PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekkis Honkanen (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.

Johnson
vs
Honkanen

187 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anthony Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekkis Honkanen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Honkanen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Honkanen. Honkanen gets slowly back to his feet.
Honkanen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Honkanen shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Anthony Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pekkis Honkanen.
Johnson lands a head shot.
Honkanen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Anthony Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Honkanen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Honkanen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Johnson lands a head kick that stumbles Honkanen and the fighters go to the mat.

Honkanen is rocked!
Johnson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Johnson trying to control but Honkanen is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Honkanen keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Honkanen is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Johnson is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Honkanen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson lands with a kick to the temple. Honkanen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Honkanen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Honkanen closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Honkanen pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Honkanen is trying desperately to land a takedown but Johnson is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Honkanen.
Honkanen tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Honkanen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Horrible takedown by Honkanen or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnson which made him look bad.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Danga de danga de dang - Johnson scores with a four punch combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A left lands for Johnson.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Honkanen shoots in.
Anthony Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Honkanen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Johnson throws a head kick that Honkanen semi-blocks.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Johnson!
Johnson pushes Honkanen away with a front kick.
Honkanen has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Anthony Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pekkis Honkanen.
Johnson bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Honkanen is breathing heavily.
Johnson jabs at Honkanen's body.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Honkanen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson throws a shot to the body.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Honkanen down.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Honkanen backs up against the cage.
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 lands with a straight right. Honkanen didn't see that one coming.
Honkanen shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Honkanen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson cracks the inside of Honkanen's front leg.
Johnson scores with a jab to the head.
Nice body punch from Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Honkanen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Honkanen can do to turn this around?
Johnson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Johnson throws a front kick that sends Honkanen stumbling back into the cage.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson connects with a jab.
Honkanen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Johnson lands with a kick to the temple. Honkanen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Honkanen shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Honkanen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Honkanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Honkanen slips a jab and a cross from Johnson.
Honkanen blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Johnson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Honkanen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Johnson. Johnson obviously looking to wear him down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Honkanen tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Honkanen avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Honkanen fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson tries to bum rush Honkanen with a series of wild strikes but Honkanen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnson lands with a straight right. Honkanen didn't see that one coming.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson looks to land a combination. Honkanen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Honkanen misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Honkanen looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Anthony Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pekkis Honkanen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honkanen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Honkanen persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Honkanen looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson cracks the inside of Honkanen's front leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Johnson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Honkanen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Honkanen shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Nice shot by Johnson.
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Johnson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson cracks the inside of Honkanen's front leg.
Johnson jabs at Honkanen's body.
Honkanen tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Honkanen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Honkanen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Honkanen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

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.
Johnson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Honkanen fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson throws a head kick that Honkanen semi-blocks.
Pekkis Honkanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anthony Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Honkanen closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Honkanen pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:25
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:25
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:24

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