PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wazz Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Fabolous Imma Do It. 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
Silva

183 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James 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, Wazz Silva!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Silva lands a head kick!

It looks like James Johnson has been cut.
James Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Silva throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Johnson.
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 shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Johnson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Johnson landing strikes from the mount and Silva is in trouble!
Johnson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Silva is trying to escape the mount.
Johnson throwing strikes here but Silva is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Silva regains half guard.

Silva makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Silva connects with a right hand. Johnson shakes it off.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a right hand that Silva ducks under and follows up with a left that Silva also avoids with ease.
Silva misses with a series of wild punches.

Johnson clinches with his opponent.
Silva wants a takedown but no success here.
Silva lands an elbow inside that Johnson shrugs off.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Johnson takes the fight into the clinch.

Johnson pulls guard.
Silva wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Silva's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnson is trying to keep Silva in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Silva is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Silva is working Johnson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnson 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 sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Johnson is thwarting Silva's attempts to control the position.
Johnson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Silva gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Silva can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva landing strikes from the mount.
Silva connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Silva prevents Johnson from getting the reversal.

Silva looking for a guillotine from mount but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.
A nice elbow there by Silva.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Silva landing strikes from the mount.
Silva lands a big elbow.
Silva with the ground and pound from mount.
Silva with the ground and pound from mount.
Silva avoids the attempt from Johnson to control.
Johnson is bucking up trying to escape but Silva cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Silva looking for a guillotine from mount but Johnson is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wazz Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Johnson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Silva lands a head kick!
Silva misses with a kick to the body.

Johnson clinches.
Knees to the body from Silva.
Johnson jumps guard but Silva stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silva tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Silva drops back down to his feet.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Johnson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.
Silva is trying to stall.
Silva working Johnson over with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva jumps guard but Johnson stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Silva.
Silva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva is trying to drag Johnson to the mat but Johnson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
James Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wazz Silva.
Silva is trying to drag Johnson to the mat but Johnson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Silva has Johnson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Johnson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Silva can't get the takedown.
Silva tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.

Johnson jumps guard.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Silva!
Johnson lands a nice shot to the head.

Johnson working for a submission but Silva is keeping him at bay.

Johnson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Johnson.
Silva wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Silva is working to get back to half guard.
Silva slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Silva is trying to stand back up but Johnson is controlling him
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva pushes Johnson off looking to stand but Johnson dives back in and keeps control.
Johnson is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Silva is trying to stand back up but Johnson is controlling him

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Johnson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson postures up in Silva's guard and throws a big left but Silva blocks it.
Wazz Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Silva is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Johnson throws and elbow that misses. Silva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Silva!
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing Silva from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A head kick from Silva lands but Johnson takes it in his stride.
Silva tries to clinch up

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Silva!
Johnson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Silva looks a forlorn figure.
Silva avoids a series of strikes thrown by Johnson.
Silva really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Johnson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Johnson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Silva lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silva smiles and moves away.

Johnson rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Silva lands a nice knee to the body.
Silva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Silva is trying to force a seperation but Johnson has the dominant position.
Silva lands a knee to the body.
Johnson keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva can't break the clinch.
Johnson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson has Silva pressed against the cage, preventing Silva from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Silva crunches a lovely knee into Johnson's ribcage.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Johnson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
James Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
Johnson cracks Silva with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Silva regains half guard.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Silva gets back to full guard.
Silva wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Silva looking to control.
Johnson forces his way into half guard.
Silva is trying to stand up here but Johnson is controlling him well.
Johnson moves into full mount! Silva won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
A nice elbow there by Johnson.
Silva suckers Johnson into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Silva is now in Johnson's guard!
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Silva is one step ahead there.
Johnson wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Silva wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Silva shoots and misses
and Johnson counters with a one-two to the body.
Johnson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
James Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wazz Silva.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnson is proving hard to escape from.

Johnson kicks Silva off and gets to his feet.

Johnson shoots in and bounces Silva off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Silva wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

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