PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mikael Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Davor Velcic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Johansson
vs
Velcic

175 cm
32
156 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

168 cm
32
154 lbs
27 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikael Johansson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Davor Velcic!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velcic throws an overhand right that lands on Johansson's shoulder, as Johansson tries to avoid the shot.
Velcic throws the kick towards the body but Johansson avoids it.
Velcic lands with a hook. Johansson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Velcic throws a leg kick that is checked
and Velcic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Davor Velcic has been cut.
A head kick misses from Johansson.
Johansson lands with a kick to the temple. Velcic shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Johansson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Johansson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A telegraphed right hand from Johansson misses the target.
Johansson slips under a jab from Velcic.

Velcic moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velcic tries a body shot but Johansson blocks it.
Johansson cracks Velcic with a nice body shot.
Johansson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Velcic backwards.
Johansson tries to land a knee to the head but Velcic blocks with his arms.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Johansson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Johansson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Velcic's face.
A right hand to the body from Johansson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velcic lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Velcic is working Johansson over against the cage.
Johansson looking to throw knees to the head but Velcic is blocking nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Johansson fails to land.
Johansson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johansson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velcic tries a body shot but Johansson blocks it.
Velcic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johansson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Velcic avoids it.
Velcic tries to circle away but Johansson has him pinned against the cage.
Velcic throws a punch but it's blocked by Johansson.
Velcic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Velcic creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Velcic tries to work over Johansson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Johansson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Velcic's elbow.
Johansson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A knee to the head by Johansson.
Velcic can't find room to land a body shot as Johansson controls the action.
Velcic working aggressively here.
Velcic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Velcic is working Johansson over against the cage.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Velcic has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johansson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Johansson is breathing heavily.

Velcic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Velcic closes the distance and pushes Johansson back into the cage.
Velcic takes a shot to the head.
Velcic misses with a punch on the inside.
Johansson scores with a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Velcic scores with a nice short uppercut.

Velcic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Velcic scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Velcic bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Velcic misses with a few strikes there.
Velcic connects with a right hand. Johansson shakes it off.
Velcic fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Johansson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Johansson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Velcic takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Johansson checks a leg kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velcic thows a body shot but no joy.
Johansson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Johansson throws the kick towards the body but Velcic avoids it.
Johansson checks the leg kick nicely there.
An inside leg kick lands from Velcic.
Johansson cracks a nice hook into Velcic's ribs.
Davor Velcic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Velcic throws a low kick but Johansson avoids it.
Velcic avoids the body shot from Johansson.
Johansson thuds his shin into the meat of Velcic's side.
Johansson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Velcic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Velcic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johansson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Velcic lands with a thumping leg kick.
Velcic staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velcic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johansson.
Johansson lands a really nice looking cross but Velcic seems unphased.
We've been told by Johansson's head coaches at Gentlemens' club that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Velcic throws a body punch but Johansson moves out of range.
Johansson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Jab by Velcic.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
That kick from Velcic tenderised Johansson's leg. Johansson is trying to keep his angry face on.
Velcic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Velcic buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Johansson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Velcic turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johansson slips a straight right by Velcic.
A head kick misses from Johansson.
A head kick misses from Johansson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johansson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Velcic lands a body shot.
Velcic's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Velcic duly obliges.
Velcic lands a leg kick that knocks Johansson off balance momentarily.
Velcic misses with a looping left.
Velcic connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Velcic throws a lazy right hand but Johansson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johansson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johansson just misses with a punch to the body.
Velcic throws a shot from downtown. Johansson moves away and avoids it.
A bone on bone clash there as Johansson blocks the leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Johansson finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johansson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A punch combination from Johansson misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velcic throws a chopping leg kick but Johansson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
The crowd cheers as Velcic lands an impressive looking overhand right. Johansson doesn't seem phased though.
Johansson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Velcic.
Johansson lands with a good body shot.
Some wild striking there from Johansson.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Johansson checks a leg kick.
Davor Velcic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johansson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Velcic.
Velcic throws a leg kick which misses Johansson's front leg but catches the back leg as Johansson tries to avoid it.
Mikael Johansson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johansson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Johansson missing with a left hand there. Velcic was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
That kick from Johansson tenderised Velcic's leg. Velcic is trying to keep his angry face on.
Velcic throws a leg kick but Johansson checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johansson just misses with a punch to the body.
Velcic looks to land a left hand but Johansson moved out of range nicely.
Velcic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Velcic dips to his left and cracks Johansson with an uppercut!
A slow jab from Johansson misses its intended target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Velcic misses with a leg kick
and Johansson counters with an outside leg kick.
Velcic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Velcic misses with a hook
and Johansson counters with a thumping low kick.
Johansson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Velcic.
Velcic fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Johansson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Velcic stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Johansson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Velcic.
Velcic looks to score with a jab to the body but Johansson is just out of range.
Velcic tries to clinch up.
Johansson staying out of range there.
Johansson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Velcic blocks a jab.
Johansson throws a head kick but Velcic moves out of range.
Velcic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johansson.
Velcic turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Velcic lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Johansson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Johansson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Velcic loads up on a big right hand but Johansson slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velcic looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sloppy strikes from Velcic. Those never looked like landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johansson. Velcic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Velcic swings away with a body shot that misses
and Johansson counters with a left and a right that stings Velcic.
Velcic connects with a solid leg kick.
Johansson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johansson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Velcic throws a low kick but it's checked well by Johansson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johansson keeps the fight on the outside.
Velcic fails to land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johansson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johansson misses with a series of wild punches.
A telegraphed right hand from Velcic misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davor Velcic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Davor Velcic's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Johansson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Velcic fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Johansson is out of range.
Velcic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Velcic lands a head kick!
Johansson looks to score with a jab to the body but Velcic is just out of range.
Velcic connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Johansson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Johansson blocks a jab.
Velcic thows a leg kick but Johansson checks it
and Johansson counters with a left and a right that stings Velcic.
Johansson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Velcic throws out a loose jab but Johansson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Velcic attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Velcic jabs Johansson right on the nose. Johansson blinks but takes it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Velcic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Velcic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Velcic loads up on a big right hand but Johansson slips the punch.
An inside leg kick from Johansson misses.
Velcic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johansson needs to keep his hands up - Velcic had a free shot at his head there.
Velcic tries to move into range but Johansson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Johansson throws a series of punches but Velcic avoids them all with ease.
Velcic misses with a leg kick
and Johansson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Velcic throws a head kick but Johansson moves out of range.
Johansson just misses with a punch to the body.
Velcic tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velcic throws a front kick aimed at Johansson's knee but Johansson avoids it well.
Johansson slips a straight right by Velcic.
Johansson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Velcic walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Johansson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Johansson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sloppy strikes from Velcic. Those never looked like landing.
Johansson misses with a body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johansson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johansson blocks a head kick by Velcic.
Velcic throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Velcic is looking to score with low kicks.
A lazy left from Johansson finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson keeps the fight on the outside.
Velcic cracks Johansson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Velcic wants to slow Johansson down by chopping away at his legs.
Johansson scores with a hook.
Velcic checks the leg kick.
Velcic throws a leg kick but Johansson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Johansson misses with a low kick as Velcic jumps back.
Velcic attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Johansson slips a jab from Velcic.
Johansson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Velcic misses with a wild body shot.
Good leg kick by Johansson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Johansson slips a straight right by Velcic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velcic misses with a double jab.
Velcic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johansson slips a straight right by Velcic.
Velcic swings for the body but Johansson moves out of range.
Velcic throws a head kick that misses.
Velcic is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johansson defending well as Velcic loads up on a big left hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Johansson.
Johansson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Velcic is looking to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velcic throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Johansson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Velcic misses with a wild body shot.
Johansson throws a head kick but Velcic moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Davor Velcic just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Davor Velcic's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Johansson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Velcic tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Velcic throws a jab when Johansson was well out of range.
Johansson blocks a head kick by Velcic.
Johansson slips a jab and a cross from Velcic.
Johansson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Velcic lands with a shot to the body.
Johansson connects with a high kick.
Johansson misses with a body kick.
Johansson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Velcic was well out of range. Poor timing from Johansson.
Velcic thows a body shot but no joy.
Johansson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Velcic.
Velcic throws a leg kick which misses Johansson's front leg but catches the back leg as Johansson tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velcic throws a lazy uppercut
and Johansson counters with an inside leg kick.
Velcic bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Johansson's head.
Johansson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A nice combination there by Johansson.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Johansson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Velcic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johansson.
Velcic cracks Johansson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Velcic throws a head kick but Johansson moves out of range.
Velcic will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Velcic throws a front kick aimed at Johansson's knee but Johansson avoids it well.
Johansson checks a low kick from Velcic.
Johansson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Velcic is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velcic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johansson.
Velcic is still on wobbly legs! Can Johansson finish him?
Johansson slips under a jab from Velcic.
A jab lands there for Velcic.
Velcic is starting to get sloppy and is letting his hands down. Johansson just took advantage and landed a stinging jab. Oh! Now a right hook, right on the button! Velcic has gone limp and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:13 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Mikael Johansson!
Mikael Johansson retains his featherweight title!
Mikael Johansson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.