PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ante Delija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Anthony Johnson enters the cage!

Delija
vs
Johnson

195 cm
22
270 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ante Delija!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Damien Edna and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson works over Delija's head and body with a nice combination.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.

Delija breaks the clinch.

Johnson clinches up with Delija and pushes him back against the cage.

Johnson has picked Delija up - he's going for a ride! Johnson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Johnson wants to stand up but Delija is controlling the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Johnson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Delija tries to clinch up.
Good shot there by Johnson.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Delija jumps guard but Johnson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Delija keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Delija has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnson down to the mat. Johnson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Delija.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ante Delija. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson feints a jab promting Delija to slip. Johnson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Delija slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Delija fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Delija tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson connects with a body shot.
Delija is breathing heavily.
Delija slips a jab and a cross from Johnson.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Johnson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Delija on his heels. He'll look to pass Delija's guard now, I'm sure.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Johnson wants to stand but Delija is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Delija blocks nicely.
Johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Delija is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Delija is on top in guard.
Delija wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson has momentary wrist control but Delija slips an elbow through the middle.
Johnson wants to stand up but Delija is controlling him.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Delija controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delija wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Delija makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Delija trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Delija looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Delija decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Johnson, up you get!
Delija dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Delija looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Delija blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.

Delija bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
An elbow from Delija crashes against the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson defending against the ground and pound.
Johnson being controlled for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Johnson misses with a double jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Delija is defended easily by Johnson.
A left lands for Johnson.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Delija moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Delija tries to move into range but Johnson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Delija throws a solid leg kick but Johnson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Delija.

Johnson gets caught napping as Delija dives in and scores a takedown. Johnson manages to retain guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Delija trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Delija is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Delija trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Delija is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Delija avoid being mounted?
Delija regains full guard. Nicely done.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Delija is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Delija moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Delija closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Johnson. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Delija moves nicely into side control.
Delija working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Johnson is not content to let Delija control the position.
Johnson stops Delija from passing to mount.
Delija in side control, throwing shots but Johnson defends.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to escape but Delija is in control.
Delija wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Delija in side control, throwing shots but Johnson defends.
Delija advances to full mount.
Johnson working to try and regain half guard.
Johnson is in a horrible position here. Delija smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delija trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Delija is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Johnson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Delija takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Delija working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ante Delija dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Delija instigates a clinch.

Johnson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Delija is keeping the position for now.
Johnson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Delija is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Johnson frees his head nicely. Oh but Delija has switched to an armbar! Johnson is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Ante Delija!