PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Johnson (ranked 1264 p4p, 49 weight class) and Siva Tavau (ranked 1640 p4p, 41 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Kung Fu Fighting. Tavau is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: In the Air Tonight. Paul Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnson
vs
Tavau

192 cm
28
272 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

200 cm
32
264 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paul Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Siva Tavau!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, David Schapiro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Tavau swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tavau tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tavau somewhat.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Tavau circles away and keeps his distance.
It seemed like Tavau was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Paul Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It seemed like Tavau was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Johnson darts in trying to clinch

and Tavau counters with a shoot takedown. Johnson fights it but they end up in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tavau content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Johnson has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tavau working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavau in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Tavau is having none of it.
Tavau postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tavau accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tavau landing with the ground and pound.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Tavau is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tavau with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tavau landing some decent shots from guard.
Tavau missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tavau on the ground.
Tavau keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Tavau is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Tavau lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavau is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Tavau is working Johnson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Tavau is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tavau works over Johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
Tavau is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Johnson is rocked!
Tavau with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Oh Johnson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Johnson is breathing heavily.

Tavau drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Johnson dives on top into guard.

Tavau is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Johnson seems to have got his legs back now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tavau sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.
Tavau working over Johnson with some ground and pound. Johnson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tavau thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.

Tavau seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.
Tavau has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavau sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.
Johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tavau seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tavau not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Tavau is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tavau lands strikes from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is trying to stand.
Tavau working Johnson over with strikes.
Tavau slips a nice elbow through Johnson's hands, connecting with Johnson's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

Tavau trying to work for an americana but Johnson has managed to regain full guard.
Tavau scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tavau stands up over Johnson, holding on to his feet. Tavau throws the legs to one side and dives in with a huge shot that lands flush on the chin! Johnson is out cold! Tavau lands a couple more shots and the ref tackles him out of the way! What a brutal finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Siva Tavau!
Siva Tavau bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.