PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Cash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toni Linhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Linhares has chosen The Prodigy's Spitfire as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cash
vs
Linhares

184 cm
22
182 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johnny Cash!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toni Linhares!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Linhares closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cash to the mat! Cash manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Linhares trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Cash manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Linhares is trying to keep Cash in close.
Cash trying to control but Linhares is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Linhares is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Linhares wants to stand but Cash is controlling the position.
Cash would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cash throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Linhares works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Linhares looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cash passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linhares is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Linhares is trying to control Cash's posture but Cash avoids it.
Linhares tries to improve position but can't.
Cash tries to score with some ground and pound. Linhares controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Cash landing strikes.
Linhares is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Linhares takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Linhares is being controlled here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linhares is trying to get back to half guard.
Cash postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Cash tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cash has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Cash stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Linhares tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cash sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Linhares somewhat.
Linhares shoots in for a takedown but Cash shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cash fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Linhares has taken the fight to the clinch.

Cash manages to break the clinch.

Cash closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Linhares goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cash prevents it.
Johnny Cash has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Linhares.
Cash scores with a shot to the side of Linhares's head.
Linhares is looking to take this one to the mat.
Linhares goes for a takedown attempt but Cash pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Linhares looks gassed!
Cash fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Linhares avoids it really well and circles away.
Linhares getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nice sprawl there from Linhares as Cash shoots in.
Linhares misses with a low kick.
Cash swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linhares looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Linhares closes the distance and clinches.
Linhares is looking to take this one to the mat.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Linhares prevents the takedown attempt.
Linhares takes a knee right on the jaw!
Cash is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Linhares is fighting off a takedown attempt but Cash is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Linhares to the mat. Linhares regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Linhares has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cash can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Linhares looking for a sweep. Not yet Linhares, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Cash dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Linhares misses with a double jab.
Linhares misses with a two punch combination.

Cash closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cash is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Linhares pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cash scores with a shoulder strike.
Cash misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cash is pressed up against the cage. Linhares has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cash down to the mat. Cash avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Good leg kick by Linhares there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cash with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Linhares has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cash finds it's way round the side to connect with Linhares's head.

Linhares dives in and scores a takedown into Cash's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Linhares landing some decent shots from guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cash holds on and takes a little breather.
Linhares is breathing heavily.
Cash can't keep his opponent in guard - Linhares advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cash won't allow Linhares to pass to mount.
Cash is trying to get back to full guard.
Cash is controlling Linhares's trapped leg to prevent Linhares from advancing to side control.
Linhares thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cash's head.
Cash moves into full guard.
Linhares is looking to stand up but Cash won't let him.
Linhares looking to sit in guard and control but Cash gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cash keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Linhares's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linhares is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cash passes into half guard.
Linhares is concentrating on defense, preventing Cash from advancing position.
Cash throwing shots but Linhares is blocking nicely.
Cash trying to pass the guard but Linhares defending well.
Cash missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cash in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linhares pushes Cash off looking to stand but Cash dives back in and keeps control.
Linhares keeping hold of Cash's head, controlling as best he can.

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

Cash has Linhares up against the cage in a clinch.
Linhares is looking for a takedown.
Cash wants a takedown but no success here.
Cash with a knee to the head.
Linhares is looking for a takedown.
Johnny Cash has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Linhares.

Cash breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cash fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cash fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cash fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linhares on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Linhares circles away from the clinch attempt.

Linhares closes the distance and clinches.
Linhares is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cash pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Still in the clinch, Cash scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cash lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cash is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Linhares wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cash keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Linhares's efforts to push away.

Cash has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Linhares clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Linhares is trying to break free.
Linhares covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Cash dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Linhares shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cash eats them both and turns towards Linhares to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Cash throws a series of strikes that have Linhares backpedaling.
Cash is looking to clinch.

Linhares has taken the fight to the clinch.
Linhares blocking some punches.
Cash is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Linhares is looking to take this one to the mat.

Cash breaks from the clinch.
Some bone on bone action there as Cash checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Crunch! Cash slams his shin into Linhares's torso.
Johnny Cash is winning the standup battle so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cash shoots in looking for a takedown but Linhares manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cash's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Linhares moves into the clinch.

Cash gets control of Linhares's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cash will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Johnny Cash overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Linhares takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Cash has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Linhares can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cash seems keen to control Linhares's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cash utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Linhares makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cash pulls Linhares in close to prevent any damage.
Cash has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Linhares looking to sit in guard and control but Cash gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Linhares is looking for a triangle but Cash pushes his legs off easily.
Cash throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linhares keeping moving, preventing Cash from controlling successfully.
Cash throws a big right hand that misses.

Cash gets to his feet - Linhares follows without any prompting.
Toni Linhares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cash looks to land a combination but Linhares avoids it well.
Linhares lands a nice shot to the body.

Linhares shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cash taking shots to the head.
Cash is trying desperately to improve position.

Linhares goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Cash turns into him and now he's in Linhares's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cash trying to control but Linhares is working from the bottom.
Cash stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Linhares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cash is working Linhares over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cash is looking to work some ground and pound but Linhares has wrist control.

Cash gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cash shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Linhares sprawls well. Linhares wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cash gets slowly back to his feet.
Cash is looking to clinch.
Johnny Cash is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Linhares has Cash up against the cage in a clinch.
Linhares is trying to pull guard but Cash has him pressed against the cage.
Johnny Cash has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Linhares.
Cash lands a nice elbow.

Cash breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Linhares swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cash lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cash shoots in looking for a takedown but Linhares manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cash's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Linhares avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Cash closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Toni Linhares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cash throws a strike aimed at the side of Linhares's head but Linhares avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Cash showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cash 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Cash!
Johnny Cash decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.