PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elias Nielsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by lunatic fringe. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Johnson
vs
Nielsen

185 cm
26
210 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

190 cm
20
217 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Elias Nielsen!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson scores with a takedown into Nielsen's guard.
Nielsen is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Nielsen pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.
Nielsen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Elias Nielsen.

Johnson scores with a takedown into Nielsen's guard.
Nielsen is pulling down on Johnson's head to control his posture.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
Nielsen 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.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson wants to control from the top but Nielsen keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen trying to control the position.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Nielsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nielsen has control of Johnson's left arm, preventing Johnson from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nielsen quickly recovers to half guard.
Johnson wants to free his trapped foot but Nielsen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nielsen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nielsen is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nielsen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nielsen keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nielsen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nielsen is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Nielsen wants to sweep but no luck.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson trying to control but Nielsen is working from the bottom.
Nielsen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Johnson.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nielsen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Johnson off and has taken his back!

Nielsen is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Nielsen throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Johnson!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Johnson doesn't escape.
Johnson turns into Nielsen and is now in his guard.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Nielsen is keeping the position.
Nielsen has Johnson pulled in close to control his posture.
Nielsen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Nielsen isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson can't keep his opponent in guard - Nielsen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nielsen drops an elbow to the side of Johnson's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nielsen controlling the action here.
Johnson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Nielsen is very close to passing his half guard.
Nielsen slips a nice elbow through Johnson's hands, connecting with Johnson's forehead.
Nielsen controlling the action here.
Nielsen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nielsen connects with a nice short shot to Johnson's temple.
Nielsen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Nielsen dominated that round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nielsen is adopting a defensive guard.
Johnson trying to control but Nielsen is working from the bottom.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Nielsen is keeping the position.

Nielsen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johnson postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nielsen is on top in guard.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nielsen wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

Nielsen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Nielsen shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Michael Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Nielsen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Nielsen is looking to reverse the position.
Johnson trying to control the action but Nielsen is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson wants to control for a moment but Nielsen uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Nielsen is trying to get back to full guard.

Nielsen looking for subs from the bottom but Johnson mounts him!
Elias Nielsen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nielsen is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Nielsen is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.
Nielsen is looking to improve his position but Johnson isn't that keen on the idea.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Johnson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Nielsen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Nielsen tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
Johnson working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson cracks Nielsen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Johnson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Johnson wants to control but instead Nielsen manages to regain half guard.
Johnson works his way into full mount!
Nielsen is looking to get to half guard.
Nielsen tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nielsen's face.
Nielsen is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nielsen wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Nielsen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johnson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Nielsen is desperately trying to improve his position but Johnson has a good base and remains in mount.
Johnson with a couple of short strikes.
Nielsen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Nielsen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Johnson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Nielsen is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Johnson dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Nielsen gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Nielsen looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nielsen looking to control.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Nielsen.

Nielsen is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Nielsen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.
Nielsen sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Nielsen pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nielsen!
Nielsen bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Nielsen prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Nielsen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nielsen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nielsen advances to half guard.
Nielsen slows the pace down in half guard.
Nielsen trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nielsen is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.
Nielsen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson wants to control but Nielsen is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Michael Johnson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nielsen shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nielsen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Johnson looking to score a takedown here. Nielsen is defending well but Johnson drives through and ends up in Nielsen's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen has control of Johnson's left arm, preventing Johnson from doing any damage.
Nielsen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nielsen pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nielsen trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Nielsen is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson is not content to let Nielsen control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Johnson trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Elias Nielsen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nielsen circles away from the clinch attempt.

Nielsen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nielsen prevents Johnson from improving his position.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nielsen pulls his head out easily.
Nielsen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nielsen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Nielsen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nielsen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elias Nielsen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nielsen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Elias Nielsen!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Elias Nielsen!

Elias Nielsen wins by majority decision!
Our winner, Elias Nielsen, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.