 cm
25
180 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

180 cm
21
175 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Granite chin

Red Light Clothing ► Amsterdam!
Win Nutritional - proof of quality

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gunnar Johnsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jonathan Heymen!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnsson drives through and clinches with Heymen against the cage.
Johnsson trying to control the position but instead, Heymen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Johnsson into the cage.
Johnsson wants a takedown but no success here.
Heymen misses with a knee strike.
Heymen misses with an elbow strike.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnsson. Heymen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Heymen misses with a hook. Johnsson ducked under it nicely.
Jab, jab by Johnsson - just one landing.
Heymen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Heymen staying out of range there.
Heymen closes the distance but Johnsson moves to the side
and Johnsson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Johnsson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Heymen throws the left hand but Johnsson avoids the punch easily.
Heymen darts in trying to clinch
enabling Johnsson to counter with a crisp jab.
Heymen throws a looping overhand right but Johnsson ducks down to avoid it.
Heymen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnsson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johnsson throws an overhand right that lands on Heymen's shoulder, as Heymen tries to avoid the shot.

Johnsson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Heymen!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnsson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Heymen has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Heymen!
Johnsson is pulling down on Heymen's head to control his posture.
Heymen tries to stand but Johnsson is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Heymen stands up from Johnsson's guard - Heymen perhaps looking for a knockout.
The fighters circling - Johnsson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heymen looks to clinch

and Johnsson counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnsson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnsson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Heymen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Heymen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Johnsson swings wildly with an uppercut but Heymen uses good head movement to avoid it.
A knee to the head by Heymen.
Johnsson tries to score a body lock takedown but Heymen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gunnar Johnsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnsson is looking to control Heymen's arms but Heymen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Johnsson has his back to the cage.

Heymen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnsson just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnsson thuds his right hand into Heymen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Heymen slips a jab from Johnsson.
Heymen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnsson.
Heymen defending well as Johnsson loads up on a big left hand.
Heymen throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnsson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heymen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Heymen clinches with his opponent.
Nice body punch from Johnsson.
Heymen scores a nice knee to the body.
Heymen lands a knee to the body.
Johnsson is breathing heavily.
Heymen lands a knee to the head.
Heymen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Heymen lands an elbow just above Johnsson 's eye.
Heymen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Johnsson scores with a hook to the body.
Heymen is trying to maintain a safe position but Johnsson gets an underhook and turns Heymen into the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Johnsson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Heymen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Heymen blocks a body shot from Johnsson.
Heymen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Johnsson looking for a takedown.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Heymen as Johnsson tries to tie him up.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Heymen obliges.
Johnsson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice elbow from Heymen.
Heymen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Johnsson.
Johnsson is trying to stall.
Johnsson tries a body shot but Heymen blocks it.
Heymen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Heymen prevents the takedown attempt.
Heymen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Heymen avoiding damage.
Johnsson jumps guard but Heymen stands there with Johnsson around his waist. Johnsson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Heymen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Johnsson stalling in the clinch but Heymen improves position.
Johnsson avoiding damage as Heymen throws knees to the body.
Johnsson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Heymen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Heymen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Johnsson's defenses.
Johnsson stalling.
Heymen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Johnsson's face.
Heymen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Heymen lands a knee to the head.
Johnsson tries to pull guard but Heymen won't allow it.
Heymen lands a nice elbow.
Heymen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Heymen.
Johnsson misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Heymen dominated that round.
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.

Heymen misses the shot to the body.
Jonathan Heymen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Heymen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Johnsson counters with a stiff right hand.
Heymen looks to clinch
and Heymen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Heymen tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Johnsson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Johnsson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Heymen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Johnsson, into his guard.
Heymen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heymen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnsson is on top in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnsson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Heymen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Heymen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnsson throwing strikes from guard but Heymen blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Heymen keeping moving, preventing Johnsson from controlling successfully.
Johnsson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Heymen has his foot on Johnsson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnsson works his way back into a safe position though.
Heymen is trying to control the position but Johnsson postures up.
Heymen is breathing heavily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Johnsson keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnsson lands a really nice looking cross but Heymen seems unphased.
Johnsson tests Heymen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Heymen doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnsson circles away.
Johnsson shoots in and drives through. Heymen sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heymen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnsson.
Heymen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnsson lunges at Heymen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Heymen's hand.
Heymen throws a hook but Johnsson blocks it.
Johnsson misses with a hook. Heymen ducked under it nicely.
A shot to the body from Heymen misses

and Johnsson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Johnsson.
Johnsson is working Heymen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Heymen wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnsson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnsson works over Heymen with some ground and pound from guard.
Heymen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnsson tries to roll over but Heymen keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Johnsson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Johnsson pulls Heymen in close to prevent any damage.
Johnsson keeping moving, preventing Heymen from controlling successfully.
Heymen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnsson is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Johnsson dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Heymen moves out of range as Johnsson strikes.
Johnsson shoots in but Heymen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jab, jab by Heymen - just one landing.
Heymen misses with a looping left.
Heymen swinging wilding here.
Johnsson connects with a crisp jab.
Heymen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Heymen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Johnsson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Heymen clinches.

Heymen breaks from the clinch.
Heymen slips under a jab from Johnsson.
Johnsson blocks a jab.
Johnsson misses with a straight left.
Heymen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnsson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnsson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Heymen's hands.
Johnsson takes one on the button.
Heymen throws an overhand right that lands on Johnsson's shoulder, as Johnsson tries to avoid the shot.
A big left from Heymen misses.
Heymen throws a left and a right that both miss

and Johnsson moves into the clinch.
Heymen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnsson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Heymen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Johnsson managing to block the knees to the body from Heymen.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Heymen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nice body punch from Johnsson - that landed with a thud.
A hook to the body from Johnsson.
The is referee keeping an eye on Johnsson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Johnsson has Heymen pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Johnsson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Heymen tumbling to the mat - Johnsson dives into Heymen's guard.
Johnsson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson wants to control from the top but Heymen keeps moving.
Johnsson lands a couple of elbows.
Johnsson works over Heymen with some ground and pound from guard.
Johnsson with a nice head shot there.
Johnsson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Heymen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Heymen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnsson!
Gunnar Johnsson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Heymen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnsson is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Johnsson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Johnsson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnsson stands up over Heymen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Johnsson throws a big right hand that misses.
Heymen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnsson manages to get himself to full guard.
Johnsson keeping moving, preventing Heymen from controlling successfully.
Johnsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Heymen is one step ahead there.
Johnsson managing to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gunnar Johnsson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnsson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight for Gunnar Johnsson!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Gunnar Johnsson!
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Gunnar Johnsson!

Gunnar Johnsson wins by unanimous decision!