PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sven Svensson (ranked 1299 p4p, 172 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (ranked 2423 p4p, 294 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Svensson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Hells Bells - ACDC. Anthony Johnson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Svensson
vs
Johnson

175 cm
31
213 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

189 cm
27
216 lbs
14 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sven Svensson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Svensson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnson.
A jab from Johnson misses.

Svensson clinches up against the cage.
Johnson misses with the head strike.
Stalling in the clinch from Svensson.
Svensson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Svensson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Johnson is keeping busy.
The referee is keeping an eye on Svensson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The referee calls for Svensson to work.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Svensson.
Svensson seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sven Svensson.

Svensson shoots in and gets a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Svensson wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Svensson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Svensson controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Svensson is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Svensson advances position into side control!
Svensson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Johnson's legs.
Johnson is pushing Svensson's head away, looking to escape. Svensson manages to hold on to the position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Svensson moves into full mount!

Svensson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Johnson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Johnson shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Svensson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Johnson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Svensson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Johnson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Johnson shrugs it off.
Svensson is looking to work his way around to Johnson's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Svensson takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Johnson is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to escape the position.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Johnson prevents Svensson from getting a body triangle.
Johnson is really stuck here.
Johnson is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Svensson off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's four 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Johnson can't escape the position.
Svensson trying to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson trying to control the position but Svensson manages to sink in the hooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Svensson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice jab there from Johnson.
Nice defenses there by Svensson.
Svensson tries to counter by clinching up but Johnson breaks away and moves out of range.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.

Svensson takes the fight into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Johnson.
Johnson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Svensson.
Johnson lands with a light punch inside.
Svensson taking a breather.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson misses with a looping right.
Anthony Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson looks to land a right hand but Svensson moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Svensson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Svensson slips a straight right by Johnson.
Johnson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Svensson is looking to clinch.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Svensson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svensson tries to move into range but Johnson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Johnson misses the jab.
Johnson throws a jab when Svensson was well out of range.
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
Svensson moves away from the strike by Johnson.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Svensson.

Svensson moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
Svensson blocks an elbow strike.
Svensson leaning against his opponent.
Svensson leaning his opponent against the cage.
Svensson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Svensson pressing his opponent against the cage.
A short right from Johnson on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Come on Svensson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sven Svensson.
Johnson throws a right hand that misses

and Svensson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson wants to control but Svensson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Johnson has his hands clasped together around Svensson's back. He's all about the action.

Johnson has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Svensson is on him like a limpet, forcing Johnson back against the cage.
Svensson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Svensson.
Johnson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The referee is keeping an eye on Svensson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Svensson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with the head strike.
Svensson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Svensson controlling the action here for a moment.
Svensson wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sven Svensson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Svensson looking to slow down the pace here.
Johnson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Svensson stalling in the clinch.
Johnson lands a right hand.
Johnson being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sven Svensson.

Svensson has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Svensson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Svensson leaning against his opponent.
Svensson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Johnson is keeping busy.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Anthony Johnson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Svensson tries to stall but Johnson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sven Svensson.
Johnson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Svenssons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Johnson throws the left hand but Svensson avoids the punch easily.
Svensson slips under a jab from Johnson.
Svensson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Johnson.
Johnson misses with an uppercut. Svensson saw that one coming.
Anthony Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson looks to land a left hand but Svensson moved out of range nicely.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johnson throws a hook to the side of Svensson's head but Svensson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Svensson defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd cheers as Johnson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Svensson doesn't seem phased though.
Svensson moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Svensson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnson.
Svensson tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Svensson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a looping right.
Johnson throws a lazy uppercut

and Svensson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Svensson tries to tie him up.
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Johnson - that landed with a thud.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
Johnson prevents the takedown attempt.
Svensson wants to stall.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svensson content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anthony Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Svensson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Svensson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Svensson tries to tie him up.
Maybe Svensson would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Johnson misses with the head strike.
Johnson misses with some punches.
Svensson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Svensson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Svensson.
Johnson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Svenssons head.
Johnson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Svensson trying to stall but Johnson improves his position.
Svensson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Svensson stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sven Svensson.
Johnson throws a looping overhand right but Svensson ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Svensson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sven Svensson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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 is trying to control but can't.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Svensson is controlling him well.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Svensson has control of the leg.
Johnson tries to kick Svensson off but Svensson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Johnson tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Svensson manages to move to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to hold on but Svensson postures up.
Johnson working to try and regain half guard.
Johnson is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Johnson felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Svensson wants to take Johnson's back but he can't do it this time.
Johnson is trying to stand.

That's four 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.
Svensson seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Johnson is holding on tight.
Johnson is desperately trying to improve his position but Svensson has a good base and remains in mount.
Svensson wants to take his opponent's back but Johnson doesn't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Svensson prevents Johnson from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anthony Johnson.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

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