PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kennith Cannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cannon
vs
Johnson

210 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
202 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kennith Cannon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, William Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson goes for a double leg but Cannon avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cannon continues to drive forward.
Cannon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Cannon has picked Johnson up - he's going for a ride! Cannon dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

Cannon is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johnson defends it well.

Johnson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Johnson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Johnson tries to stand and escape but Cannon is controlling the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johnson escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cannon counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Cannon is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johnson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Johnson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kennith Cannon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Johnson.
Johnson is looking for a takedown.
Cannon tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.
Cannon creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Cannon tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cannon wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cannon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.

Cannon gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Johnson regains guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cannon wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Cannon is breathing heavily.
Cannon stops Johnson from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cannon with a nice head shot there.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Johnson wriggles free and stands up.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Johnson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnson stands up and beckons Cannon to join him on the feet.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Cannon shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Johnson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cannon on his heels. He'll look to pass Cannon's guard now, I'm sure.

Johnson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cannon as he avoids it easily.

Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.

Johnson decides to stand and escape the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

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

Johnson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cannon to the mat! Cannon manages to get full guard.

Johnson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cannon stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cannon wants it to stay on the feet.

Johnson gets a double leg takedown into Cannon's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Johnson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cannon, up you get!
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cannon swivels and escapes.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Cannon shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cannon rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Cannon wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cannon tries for a takedown but Johnson manages to get underhooks.

Cannon jumps guard and drags Johnson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson stands and steps away. Cannon gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into Cannon's guard.

Johnson stands up and waves to Cannon to follow him.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cannon as he avoids it easily.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
William Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johnson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Johnson decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Johnson stands up from half guard.
Johnson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cannon sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johnson somewhat.
Kennith Cannon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Johnson.
Cannon shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cannon swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into guard.

Cannon is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Johnson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cannon tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Johnson is in Cannon's guard.
Johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cannon is proving hard to escape from.
Cannon wants to stand and escape but Johnson is having none of it.

Johnson stands up and waves to Cannon to follow him.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Johnson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cannon to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Cannon sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.

Johnson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cannon to the ground. Johnson is now in Cannon's guard.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

Johnson gets to his feet. Cannon looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Nice takedown defense from Cannon. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Kennith Cannon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cannon gets the takedown into side control.
Johnson is pushing Cannon's head away, looking to escape. Cannon manages to hold on to the position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cannon lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Johnson down.

Cannon is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johnson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Cannon drags him back down.

Johnson sneaks out the side door and pushes Cannon away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Cannon slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Cannon sprawls well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cannon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Cannon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cannon shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cannon defends well and Johnson ends up having to push Cannon into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Cannon jumps into guard, dragging Johnson to the mat.

Johnson gets to his feet - Cannon follows without any prompting.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt

and Cannon counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cannon.

Johnson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson is trying to stall.

Cannon pulls Johnson into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Johnson stands up from Cannon's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cannon slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kennith Cannon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Johnson.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson misses with a takedown

and Cannon counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cannon.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Cannon from controlling successfully.
Cannon stops Johnson from standing up.

Johnson kicks Cannon off and gets to his feet.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
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!

Johnson decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cannon shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Johnson dives in and scores a takedown into Cannon's guard.

Johnson stands up and waves to Cannon to follow him.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Cannon tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cannon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.

Johnson decides to stand back up.
Johnson shoots in but Cannon avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cannon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cannon is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Cannon circles away and we're back to standing.

Cannon looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cannon.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
William Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cannon is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Kennith Cannon has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cannon is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.

Cannon is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kennith Cannon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
William Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Johnson!