PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tero Sankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sankari has chosen Finlandia - Hymn as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Daniel Johansson has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Daniel Johansson seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Johansson
vs
Sankari

195 cm
30
269 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

200 cm
23
240 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Daniel Johansson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Tero Sankari!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sankari throws a sloppy head kick

and Johansson counters by moving into the clinch.
Johansson jumps guard but Sankari stands there with Johansson around his waist. Johansson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Johansson is trying to push Sankari away but Sankari has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sankari trying to land knees to the body.
Sankari misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Johansson.
Johansson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sankari walks away with a smile on his face. Johansson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A head kick misses from Sankari.
Sankari scores with a head kick.
Tero Sankari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sankari cracks the inside of Johansson's front leg.
Sankari tries to land a front kick but Johansson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sankari scores with a spinning back kick!
Sankari throws a right hand that Johansson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johansson also avoids with ease.
Johansson blocks a head kick by Sankari.
Sankari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses.
Johansson blocks a head kick by Sankari.

Johansson feints and as Sankari raises his hands in defense, Johansson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sankari is trying to keep Johansson in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johansson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sankari is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Johansson, into his guard.
Johansson keeping moving, preventing Sankari from controlling successfully.
Johansson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sankari is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johansson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sankari controlling from the top position.
Johansson keeping full guard, as Sankari tries to pass.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Tero Sankari has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sankari moves into range and connects with a jab.

Sankari has Johansson up against the cage in a clinch.
Johansson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sankari just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Johansson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johansson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Johansson pulls Sankari into guard.
Sankari is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johansson looking for a guillotine here but Sankari defends easily.

Johansson looking for a guillotine here but Sankari defends easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sankari trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sankari sitting in guard here, content to control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tero Sankari hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sankari throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johansson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johansson avoids the head kick by Sankari.
Sankari misses with a head kick.
A head kick by Sankari misses

and Johansson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sankari's guard.
Johansson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Johansson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sankari's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Daniel Johansson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johansson throws a right hand that misses
and Sankari counters with a good low kick that Johansson was not able to check.
Sankari throws a head kick but Johansson moves out of range.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Sankari closes the distance and clinches.
Sankari landing knees to the head.
Johansson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sankari landing knees to the head.
Johansson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sankari just stands there and leans against the cage.

Sankari manages to break the clinch.
Sankari moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Sankari.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses

and Johansson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Johansson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sankari is keeping the position for now.
Johansson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson throwing strikes but missing.
Johansson advances to half guard.
Johansson trying to control the action but Sankari is working from the bottom.
Johansson trying to pass the guard but Sankari defending well.
Sankari works his way to full guard. Good work.
Johansson is pushing down on Sankari's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sankari is fighting to maintain full guard but Johansson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Johansson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Johansson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sankari doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Johansson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sankari tries to get to full guard but Johansson has control of the leg.
Sankari wants to control but Johansson is keeping busy.
Johansson thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sankari to regain full guard.
Johansson slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johansson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sankari makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sankari.
Johansson tries to free his leg and advance position but Sankari is retaining full guard.
Sankari is pulling down on Johansson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johansson, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sankari looking to control.
Johansson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johansson tries to free his leg and advance position but Sankari is retaining full guard.
Johansson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johansson wants to control from the top but Sankari keeps moving.
Sankari is trying to keep Johansson in close.
Johansson trying to control but Sankari is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Daniel Johansson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Johansson looks to land a combination but Sankari avoids it well.
Johansson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sankari moves away.
Sankari scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sankari will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sankari plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sankari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tero Sankari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses.
Sankari goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sankari goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sankari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johansson avoids the head kick by Sankari.
Sankari throws a lazy head kick

and Johansson counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johansson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sankari is looking to regain half guard here but Johansson keeps moving and retains side control.
Sankari manages to work his way to half guard, despite Johansson's best efforts.

Johansson is looking for a kimura but Sankari is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Johansson to get the leverage.
Johansson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sankari tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Johansson has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Johansson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Sankari has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Sankari!
Tero Sankari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johansson looking for a guillotine here but Sankari defends easily.

Johansson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Johansson is trying to keep Sankari in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sankari is stalling in the full guard.
Sankari throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johansson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sankari won't allow Johansson to sweep him here.

Johansson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Johansson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sankari escapes and throws Johansson's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sankari looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sankari looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Johansson is avoiding damage well.
Johansson dodges the ground and pound from Sankari.
Sankari throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Johansson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Daniel Johansson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johansson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Daniel Johansson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johansson, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Daniel Johansson!