PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Niklas Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lenton Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Johansson
vs
Smith

178 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
18
168 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niklas Johansson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lenton Smith!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johansson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.
Johansson trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Johansson stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Johansson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johansson lands a couple of digs.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Johansson is proving a slippery customer.

Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johansson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johansson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Johansson preventing the sweep.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson being controlled here momentarily.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith keeping full guard, as Johansson tries to pass.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johansson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johansson wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Johansson looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Johansson shoots in and bounces Smith off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Johansson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johansson trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Johansson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smith's guard.
Smith can't keep his opponent in guard - Johansson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Johansson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Smith trying to control here.
Johansson not doing much here.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Johansson is very close to passing his half guard.
Johansson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Johansson landing shots from mount.
Smith really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Johansson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Smith looks a forlorn figure.
Johansson lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson prevents Smith from getting the reversal.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Johansson stands up from mount. Strange move.
Smith looks gassed!
Johansson wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Johansson tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horrible takedown by Johansson or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith which made him look bad.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
Johansson wants to control but Smith postures up.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johansson keeps working.
Johansson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Smith's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Johansson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Johansson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Johansson misses the shot to the body.
Johansson tries to clinch up.

Johansson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Smith!
Smith looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Johansson keeps control of the position easily here as Smith tries to buck him off.
Smith trying to control the position but Johansson manages to sink in the hooks.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Johansson's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith just trying to survive but Johansson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Johansson's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Smith tries to roll but Johansson sticks to his back.
Smith breaks Johansson's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Johansson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.
Johansson working some strikes from top position.
Johansson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johansson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith controls Johansson momentarily but Johansson frees himself.
Johansson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Johansson is fighting to break Smith's control of his arms but Smith is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Johansson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smith moves into full mount! Johansson won't be happy about that!
Johansson tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Smith trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Johansson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Johansson wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to control but Johansson wriggling away.
Johansson flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith wants to take his opponent's back but Johansson doesn't allow it.
Smith tries to control but Johansson wriggling away.
Smith moves to the back position.
Johansson trying to control the position but Smith manages to sink in the hooks.

Smith looking to break Johansson's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Johansson remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Smith will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Johansson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Johansson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Smith works his way into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes Johansson's back.
Smith trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Smith is trying to control but Johansson is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Smith wants to take Johansson's back here but Johansson is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Johansson working to try and regain half guard.
Johansson is working hard here to advance position.

Smith with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Johansson wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.

Smith looking to secure an arm triangle but Johansson defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Niklas Johansson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Johansson is looking to clinch.
Johansson tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Johansson fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Johansson is retaining full guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Johansson keeps moving.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Johansson is keeping the position.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Johansson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johansson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Johansson instigates a clinch.
Smith tries for a takedown but Johansson manages to get underhooks.

Johansson jumps guard.
Johansson wants to sweep but no luck.
Johansson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johansson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Johansson lands a couple of elbows.
Johansson controlling from the top position.
Johansson postures up.
Johansson trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Johansson wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johansson misses with a takedown attempt

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johansson's guard.

Johansson looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Johansson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johansson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Johansson looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Smith postures up.
Johansson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smith!
Johansson looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
Johansson working the ground and pound effectively.

Johansson get's back to his feet.
Johansson swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.

Johansson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Johansson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lenton Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johansson is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lenton Smith.
Well Johansson 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!