PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Magnus Larsen (ranked 1635 p4p, 1952 weight class) and Remi Johnson (ranked 219 p4p, 265 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Larsen
vs
Johnson

175 cm
27
157
8 - 8 - 2

174 cm
27
169
11 - 7 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Fast

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 2, fighting out of London, Magnus Larsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Remi Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Larsen blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Larsen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Johnson darts in and clinches Larsen up against the cage.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Larsen.
Larsen misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Larsen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've been informed that Johnson has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Larsen misses with a body kick.
Johnson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Larsen looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Johnson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Larsen looks to land a combination. Johnson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Larsen looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Johnson checks a low kick from Larsen.
Johnson is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson tries to land a body kick
and Larsen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsen misses with an uppercut.
Magnus Larsen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Larsen.
Johnson looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Johnson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Larsen throws a leg kick that misses.
Larsen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Larsen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Larsen. That's going to slow Johnson down.
Larsen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Larsen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Larsen lands a nice shot that snaps Johnson's head back.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Larsen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Larsen thumps Johnson with a low kick.
Johnson tries to move into range but Larsen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larsen lands with an uppercut that bounces Johnson off the cage and back into range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsen digs a good body shot into Johnson's ribs.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A jab from Larsen misses.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Magnus Larsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Remi Johnson.
Larsen misses with a wild body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Larsen.
Larsen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Larsen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Johnson.
Larsen scores with a jab to the jaw.

Johnson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Larsen did well to prevent Johnson getting side control.
Johnson slips a nice elbow through Larsen's hands, connecting with Larsen's forehead.
Larsen wants to get back to full guard.
Larsen regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Johnson.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Larsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Larsen keeps moving.
Johnson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Larsen haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Larsen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Larsen has wrist control.
Larsen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Larsen lands with a good body shot.
Johnson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Johnson looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Johnson moves out of range as Larsen strikes.
Larsen connects with a body shot that sends Johnson's belly button to the back.
Larsen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Johnson lands a jab to the head.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Larsen.
Johnson takes one to the chin there.
Johnson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Larsen was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnson.
Larsen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A slow jab from Larsen misses its intended target.
Johnson is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Johnson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Larsen - the referee stops the clock and Johnson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Larsen. Johnson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Larsen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Johnson misses with a combination
and Larsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Larsen defends it nicely.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A little feinted left hand from Larsen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Larsen as he jumps to the side.
Nice uppercut lands for Larsen. That snapped Johnson's head back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Larsen.
Larsen swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Johnson tries to move into range but Larsen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Larsen was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Larsen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Johnson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Magnus Larsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Remi Johnson.
Larsen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Johnson under the eye.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Larsen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnson dives in for a single leg takedown but Larsen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Larsen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Johnson checks it well.
Johnson throws out a counter right but Larsen avoids it with no problem.
Johnson wants to clinch but Larsen slips to the side
and Larsen counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Larsen to acknowledge the strikes.
Johnson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Larsen scoring well with a low kick there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larsen looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
Johnson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A solid leg kick lands there for Larsen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsen misses with a straight left.
Larsen tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A countering left hand to the body from Johnson misses.
Larsen lands with a hook. Johnson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Johnson rushes Larsen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Larsen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Larsen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Larsen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Larsen struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Larsen is trying to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling him.
Larsen tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Larsen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Larsen tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Larsen is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Larsen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Larsen throws a sloppy body shot
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
Johnson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Larsen counters with an outside leg kick.
Johnson staying out of range there.
Larsen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Johnson staying out of range there.
Magnus Larsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Larsen can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Magnus Larsen is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Larsen.
Larsen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Larsen misses with a combination
and Johnson counters with a body kick.
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 with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Larsen to score with a decent uppercut.
Johnson darts in trying to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Larsen throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson slips under a jab from Larsen.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Larsen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Larsen is looking to slow Johnson down with leg kicks.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Larsen dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Larsen throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Johnson instigates a clinch.
Larsen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnson's elbow.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Larsen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Larsen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Larsen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Magnus Larsen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A nice right hand lands inside from Larsen.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Larsen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Larsen circles away.
Johnson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Larsen.
Larsen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Johnson throws a big counter head kick but Larsen avoids it with no problem.
Johnson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with Larsen.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Larsen throws a wild body kick that Johnson sees coming a mile off.
A nice inside leg kick there by Larsen. That's going to slow Johnson down.
Larsen takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into Larsen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Larsen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johnson is looking to stand up but Larsen isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larsen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Larsen prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Larsen tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larsen prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Larsen 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Larsen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Johnson counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johnson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Larsen defends well and Johnson ends up having to push Larsen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A good leg kick by Larsen.
Larsen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Larsen.
Johnson steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
A punch combination from Larsen misses.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Larsen wants to slow Johnson down by chopping away at his legs.
Johnson shapes to counter with a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Larsen. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Larsen.
Johnson moves out of range of the leg kick from Larsen.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Larsen pushes him off.
Larsen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Johnson is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Larsen.
Magnus Larsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Remi Johnson.
Good leg kick by Larsen.
Larsen connects with a body shot that sends Johnson's belly button to the back.
Remi Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Larsen is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magnus Larsen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Larsen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magnus Larsen!
A relieved looking Magnus Larsen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.