PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Petteri Ahonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rasmus Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ahonen kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Kalajoen Naiset. Johansson has chosen Diablo - The Preacher as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ahonen
vs
Johansson

170 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Petteri Ahonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rasmus Johansson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahonen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ahonen tries to clinch there but Johansson circles away.

Ahonen drives through with a takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johansson is on top in guard.
Ahonen looking for a sweep. Not yet Ahonen, not yet.
Ahonen wants to stand up but Johansson is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ahonen keeping moving, preventing Johansson from controlling successfully.
Ahonen is trying to keep Johansson in close.
Ahonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johansson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Johansson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johansson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ahonen lands a high kick!

It looks like Rasmus Johansson has been cut.
Petteri Ahonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ahonen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Ahonen throwing strikes here but Johansson is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Ahonen wants to finish this one by submission but Johansson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ahonen.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johansson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ahonen is breathing heavily.
Johansson is trying desperately to improve position.
The referee warns Johansson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Johansson regains half guard.
Johansson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ahonen wants to pass the guard but Johansson is keeping the position.
Johansson trying to control the position.
Ahonen wants to control from the top but Johansson keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ahonen!
Johansson landing strikes from the mount and Ahonen is in trouble!
Ahonen tries to hold on but Johansson pushes him away.
Johansson trying to control but Ahonen is having none of it.
Ahonen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Johansson landing shots from mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Johansson lands a big elbow.
Johansson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Johansson lands a nice shot to the head.
Johansson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ahonen is squirming around, avoiding Johansson's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson controlling his opponent.
Ahonen is working to get back to half guard.
Johansson lands a nice shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johansson working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Ahonen is rocked!
Johansson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Oh Ahonen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The referee warns Ahonen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Johansson controlling from mount.
Ahonen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Johansson lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ahonen seems to have got his legs back now.
Johansson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ahonen is not content to let Johansson control the position.
Ahonen is controlling Johansson's trapped leg to prevent Johansson from advancing to side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Johansson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ahonen wants to improve his position but Johansson is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Johansson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ahonen's waist but Ahonen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johansson off to one side.
Ahonen moves in looking to clinch but Johansson pushes him off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ahonen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Johansson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ahonen being controlled here, momentarily.
Ahonen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasmus Johansson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rasmus Johansson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ahonen tries to bum rush Johansson with a series of wild strikes but Johansson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ahonen tries for a takedown but Johansson circles away easily

and Johansson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Johansson prevents Ahonen from breaking the clinch.
Ahonen can't break the clinch.
Ahonen is trying to break free.

Johansson jumps guard and drags Ahonen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ahonen passes into half guard.
Johansson wants to control but Ahonen is keeping busy.
Ahonen seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Johansson manages to get to full guard.
Johansson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Ahonen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Johansson dives on top into guard.
Johansson passes Ahonen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Johansson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Johansson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahonen is trying to stand up here but Johansson is controlling him well.
Ahonen trying to control but Johansson postures up.
Ahonen pushes Johansson off looking to stand but Johansson dives back in and keeps control.
Ahonen wants to stand back up but Johansson manages to pass into side control.
Ahonen is looking to regain half guard here but Johansson keeps moving and retains side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johansson.

Ahonen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Johansson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Johansson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Johansson is looking to improve his position.
Johansson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ahonen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ahonen's back!
Johansson is hanging on to Ahonen's back as he tries to escape.

Ahonen is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Johansson is looking to control Ahonen but Ahonen is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Ahonen breaks Johansson's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Johansson looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson is trying to hold Ahonen in close to prevent damage but Ahonen has managed to pass into half guard.
Ahonen is looking to stall here but Johansson recovers full guard.
Johansson lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Johansson has control of Ahonen's left arm, preventing Ahonen from doing any damage.
Johansson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ahonen's guard.
Johansson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Johansson advances to half guard.
Johansson works his way into full mount!
Johansson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Johansson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ahonen's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ahonen is looking to escape.
Ahonen is desperately trying to improve his position but Johansson has a good base and remains in mount.
Johansson lands a nice shot to the head.
Ahonen is trying desperately to improve position.

Johansson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ahonen tries to hold on but Johansson pushes him away.
Rasmus Johansson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ahonen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ahonen regains half guard.
Ahonen regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ahonen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johansson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johansson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasmus Johansson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rasmus Johansson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ahonen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Johansson taking a bit of punishment here - Ahonen scoring with strikes.

Ahonen tries for a kimura but Johansson is defending well.

Ahonen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johansson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ahonen wants to control but Johansson is keeping him busy.
Ahonen working the head and body with strikes.
Ahonen advances to mount.
Ahonen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Johansson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ahonen cracks Johansson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ahonen moves to back control.
Ahonen struggling to keep hold of the position.

Johansson showing good submission defense here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ahonen is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Johansson is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Ahonen tries to keep control of the position but Johansson is staying busy.
Ahonen doesn't have the hooks in and Johansson manages to turn into his guard.
Johansson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ahonen's head.
Ahonen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johansson controlling from the top position.
Ahonen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Johansson works over Ahonen with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen trying to control the position.

Ahonen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Johansson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Ahonen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Johansson's back instead.
Johansson turns into Ahonen and is now in his guard.
Ahonen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ahonen wants to get back to his feet but Johansson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ahonen can't keep his opponent in guard - Johansson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ahonen wants to get back to full guard.
Johansson sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Johansson is looking for a kimura but Ahonen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Johansson to get the leverage.
Johansson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ahonen keeps working.
Ahonen wants to control but Johansson is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Johansson lands with a punch from half guard.
Johansson winds up and cracks Ahonen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Johansson is looking to advance position but Ahonen won't allow it.
Johansson lands strikes from half guard.

Ahonen is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Johansson pulls his head out easily.
Johansson passes to full mount!
A nice elbow there by Johansson.
Johansson with the ground and pound from mount.
Ahonen tries to hold on but Johansson pushes him away.
Ahonen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ahonen regains half guard.
Ahonen wants to control but Johansson is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen is trying to get back to full guard.
Johansson stalling away here and it's allowed Ahonen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Ahonen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Petteri Ahonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ahonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ahonen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Johansson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johansson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ahonen doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ahonen throws a series of punches but Johansson avoids them all with ease.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johansson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in 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. Johansson connects with a nice short shot to Ahonen's temple.
Ahonen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Ahonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rasmus Johansson.
I've got Johansson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rasmus Johansson!