PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Villa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Villa
vs
Johansson

194 cm
29
246 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

195 cm
30
269 lbs
20 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rafael Villa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Daniel Johansson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johansson misses with an uppercut

and Villa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johansson!
Villa content just to control the position here.
Villa has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Johansson is working to get back to half guard.
Johansson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villa trying to control but Johansson is having none of it.
Villa controlling the pace for now.
Johansson is working to get back to half guard.
Johansson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Villa is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Rafael Villa has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Johansson misses with a combination
and Villa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson swings away with a body shot that misses

and Villa counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Villa trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johansson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Johansson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Villa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Johansson has his foot on Villa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Villa works his way back into a safe position though.
Johansson being controlled here, momentarily.

Johansson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Johansson looking for a guillotine here but Villa defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johansson is keeping the position for now.

Villa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Villa trying to control the position from guard on top but Johansson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Villa is looking to advance position but Johansson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Poor strikes thrown by Johansson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Villa dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Villa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Villa swings away with a body shot that misses

and Johansson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Johansson is keen to just control but Villa is a slippery customer.
Johansson trying to mount his opponent but Villa defends it.
Johansson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johansson unloads with some shots from mount but Villa bucks and avoids them well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johansson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Villa is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Villa and Johansson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Villa can't do much from the bottom here.
Johansson trying to control the position but Villa is working away.
Johansson is trying to move to mount but Villa reverses beautifully and ends up in Johansson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Villa wants to control from the top but Johansson keeps moving.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Villa here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Villa is pushing down on Johansson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Johansson is fighting to maintain full guard but Villa has managed to sneak the leg through.
Villa content to control rather than advance.
Johansson tries to roll over but Villa keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villa sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Johansson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Villa pulls his head out easily.

Villa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Johansson actively working from the bottom here.

That's four 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.
Villa takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Villa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Johansson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Villa trying to pass the guard but Johansson defending well.
Villa prevents Johansson from improving his position.
Villa works his way into side control.

Villa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johansson has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Johansson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johansson misses with a hook to the body
and Villa counters with a leg kick.
Villa swats away the attempt to clinch by Johansson.
Johansson throws a poor cross that misses
and Villa counters with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villa throws a head kick but Johansson moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson wants to clinch
and Villa counters with a good, hard body kick but Johansson shrugs it off.
Johansson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Villa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johansson throws an off balance right hand
and Villa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Johansson thinking.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson avoids the body shot from Villa.
Villa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Villa looks to land a combination but Johansson avoids it well.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Villa lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Johansson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Johansson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Villa is predictable there

and Johansson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Villa won't be happy with that.
Villa wants to control but Johansson postures up.
Villa tries to buck Johansson off but Johansson is having none of it.
Rafael Villa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johansson throws a strike aimed at the side of Villa's head but Villa avoids it well.
Johansson is working Villa over with some ground and pound from side control.
Johansson looking to control but instead Villa has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villa is looking for a sweep. Johansson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Villa keeping hold of Johansson's head, controlling as best he can.
Villa is trying to control but can't.
Johansson wants to pass to mount but Villa is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Villa clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johansson moves to clinch but Villa breaks away
and Villa counters with a left to the body.
Johansson misses the body punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Villa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johansson was well out of range. Poor timing from Villa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Villa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Villa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Johansson shoots and misses
letting Villa counter with a right hand.
Johansson misses with a right hand
and Villa counters with a head kick. That will keep Johansson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson throws a right hand that misses
and Villa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Villa scores with a jab. Johansson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Johansson misses with an uppercut
and Villa counters with a body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Villa lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villa keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Villa uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Johansson has time to react.
Villa connects with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Villa.
Villa swings widly with a right hand
and Johansson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rafael Villa is winning the standup battle so far.
Villa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Johansson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Johansson throws a combination that misses

and Villa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Villa had his way with Daniel Johansson in that round.
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 darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Villa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johansson.
Johansson wants to pass to mount but Villa is defending the position.

Johansson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Johansson is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Villa to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson wants to control from the top but Villa keeps moving.
Johansson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Villa is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Johansson trying to advance position but Villa counters by regaining guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Johansson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johansson wants to control from the top but Villa keeps moving.
Johansson preventing the sweep.
Johansson wants to pass the guard but Villa is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson throwing strikes but missing.
Johansson wants to pass the guard but Villa is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Villa is on top in guard.
Villa looking to sit in guard and control but Johansson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johansson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Villa dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson is trying to control the position but Villa postures up.
Johansson keeping moving, preventing Villa from controlling successfully.
Daniel Johansson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Villa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Johansson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Villa defends it easily.
Johansson is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Villa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Daniel Johansson.
Well Villa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 48:46
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 48:46
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Villa!
Rafael Villa retains his heavyweight title!