PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Grim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johansson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Biz Markie - Just a Friend. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johansson
vs
Grim

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Johansson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Grim!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grim scores with a takedown into Johansson's guard.
Johansson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Grim.
Grim wants to pass the guard but Johansson is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johansson wants to sweep here but Grim controlling him for the moment.
Johansson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Grim controls the pace.

Johansson is looking for a triangle but Grim pushes his legs off easily.
Grim is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Johansson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Johansson working for a triangle but Grim defends it easily.
Johansson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johansson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Grim regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Grim striking off his back but it's not causing Johansson any problems.
Johansson tries to stand but Grim is controlling from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Grim is on top in guard.
Grim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johansson is keeping the position for now.
Grim controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Johansson keeping moving, preventing Grim from controlling successfully.
Johansson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grim looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Grim looks gassed!
Johansson working a defensive guard here.
Johansson wants to get back to his feet but Grim is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Johansson keeping moving, preventing Grim from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Johansson wants to sweep but no luck.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johansson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Grim drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Johansson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Johansson is working an open guard so Grim takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Grim moves into range and clinches up with Johansson.
Grim drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Johansson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Grim trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Grim dominated that round.
That's time! Johansson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Grim lands a two punch combo.

Johansson is rocked!
Chris Johansson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grim is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Oh Johansson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Grim clinches with his opponent.
Johansson wants a takedown.

Johansson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Johansson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Grim keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johansson's head.

Johansson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Grim sitting in guard here, content to control.
Johansson seems to have got his legs back now.
Grim trying to control the position from guard on top but Johansson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grim passes Johansson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grim trying to control from half guard but Johansson is working away.
Grim thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Grim is thwarting Johansson's attempts to control the position.

Johansson actively working from the bottom here.
Grim wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johansson keeps working.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Grim circles away from the clinch attempt

and Grim counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Grim.
Johansson is trying to stand.
Grim not doing much here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johansson wants to control but Grim is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Johansson pushes Grim off and gets back to his feet.
Johansson catches Grim with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Johansson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Grim but Grim pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Johansson closes the distance but Grim moves to the side

and Grim counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Grim.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Johansson wriggles free and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johansson rushes Grim and presses him up against the cage.
Johansson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Johansson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Grim is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Johansson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johansson tries to pull guard but Grim holds him up against the cage and eventually Johansson drops back down to his feet.
Johansson tries to work over Grim's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Grim is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johansson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Grim blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johansson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Johansson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Grim drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Johansson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Johansson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Grim turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Grim.
Grim advances to full mount.

Grim working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Grim raining down shots from the mount!
Grim can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johansson is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grim controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Grim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Johansson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Grim counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Grim is stalling in the full guard.
Johansson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Grim won't allow Johansson to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Grim accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Grim decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Johansson, up you get!
No luck for Johansson with that takedown attempt.
Johansson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johansson shoots in for a double leg but Grim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Johansson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Grim takes the fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grim just leaning against Johansson, taking a breather.

Grim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johansson tries to clinch
and Grim counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johansson misses with a hook. Grim ducked under it nicely.

Grim scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Johansson gets full guard.
Johansson wants to sweep but no luck.
Johansson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Grim wants to control from the top but Johansson keeps moving.

Johansson has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Grim is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Johansson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson tries to buck Grim off but Grim is having none of it.
Grim tries to move into full mount but can't pass Johansson's legs.
Johansson is trying to improve his position.
Johansson wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Grim takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Grim throws a nice outside leg kick.
Johansson lands a head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grim looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johansson is fending him off so far but Grim persists. Nope, Johansson circles away and we're back to standing.
Johansson tries to clinch up

and Grim counters by moving into the clinch.

Grim manages to pull guard.
Grim has his hands on Johansson's head, controlling the position.
Johansson throwing strikes from guard but Grim blocks nicely.
Grim keeping moving, preventing Johansson from controlling successfully.
Steve Grim has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johansson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Johansson stays in close to Grim's body and controls the position.
Grim lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johansson!
Grim misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Grim lands a nice shot to the head.
Grim prevents Johansson from getting the reversal.
Johansson tries to hold on but Grim pushes him away.
Grim lands a nice shot to the head.
Chris Johansson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johansson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Grim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Grim has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Grim!