PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Vucinic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vucinic comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Destroy Destroy Destroy - To Die Without Honor/The Winged Panther kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ryan Johnson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Johnson
vs
Vucinic

185 cm
27
175 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

186 cm
20
182 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mirko Vucinic!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a right and a left that Vucinic avoids nicely.

Vucinic moves into the clinch.
Vucinic controlling the action here for a moment.
Vucinic can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.

Vucinic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Vucinic counters with a head kick. That will keep Johnson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Vucinic clinches up against the cage.
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 Vucinic walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Vucinic lands a front kick.
Vucinic wants to clinch.
Vucinic misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson closes the distance but Vucinic moves to the side

and Vucinic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vucinic.

Vucinic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vucinic throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Vucinic connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Johnson's hands.
Ryan Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson tries to clinch
and Vucinic counters with a head kick.
Vucinic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Mirko Vucinic has been cut.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vucinic counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Vucinic has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vucinic gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Vucinic is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Johnson is looking to break free of the clinch but Vucinic has double underhooks.
Vucinic landing knees to the body.
Vucinic lands a shot to the body.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Come on Vucinic - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Vucinic scores with a shoulder strike.

Vucinic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice body kick there by Vucinic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vucinic just leaning against Johnson, taking a breather.
Vucinic scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Vucinic is pushing Johnson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Johnson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Still in the clinch, Vucinic scores with a nice short uppercut.
Vucinic putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Johnson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Vucinic avoiding damage.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Vucinic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vucinic lands with a nice combination. Johnson backs away looking to recover.

Vucinic moves into the clinch.

Vucinic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick from Vucinic lands but Johnson takes it in his stride.
Vucinic closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A solid leg kick lands there for Vucinic.
Vucinic scores with a three punch combo!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Vucinic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Vucinic counters with a head kick. That will keep Johnson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Vucinic.

Vucinic gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Vucinic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Vucinic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Vucinic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Vucinic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Vucinic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Vucinic counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Vucinic clinches.

Vucinic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vucinic lands a high kick!

Vucinic takes the fight into the clinch.

Vucinic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson looks to clinch
and Vucinic counters with a nice body kick.

Vucinic gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vucinic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Vucinic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vucinic.
Vucinic misses with a knee to the head.
Come on Vucinic - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Vucinic has the dominant position.

Vucinic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Vucinic closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Vucinic putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Johnson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Vucinic.

Vucinic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Vucinic clinches up against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Vucinic breaks the clinch.
Vucinic lands with a nice combination. Johnson backs away looking to recover.
Vucinic scores with a head kick. Johnson tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Vucinic misses with a few strikes there.

Vucinic closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Vucinic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mirko Vucinic's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vucinic takes the fight into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Johnson tries to circle away but Vucinic has him pinned against the cage.
Johnson is trying to break free.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Vucinic is controlling him.

Vucinic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vucinic lands with a slapping head kick.
Johnson throws a one two combo.
Vucinic lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Vucinic has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Vucinic tries to stall but Johnson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Vucinic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Vucinic has taken the fight to the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vucinic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Johnson.
Still in the clinch, Vucinic scores with a nice short uppercut.
Vucinic keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.

Vucinic manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson gets tackled into the cage by Vucinic. Vucinic maintains the clinch.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Vucinic is controlling him.
Vucinic avoiding damage.

Vucinic manages to break the clinch.
Vucinic thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Johnson if he has to take too many more of those.
Johnson wants to clinch

and Vucinic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Vucinic is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Vucinic.
Vucinic landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Vucinic breaks from the clinch.
Vucinic misses with a series of wild punches.

Vucinic clinches.

Vucinic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vucinic lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vucinic closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mirko Vucinic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
An inside leg kick lands from Vucinic.
Vucinic scores with a leg kick.
Johnson wants to clinch

and Vucinic moves into the clinch.
Vucinic has Johnson pressed against the cage.
Vucinic is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Vucinic content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Vucinic lands a body shot in the clinch.
Vucinic gets through Johnson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Vucinic breaks the clinch.
Vucinic moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Vucinic clinches up against the cage.
Mirko Vucinic seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A body shot lands from Vucinic.

Vucinic manages to break the clinch.
Vucinic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vucinic utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vucinic manages to break the clinch.

Vucinic rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Vucinic.

Vucinic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Vucinic closes the distance and clinches.
Vucinic stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Vucinic has the dominant position.
Vucinic crunches a lovely knee into Johnson's ribcage.

Vucinic breaks from the clinch.
Johnson ducks right into an uppercut from Vucinic.
Johnson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Vucinic lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Vucinic forces Johnson back against the cage and clinches.
A right handed body shot lands from Vucinic.
Vucinic tries to stall but Johnson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Johnson can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vucinic scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Vucinic breaks from the clinch.
Vucinic dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Johnson. That did some damage!

Vucinic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Vucinic taking a breather.

Vucinic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vucinic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Vucinic drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.
Vucinic working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Vucinic dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Vucinic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vucinic throws a nice inside leg kick.
Vucinic displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Vucinic.
Vucinic lands a nice leg kick that just misses Johnson's sensitive parts.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Vucinic clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Vucinic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mirko Vucinic'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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Vucinic bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Johnson throws a combination that misses
and Vucinic counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Vucinic clinches with his opponent.
Vucinic is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Vucinic breaks the clinch.
Vucinic scores with a hook.
Johnson wants to clinch

and Vucinic counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Johnson dodges an elbow strike from Vucinic.
Johnson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Johnson pulls Vucinic into guard.
Johnson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johnson tries to get out of the position.
Vucinic's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Vucinic from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mirko Vucinic.
Johnson darts in trying to clinch
and Vucinic counters with a head kick. That will keep Johnson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Vucinic moves into the clinch successfully.
Johnson will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Johnson is trying to break free.
Johnson wants a takedown.
Vucinic keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Vucinic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vucinic lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Vucinic digs a good body shot into Johnson's ribs.
Vucinic scores with a head kick.

Johnson gets tackled into the cage by Vucinic. Vucinic maintains the clinch.
Vucinic is struggling to control the position.

Vucinic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vucinic feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Johnson's calf.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vucinic. Vucinic obviously looking to wear him down.
Ryan Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Vucinic clinches up against the cage.

Vucinic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Johnson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Johnson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vucinic fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vucinic scores with a leg kick.
Vucinic turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Vucinic gets a clinch.
Vucinic taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Vucinic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Vucinic moves into the clinch.

Vucinic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vucinic moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Vucinic pushes Johnson away with a front kick.

Vucinic takes the fight into the clinch.
Vucinic content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vucinic landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nice body punch from Vucinic - that landed with a thud.
Johnson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Vucinic just leaning against Johnson, taking a breather.
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 Vucinic walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Vucinic connects with a leg kick. Johnson looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Vucinic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johnson tries to circle away but Vucinic has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Vucinic is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Vucinic breaks the clinch.
Johnson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Vucinic throws a combination. Johnson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Vucinic lands with a slapping head kick.

Vucinic rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Vucinic keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vucinic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Vucinic is controlling the position.

Vucinic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vucinic throws a head kick that half lands.

Vucinic forces Johnson back against the cage and clinches.
Johnson being controlled against the cage.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Johnson is trying to break free.

Vucinic breaks from the clinch.
Johnson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Vucinic.
Mirko Vucinic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Vucinic moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.

Vucinic breaks from the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Vucinic closes the distance and clinches.

Vucinic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ryan Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson misses with a double jab
and Vucinic counters with a nice low kick that buckles Johnson's knee momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Vucinic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vucinic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 25:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mirko Vucinic!