PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonard Pires (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Johnson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Johnson
vs
Pires

197 cm
25
266 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Leonard Pires!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pires drives through with a takedown into Johnson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pires stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pires loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pires tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Pires should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Pires controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Pires has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pires wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Pires slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pires is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pires is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johnson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Pires looks up at the clock and then as Johnson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Pires smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Pires trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
Johnson is looking to reverse the position.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.
Johnson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Pires has control of the leg.
Pires trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Pires throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Johnson is positioning himself well to prevent Pires advancing to mount.
Pires missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Still in half guard, Pires seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to stand back up but Pires is controlling him
Pires wants to pass to mount but Johnson is defending the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Pires closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Johnson to the mat! Johnson manages to get full guard.
Pires tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Pires missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pires pushes down on Johnson's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Johnson is defending against the submission attempts here by Pires.
Pires looks gassed!

Pires is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Pires has eaten all the pies!
Pires passes into side control, despite Johnson's attempt to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pires wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Johnson is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson is trying to escape the position but Pires is controlling the position.
Pires wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson struggling a bit here.
Johnson is not content to let Pires control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard Pires dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pires closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Pires decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pires is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Johnson's half guard.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Pires is controlling him well.
Leonard Pires has got the better of the ground game so far.

Pires is looking for a kimura here.
Pires is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson trying to control but Pires postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pires trying to mount his opponent but Johnson defends it.

Pires is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Johnson trying to control here.
Johnson gets full guard.
Johnson working a defensive guard here.
Pires postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pires wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Pires is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pires forces his way into half guard.
Pires throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnson tries to kick Pires off but Pires keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Pires controlling the pace.
Pires moves into full mount! Johnson won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pires wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
Pires controlling from the full mount.

Pires is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Johnson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Johnson shrugs it off.
Johnson wants to control but Pires is having none of it.

Pires stands up from mount. Strange move.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Pires circles away easily

and Pires counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pires stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Pires got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pires has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
Pires trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pires is controlling him.
Pires preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pires manages to get himself to full guard.

Pires is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard Pires showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pires defends it nicely.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pires shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Pires trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.

Pires decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pires feints and as Johnson raises his hands in defense, Pires changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pires wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.
Pires throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pires pushing down on Johnson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Pires is controlling well.
Pires thows a huge punch but Johnson dodges it nicely.
Nice strikes from Pires there.
Pires missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
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!
Pires missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Pires is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnson trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pires frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johnson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson trying desperately to get to his feet.
Pires throwing strikes here but Johnson is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pires putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Pires lands a nice shot to the head.
Pires controlling the position easily from mount.
Pires can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Leonard Pires is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Pires isn't that keen on the idea.
Johnson looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Pires controls the action.
Johnson trying to control but not successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pires really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Johnson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonard Pires comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pires 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonard Pires!
Leonard Pires bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.