PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trond Bjerken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnson
vs
Bjerken

188 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anthony Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Trond Bjerken!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bjerken gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bjerken's guard.
Bjerken trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Johnson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Johnson trying to control but Bjerken is working from the bottom.
Bjerken controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Bjerken is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Bjerken is retaining full guard.
Johnson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anthony Johnson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Johnson lands a really nice looking cross but Bjerken seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Johnson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Bjerken counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bjerken.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bjerken is controlling him.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Bjerken from controlling successfully.
Bjerken prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Bjerken engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Johnson controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Trond Bjerken wasn't active enough on the ground.
Johnson closes the distance but Bjerken moves to the side

and Bjerken counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bjerken wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Bjerken is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Bjerken won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
Bjerken won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Bjerken advances position into side control!
Johnson struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to improve position but can't.
Bjerken controls the position.

Bjerken stands up and beckons Johnson to his feet.

Bjerken rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
Bjerken has Johnson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Johnson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bjerken has Johnson pressed against the cage.

Bjerken pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bjerken looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bjerken doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bjerken manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bjerken shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
Anthony Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trond Bjerken.

Bjerken's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bjerken throws a head kick that misses

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bjerken won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bjerken wants to control but Johnson postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
I wouldn't like to be where Bjerken is right now.
Bjerken is being controlled here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Trond Bjerken will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bjerken gets a double leg takedown into Johnson's guard.
Johnson wants to control the position but Bjerken says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Bjerken seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johnson is not content to let Bjerken control the position.
Johnson trying to control here.
Johnson is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Bjerken missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bjerken passes to full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bjerken on the ground.

Bjerken stands up from mount. Strange move.

Bjerken shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bjerken showed some decent athleticism there.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bjerken in particular looking to stall.
Johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bjerken is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bjerken thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.
Johnson is looking to get back to is feet but Bjerken passes into side control.
Bjerken controls the position.
Let's hope that Bjerken has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Bjerken is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Trond Bjerken has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bjerken lands some shots froms side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bjerken stands up.
Bjerken throws a shot to the body.
Bjerken fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Bjerken shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bjerken lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Bjerken tries to clinch but Johnson moves away

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
Bjerken jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Johnson walks away with a smile on his face. Bjerken gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Anthony Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trond Bjerken.
Bjerken misses with a shot to the body
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
Bjerken fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bjerken moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trond Bjerken showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Bjerken tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bjerken momentarily.

Bjerken drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bjerken trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bjerken is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johnson looking to control.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bjerken throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson wants to hit a switch here but Bjerken passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Johnson there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bjerken can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Johnson wants to hold on but Bjerken pushes him away.
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Bjerken's attempts to control the action.
Bjerken might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Johnson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Bjerken gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bjerken defending well though.
Bjerken wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Johnson is trying to control. Bjerken wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bjerken trying to control here.
Bjerken is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.

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

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Johnson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Bjerken is now in Johnson's guard. A big mistake from Johnson there, giving up the dominant position!
Bjerken not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Bjerken stands up and waves to Johnson to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bjerken gets the takedown into side control.
Bjerken wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.

Bjerken working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bjerken tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Trond Bjerken comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bjerken winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Trond Bjerken!