PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dalton McConnell (ranked 3657 p4p, 409 weight class) and Shaka Johnson (ranked 23856 p4p, 595 weight class). Johnson has chosen Mandoza - Nkalakatha as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

McConnell
vs
Johnson

180 cm
20
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

174 cm
24
195 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dalton McConnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shaka Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McConnell stuns Johnson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Johnson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Johnson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Johnson working the head with strikes.
Johnson cracks McConnell with a big elbow.
McConnell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.

Johnson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Johnson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Johnson scores with punches from side control.
McConnell is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Johnson works to advance to full mount. McConnell defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
McConnell's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Johnson tries to control but McConnell wriggling away.
Johnson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. McConnell looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McConnell is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Johnson punching from mount but McConnell doing a good job of avoiding damage.
McConnell is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
McConnell has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Johnson looking to ground and pound but McConnell is blocking nicely.
McConnell is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McConnell is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
McConnell gets back to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to McConnell's temple.
McConnell is trying to stand back up but Johnson is controlling him
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McConnell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McConnell wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Johnson wants to control but McConnell is keeping him busy.
McConnell trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Johnson wants to take a breather but McConnell is having none of it.
Johnson prevents McConnell from standing back up.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but McConnell defends it.
Johnson throwing shots but McConnell is blocking nicely.
Johnson is thwarting McConnell's attempts to control the position.
McConnell taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the action but McConnell is working from the bottom.
McConnell controlling the position for now.
Johnson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Johnson is working for a kimura but McConnell is defending it quite comfortably.

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

Johnson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McConnell sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McConnell controlling the position well.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McConnell tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Johnson has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Johnson avoids the attempt from McConnell to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Johnson looking for a guillotine from mount but McConnell is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
McConnell cracks Johnson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Johnson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
McConnell takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
McConnell throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A punch lands to the side of Johnson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Johnson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McConnell defends well and Johnson ends up having to push McConnell into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
McConnell swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
McConnell is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McConnell lands a nice looking body shot.
McConnell connects with a body shot.
Decent striking displayed by McConnell there.
Dalton McConnell is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on McConnell's shoulder, as McConnell tries to avoid the shot.
McConnell looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
McConnell looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
McConnell throws a one two combo.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McConnell defends it nicely.
Dalton McConnell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaka Johnson.
Johnson throws a combination that misses
enabling McConnell to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McConnell defends well and Johnson ends up having to push McConnell into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McConnell scores with a shot to the body.
Johnson tries to bum rush McConnell with a series of wild strikes but McConnell uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Johnson tries to score a body lock takedown but McConnell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Johnson can't get the takedown.
McConnell is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A short uppercut from McConnell.
McConnell lands with a short head shot on the inside.
McConnell lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson wants a takedown.
McConnell softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McConnell.
Good body shot from McConnell.

McConnell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
McConnell is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
McConnell is looking to wear down Johnson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
McConnell works Johnson's body with a nice hook.

Johnson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in McConnell's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McConnell is trying to get back to full guard.
McConnell looks like he's trying to stand up.
McConnell trying to control from the bottom.
McConnell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnson tries to pass the half guard into mount. McConnell knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Johnson is keen to just control but McConnell is a slippery customer.
McConnell wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McConnell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Johnson not doing much here.
Johnson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
McConnell is trying to stand up here but Johnson is controlling him well.

Johnson seems to be working for a kimura but McConnell defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dalton McConnell dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

McConnell cracks a nice hook into Johnson's ribs.
McConnell works Johnson's body with a nice hook.
McConnell takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McConnell tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McConnell to the ground. McConnell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
It looked like McConnell was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Johnson.
McConnell throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination
and McConnell counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by McConnell.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
McConnell ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from McConnell.
Johnson throws a leg kick
and McConnell counters with a left to the body.
McConnell dips to his left and cracks Johnson with an uppercut!
Dalton McConnell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McConnell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shaka Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McConnell slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dalton McConnell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaka Johnson.
McConnell looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.

Johnson shoots in and bounces McConnell off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
McConnell wants to sweep but no luck.
Shaka Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson passes McConnell's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McConnell is doing well to control the position and prevent Johnson from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McConnell continues to stall.
Johnson slips a nice elbow through McConnell's hands, connecting with McConnell's forehead.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McConnell wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Johnson trying to control the pace.
McConnell is looking to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McConnell is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is nestled in close to McConnell, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McConnell is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McConnell wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but McConnell is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
McConnell tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
McConnell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McConnell tries to get out of the position.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the action but McConnell is working from the bottom.

Johnson is working for a kimura but McConnell is defending it quite comfortably.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McConnell defending well though.
McConnell wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Johnson trying to control the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McConnell is trying to stand back up but Johnson is controlling him

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dalton McConnell showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McConnell 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dalton McConnell!
Dalton McConnell took some time post fight to say the following; 'I'm going to clean out this roster, have no doubt!'.
Shaka Johnson was interviewed post fight and said 'Sometimes you have to lose to learn how to win.'.