PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Calvin Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derka Derka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by 2Pac - Under Pressure. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Johnson
vs
Derka

185 cm
30
217 lbs
20 - 13 - 0

225 cm
32
270 lbs
22 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite 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 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Calvin Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Derka Derka!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Derka tries to clinch up.

Derka gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Derka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Derka is working for a kimura but Johnson is defending it quite comfortably.
Derka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Derka throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Derka working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Derka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Derka thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nice strikes from Derka there.
Johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Derka trying to work for an americana but Johnson has managed to regain full guard.
Derka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Derka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Derka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Derka isn't so interested in that idea.
Derka keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Derka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Derka tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Derka throwing strikes but missing.
Derka throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Derka stops Johnson from standing up.
Derka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Derka throws a big right hand that misses.
Derka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Derka is controlling him.
Derka trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Derka drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Derka jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Derka drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Johnson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Derka has Johnson in his guard.
Derka has a closed guard, preventing Johnson from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Derka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Derka is proving hard to escape from.

Derka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnson is aware though and is defending well.
Derka has a closed guard, preventing Johnson from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Derka has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Johnson has passed into side control.
Derka tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.
Johnson wants to stand but Derka has his arm trapped.
Derka is trying to control Johnson's posture but Johnson avoids it.
Johnson tries to stand but Derka is controlling his head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson gets to mount! Derka was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Derka is looking to improve his position but Johnson isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derka Derka dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Derka moves away.
A bone on bone clash there as Derka blocks the leg kick.
Derka misses with a series of wild punches.
Derka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Derka swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Johnson.

It looks like Calvin Johnson has been cut.
Johnson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnson scores with a jab to the head.
Derka cracks Johnson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Derka lands with a good body shot.
Derka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Derka misses with a hook to the body
and Johnson counters with a leg kick.
Johnson tries a low kick but Derka avoids it.
Johnson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Derka misses with a body shot.

Derka gets a clinch.
Derka changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Johnson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Derka Derka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Derka moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Derka wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Derka cracks Johnson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Derka.
Derka on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Derka checks a low kick from Johnson.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Derka.
Johnson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Derka lands a nice looking body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Derka. Those never looked like landing.
Derka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Calvin Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derka Derka.
Derka tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Derka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Derka is able to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Johnson tenderised Derka's leg. Derka is trying to keep his angry face on.
Derka misses with a few strikes there.
Derka throws a hook but Johnson blocks it.
Derka throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Derka is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Johnson rather than just go for the knockout.
Derka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Derka is breathing heavily.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Derka.
Johnson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Derka.
Derka looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
Derka throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson slips under a jab.
Derka throws a one two combo.
Johnson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Derka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Derka bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Derka Derka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Derka works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Derka comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a nice strike.
A good leg kick by Johnson.
Johnson lands a slapping body shot.
Derka is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Derka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Derka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson lands a slapping body shot.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A jab from Johnson does it's job there.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Johnson, right into the meat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Johnson is looking to slow Derka down with leg kicks.
Johnson cracks the inside of Derka's front leg.
Derka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Johnson.
Calvin Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Derka is just out of range.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Derka moves away and avoids it.
Johnson takes a swing at Derka's ribcage but misses.
Johnson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Derka thows a body shot but no joy.
Derka misses with a hook.
Johnson swings for the body but Derka moves out of range.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Derka.
Johnson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Johnson lands with a shot to the body.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Johnson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Derka tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Derka closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Derka pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.
Johnson scores with a punch to the head.
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 Calvin Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Calvin Johnson's cut.
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!

A slapping leg kick lands for Johnson.
A thudding body kick lands there by Johnson!
Derka's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Derka down.
Johnson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.
Derka takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Derka manages to avoid it.
Derka has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Johnson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson thumps Derka with a low kick.
Derka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johnson stuns Derka with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Derka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johnson.
Derka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson lands a really nice looking cross but Derka seems unphased.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Derka down.
Johnson connects with a solid leg kick.
Derka avoids the body shot from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Derka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johnson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Derka misses with a body punch
and Johnson counters with a nice body shot.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Johnson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
That kick from Johnson tenderised Derka's leg. Derka is trying to keep his angry face on.
Johnson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Derka chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Johnson can pounce on him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Derka doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Johnson, right into the meat.
Johnson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
That kick from Johnson tenderised Derka's leg. Derka is trying to keep his angry face on.
Johnson thuds his right hand into Derka's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A slapping leg kick lands for Johnson.
Johnson scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Johnson.
Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson digs a good body shot into Derka's ribs.
Derka misses with a looping right.
Derka Derka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Derka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.
Derka throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
Derka tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Derka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Derka's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Derka duly obliges.
Johnson connects with an inside leg kick.
Johnson scoring well with a low kick there.
Derka takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Johnson pushes Derka away with a front kick.
Johnson scoring well with a low kick there.
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A good leg kick by Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Derka down.
Johnson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A slapping leg kick lands for Johnson.
Johnson scores with a leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Derka.
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Johnson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Derka in his tracks.

Johnson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Derka to score an easy takedown into full 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!
Derka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Derka won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.
Derka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Derka advances to half guard.
Derka throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson tries to kick Derka off but Derka keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Derka with the ground and pound but Johnson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Derka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Derka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Derka is controlling him.
Derka postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Derka Derka has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Derka's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Derka stands up over Johnson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Calvin Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Calvin Johnson!
After winning the bout, Calvin Johnson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.