PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chilun Rassaaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rassaaja
vs
Johnson

200 cm
22
275 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

South Side Swagger

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chilun Rassaaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson darts in and clinches Rassaaja up against the cage.
Rassaaja is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rassaaja.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rassaaja slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
Johnson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like James Johnson has been cut.
Rassaaja jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rassaaja throws out a powerful jab.

Johnson is rocked!
Rassaaja is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Johnson.
Johnson is still on wobbly legs! Can Rassaaja finish him?
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rassaaja.
Johnson seems to have recovered his senses.
Rassaaja swinging wilding here.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson instigates a clinch.

Johnson pulls guard effortlessly.
Rassaaja preventing the sweep.
Johnson looking to control.
Rassaaja wants to get up but he can't break Johnson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rassaaja controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Johnson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.

Johnson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rassaaja controls the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
James Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Rassaaja, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Rassaaja against the cage but Rassaaja circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson tries to land a front kick but Rassaaja steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Chilun Rassaaja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big right from Rassaaja misses.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Rassaaja pushes him off.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Rassaaja circles away and keeps his distance.
Rassaaja steps into range and cracks Johnson with a monster punch that buckles his knees! Johnson flops backwards and Rassaaja dives into his guard looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rassaaja decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Johnson, up you get!
Rassaaja swinging wilding here.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Johnson looks gassed!
Rassaaja works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rassaaja wants to get back to his feet but Johnson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rassaaja keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rassaaja looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rassaaja looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rassaaja!

Rassaaja decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rassaaja, as that shot connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chilun Rassaaja dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Johnson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rassaaja pinned against the cage. Rassaaja gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Rassaaja circles away.
Johnson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rassaaja counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rassaaja throws a hook but Johnson avoids it easily.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Rassaaja.
Rassaaja is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rassaaja closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Johnson! Rassaaja dives in looking to finish! Johnson is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chilun Rassaaja!