PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Terry Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elias Potekaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Terry Johnson has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Terry Johnson seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Johnson
vs
Potekaev

168 cm
23
135 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

180 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Terry Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Elias Potekaev!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Potekaev ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but Potekaev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Johnson misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Potekaev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Johnson looking to throw knees to the head but Potekaev is blocking nicely.
Potekaev is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but Potekaev blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Potekaev's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Johnson missing with knees to the body.
Johnson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Potekaev.
Potekaev tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Potekaev drops back down to his feet.
Johnson looking to throw knees to the head but Potekaev is blocking nicely.

Potekaev breaks from the clinch.
Potekaev slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Elias Potekaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Potekaev feints and as Johnson raises his hands in defense, Potekaev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potekaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Potekaev preventing the sweep.
Potekaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Johnson has his feet on Potekaev's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Potekaev gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potekaev is keen to just control but Johnson is a slippery customer.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

Potekaev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Potekaev looks gassed!
Still in half guard, Potekaev seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potekaev trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Johnson trying to hold on to Potekaev's head to control him but Potekaev postures up.
Johnson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Potekaev's guard.

That's four 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.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Potekaev is keeping the position.

Johnson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Potekaev throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson misses with a takedown

and Potekaev counters with a shoot takedown. Johnson fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terry Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Johnson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Potekaev to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Potekaev shrugs it off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Potekaev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Potekaev dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnson wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Potekaev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Johnson connects with a knee to the head.
Johnson misses with a knee strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Potekaev is trying to trip Johnson. He has hold of a leg but Johnson is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Potekaev persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Potekaev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Potekaev is breathing heavily.
Potekaev looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Potekaev dives on top into guard.
Potekaev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Potekaev from controlling successfully.
Elias Potekaev has got the better of the ground game so far.

Johnson has his feet on Potekaev's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Potekaev tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Potekaev. Potekaev gets slowly back to his feet.
Potekaev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Potekaev is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Potekaev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson tries to clinch

and Potekaev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Potekaev!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Johnson working for a guillotine from mount but Potekaev is in no mood to give up.
Potekaev wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Johnson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Potekaev is surviving well by controlling Johnson's body position as best he can.

Johnson looking to secure an arm triangle but Potekaev defends it well.

Johnson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Potekaev has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Potekaev bucks Johnson off and manages to get back to his feet!
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Potekaev moves into the clinch.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Johnson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The referee calls for Potekaev to work.
Potekaev lands a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terry Johnson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Potekaev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Johnson is staying active underneath Potekaev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Potekaev stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Johnson to get to his feet.
Potekaev shoots and misses

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Johnson.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but Potekaev blocks it.
Johnson looking to throw knees to the head but Potekaev is blocking nicely.
Johnson lands a knee to the body.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but Potekaev blocks it.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Johnson with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Johnson misses with a knee strike.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Potekaev is working for takedown but Johnson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Johnson stops a takedown attempt from Potekaev.
Terry Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elias Potekaev.
Johnson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Potekaev's efforts to push away.
Potekaev stalling in the clinch but Johnson improves position.
A knee to the head by Johnson.

Potekaev pulls guard successfully.
Potekaev keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Potekaev is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.

Johnson gets to his feet. Potekaev looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Potekaev clinches but Johnson breaks the clinch

and Johnson moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a knee to the head.
Potekaev has Johnson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Johnson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Potekaev tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Potekaev drops back down to his feet.
Johnson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Johnson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Potekaev blocks it with crossed arms.
Potekaev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Potekaev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Johnson looking to throw knees to the head but Potekaev is blocking nicely.
Johnson misses with a knee strike.
Potekaev tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Potekaev drops back down to his feet.
Johnson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Potekaev tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Potekaev drops back down to his feet.

Potekaev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Potekaev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Johnson landing knees to the body.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but Potekaev blocks it.

Potekaev manages to break the clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Potekaev counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.
Potekaev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Potekaev is fighting to break Johnson's control of his arms but Johnson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Potekaev gets to his feet. Johnson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Potekaev misses with a takedown attempt

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Potekaev!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Johnson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Potekaev has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Potekaev manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Johnson swings around for an armbar but Potekaev sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Johnson's guard.
Potekaev looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson passes Potekaev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Terry Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Terry Johnson!