PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Guannis Mantoulidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Mantoulidis
vs
Johnson

176 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

167 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Guannis Mantoulidis !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zach Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mantoulidis tries to clinch up.
Johnson tries to counter with a clinch but Mantoulidis shakes him off and moves away.
Mantoulidis looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Johnson instigates a clinch.
Mantoulidis is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Johnson pressing his opponent against the cage.

Johnson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Mantoulidis is trying to keep an underhook but Johnson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Johnson wants to free his trapped foot but Mantoulidis is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
Johnson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
It looks like Johnson might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Johnson in particular looking to stall.

Johnson is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
Mantoulidis looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantoulidis wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mantoulidis wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Let's hope that Johnson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mantoulidis has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Johnson.
Johnson connects with a high kick.
Mantoulidis darts in trying to clinch

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Johnson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Johnson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Johnson stands up from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mantoulidis tries to sprawl but Johnson drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Mantoulidis manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Johnson keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mantoulidis wants to stand back up but Johnson manages to pass into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johnson tries for a kimura but Mantoulidis is defending well.
Johnson moves into full mount!
Mantoulidis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson controlling his opponent.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Johnson lands a heavy elbow.
Johnson content just to control the position here.

Johnson has control of Mantoulidis 's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Mantoulidis regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Johnson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mantoulidis can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Johnson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Johnson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Johnson controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
More stalling from Johnson.

Johnson is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mantoulidis enables Johnson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mantoulidis manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.
Johnson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Mantoulidis is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Johnson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mantoulidis manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Johnson gets to his feet - Mantoulidis follows without any prompting.

Johnson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mantoulidis to the ground. Johnson is now in Mantoulidis 's guard.
Mantoulidis wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Johnson content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mantoulidis looking for subs off his back but Johnson has passed one foot through into half guard.
Mantoulidis is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mantoulidis !
Johnson content just to control the position here.
Johnson is continuing to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Johnson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Johnson cracks Mantoulidis with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Mantoulidis defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Johnson.
Mantoulidis is looking to get to half guard.
Johnson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Mantoulidis gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Johnson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Johnson clinches.
Johnson lands a knee to the head.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into Mantoulidis 's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Johnson controlling from the top position.
Johnson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mantoulidis 's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson pushing down on Mantoulidis 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Johnson stalling.
Mantoulidis wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mantoulidis on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zach Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

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