PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yuris Margarin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dee Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Margarin kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Epic by Faith No More. Yuris Margarin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Margarin
vs
Johnson

167 cm
23
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

189 cm
23
153 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yuris Margarin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dee Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson stuffs the takedown.

Margarin clinches.
Margarin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Margarin has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Johnson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Johnson covering up well under a series of strikes from Margarin.
Margarin lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Margarin lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Margarin.
Johnson is trapped and Margarin is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Johnson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
Margarin wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margarin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Margarin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Margarin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Margarin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Margarin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Margarin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Margarin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Margarin landing with the ground and pound.

Johnson has his foot on Margarin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Margarin works his way back into a safe position though.
Johnson looks gassed!
Margarin cracks Johnson with a solid left hand.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Margarin from controlling successfully.
Margarin distracts Johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Margarin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Johnson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Johnson has escaped and now he's on top!
Margarin controlling the position.
Margarin is trying to keep Johnson in close.

Margarin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margarin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Margarin is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Margarin won't let him.
Margarin wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuris Margarin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Margarin scores with a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Margarin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Margarin is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Margarin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Margarin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Margarin has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
Margarin is in close to Johnson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Margarin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Margarin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Margarin lands a couple of elbows.
Margarin with a nice head shot there.
Margarin looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Margarin.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Margarin is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuris Margarin dominated that 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.

Margarin clinches with his opponent.
Johnson tries to break free but Margarin pushes him back against the cage.
Margarin can't get the takedown.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Margarin has him pressed against the cage.

Margarin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Margarin is proving hard to escape from.

Johnson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Margarin is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Johnson, into his guard.
Margarin working some strikes from top position.
Margarin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Margarin postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Margarin sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Johnson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Margarin is in close to Johnson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Margarin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Margarin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Margarin trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Margarin postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson's brow.
Margarin is in close to Johnson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Margarin connects with a couple of short punches.
Margarin lands a couple of elbows.
Margarin is in close to Johnson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Margarin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Margarin trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Margarin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margarin pushing down on Johnson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Margarin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Margarin lands strikes from half guard.
Margarin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Margarin wants to work for an arm triangle but Johnson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Margarin working over Johnson with some ground and pound. Johnson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yuris Margarin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Margarin is nestled in close to Johnson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Margarin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Johnson taking some punishment here, with Margarin in his half guard.
Johnson taking some punishment here, with Margarin in his half guard.
Margarin working the head and body with strikes.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Nice strikes from Margarin there.
Margarin lands strikes from half guard.
Ground and pound from Margarin.
Margarin passes the guard and advances to mount!
Margarin lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuris Margarin dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Margarin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Margarin wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Margarin wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Margarin distracts Johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Margarin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Margarin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johnson's head.
Margarin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Margarin with a nice head shot there.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margarin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Margarin scoring with punches to the head and body.
Margarin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Margarin lands a couple of elbows.
Margarin postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson's brow.
Margarin stands and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Margarin cracks Johnson with a big right hand but Johnson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Margarin scoring with punches and elbows.
Johnson pushes Margarin away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Margarin gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Margarin scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Margarin lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Johnson down.
Margarin working the ground and pound.
Margarin working the body and head with strikes.
Johnson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Margarin lands a few punches from side control.
Margarin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Margarin working the head and body with strikes.
Margarin trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
Margarin working the ground and pound from side control.
Johnson is pushing Margarin's head away, looking to escape. Margarin manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson taking a bit of punishment here - Margarin scoring with strikes.
Johnson tries to escape but Margarin is in control.
Margarin lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Margarin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Johnson to see if he's OK.
Margarin cracks Johnson with a big right hand but Johnson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Margarin working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Johnson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Margarin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Margarin tries to advance to mount but Johnson denies him.
Johnson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Dee Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Johnson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Margarin working Johnson over with strikes.
Margarin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Yuris Margarin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Margarin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Johnson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuris Margarin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Margarin, 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 Paul Aken scores the fight for Yuris Margarin!
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight for Yuris Margarin!
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for Yuris Margarin!

Yuris Margarin wins by unanimous decision!