PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guto Salles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Johnson
vs
Salles

185 cm
25
176 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

169 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Guto Salles!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Salles looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Johnson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Johnson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Salles was covering up waiting for the punch and Johnson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Salles keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up because John Johnson just wasn't active enough.
Johnson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Salles to the mat! Salles manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson stays in close to Salles's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Johnson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Johnson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Johnson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Salles's head.
Johnson swinging wildly here.

Johnson drops Salles with a beautiful combination! Salles stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Johnson is looking for the KO!

Salles is rocked!

Johnson clinches with his opponent.
Johnson prevents Salles from breaking the clinch.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.

Johnson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Salles really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Johnson content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Salles's guard.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Johnson pushing down on Salles's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Johnson stands up from half guard.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
Salles is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson controlling the position from side mount.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Johnson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Salles's head.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Johnson controlling the position from side mount.
Johnson scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson moves into full mount!
Johnson controlling from mount.

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.
John Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Johnson stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Johnson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Johnson passes Salles's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.
Johnson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Johnson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salles takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salles takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson content just to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because John Johnson just wasn't active enough.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Salles, pushing him back against the cage.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.

Johnson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Salles did well to prevent Johnson getting side control.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Salles can do to turn this around?
Johnson controlling the action here.
Johnson moves nicely into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:25
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:25
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:25

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