PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Victor Soares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dwayne Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Soares
vs
Johnson

188 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
147 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Soares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dwayne Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson clinches.
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Soares has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnson down to the mat. Johnson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Soares misses with a takedown attempt

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Johnson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Soares is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Soares is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Soares trying to control but Johnson postures up.
Johnson works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Soares really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Johnson controlling the pace for now.
Johnson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Johnson looking to finish Soares with some ground and pound. This is bad for Soares!
Soares really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Soares wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson working Soares over with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Johnson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Johnson looking to finish Soares with some ground and pound. This is bad for Soares!
Johnson landing shots from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.
Soares tries to reverse the position but Johnson maintains control.
Johnson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for a guillotine from mount but Soares is having none of it.
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Johnson cracks Soares with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Johnson controlling from the full mount.
Soares really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Soares takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to control and managing it successfully.

Soares defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Johnson.
Johnson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Johnson controlling from the full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson working for a guillotine from mount but Soares is in no mood to give up.
Soares has given up his back here. Will Johnson look for the submission or keep pounding away?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Johnson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Soares keeps working.

Johnson decides to stand back up.
Soares falls off balance throwing a combination

so Johnson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Johnson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Soares wants to hit a switch here but Johnson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Soares there!
Dwayne Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Soares wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson landing shots from mount.
Johnson is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson controlling his opponent.
Soares bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Soares works over Johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Soares tries to pass.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson working a defensive guard but Soares passes into half guard.
Johnson works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soares trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson has his hands on Soares's head, controlling the position.
Soares trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Soares!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is landing with some decent strikes but Soares is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Johnson is landing with some decent strikes but Soares is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Johnson has hold of Soares's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Soares manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Soares keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johnson controlling from mount.
Johnson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Soares to take his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controlling the position well here. Soares rolled but Johnson kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Johnson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Johnson tightening his grip on Soares, looking for the choke.
Johnson controls the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson is hanging on to Soares's back as he tries to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Soares looks to clinch

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Soares!

Johnson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Soares can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Johnson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Soares has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Soares is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Johnson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Soares tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Johnson get's back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson has managed to clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Johnson wants the takedown. Soares is fighting it off but Johnson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Soares's guard against the cage.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Soares looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Soares wants to improve his position but instead Johnson has moved into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Johnson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Johnson controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Soares is trying to escape the mount.
BOOM! Johnson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Soares is in all sorts of trouble here.
Johnson working Soares over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Soares wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Johnson is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Soares defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Johnson is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Soares up.
Soares is in bad spot here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson is punishing Soares with some ground and pound.

Johnson is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Victor Soares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dwayne Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson scores with punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwayne Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 25:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 25:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 25:30

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