PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tuaisiala Mirapthlak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mirapthlak
vs
Johnson

190 cm
25
274 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

197 cm
25
266 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tuaisiala Mirapthlak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mirapthlak misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Mirapthlak is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Some wild striking there from Johnson.

Mirapthlak decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Mirapthlak stands up out of the half guard.
Johnson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Johnson.

It looks like Tuaisiala Mirapthlak has been cut.

Mirapthlak gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mirapthlak is staying tight to Johnson's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Mirapthlak in side control, throwing shots but Johnson defends.
Johnson is not content to let Mirapthlak control the position.

Mirapthlak thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.
Johnson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Mirapthlak is trying to get an arm triangle but Johnson is defending well.
The referee asks Mirapthlak politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Mirapthlak prefers to stall for the moment though.

Mirapthlak is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Mirapthlak has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirapthlak throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.
Johnson jabs Mirapthlak to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Johnson lands with a nice combination. Mirapthlak backs away looking to recover.
Left hook, right uppercut from Johnson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mirapthlak shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mirapthlak's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mirapthlak is breathing heavily.
Mirapthlak thows a body shot but no joy.
Johnson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Mirapthlak misses with an attempted mid kick.
John Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mirapthlak shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Johnson throws out a powerful jab.

Tuaisiala Mirapthlak's cut is getting worse.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Mirapthlak avoids it well.
Johnson lands a nice looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Johnson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Tuaisiala Mirapthlak's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1-2. Johnson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Johnson.
Johnson stalks Mirapthlak and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mirapthlak's face. Mirapthlak staggers backwards, shaken.
Johnson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mirapthlak back to the cage. Johnson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Jeez, Tuaisiala Mirapthlak's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Johnson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mirapthlak takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Mirapthlak forces Johnson back against the cage and clinches.
Mirapthlak keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Johnson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mirapthlak has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirapthlak jumps guard but Johnson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tuaisiala Mirapthlak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mirapthlak jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Johnson walks away with a smile on his face. Mirapthlak gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mirapthlak avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mirapthlak doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Johnson lands a two punch combo.
Jab from Johnson.
Johnson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Johnson throws a one two combo.
Johnson scores with a one two! Mirapthlak had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Mirapthlak waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johnson.
John Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Mirapthlak closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Mirapthlak.

Mirapthlak manages to break the clinch.
Johnson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tuaisiala Mirapthlak's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mirapthlak fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Johnson sprawls well initially but Mirapthlak persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mirapthlak tries to pass the half guard into mount. Johnson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mirapthlak is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard.

Johnson is defending against the submission attempts here by Mirapthlak.

Mirapthlak seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mirapthlak is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johnson defends it well.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard but Mirapthlak has passed into side control.
Tuaisiala Mirapthlak overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson is trying to improve his position.

Mirapthlak wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Johnson, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirapthlak just content to control the position.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Mirapthlak drags him back down.

Mirapthlak decides to stand back up. Mirapthlak steps back and let's Johnson get back to his feet.
Johnson is working the combinations to good effect here.

Mirapthlak shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Mirapthlak avoids the attempt from Johnson to control.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Mirapthlak takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson fending off the submission attempt from Mirapthlak.

Johnson fending off the submission attempt from Mirapthlak.
Johnson is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Mirapthlak off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Mirapthlak is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Johnson is defending well though. Mirapthlak let's go of the attempt for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Mirapthlak working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Johnson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Mirapthlak.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson trying to control the action but Mirapthlak just sinks the hooks in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tuaisiala Mirapthlak dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tuaisiala Mirapthlak's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.

Mirapthlak closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Johnson quickly recovers to half guard.
Mirapthlak is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Mirapthlak is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mirapthlak to get the leverage.

Mirapthlak is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Johnson pushes Mirapthlak off looking to stand but Mirapthlak dives back in and keeps control.

Mirapthlak is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnson is just riding it out for now. Mirapthlak eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mirapthlak is working for a submission of some sort.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

Mirapthlak wants to work for an arm triangle but Johnson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

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.

Mirapthlak stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Johnson to get to his feet.
A left and a right from Johnson both land. Nice combination.
Johnson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Mirapthlak manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Johnson on his heels. He'll look to pass Johnson's guard now, I'm sure.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Mirapthlak controlling him for the moment.
Mirapthlak wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirapthlak postures up.

Johnson is working an open guard so Mirapthlak takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mirapthlak takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Johnson throws a series of strikes that have Mirapthlak backpedaling.
Johnson punishes Mirapthlak's body with a nice straight punch.
John Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Mirapthlak has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mirapthlak throws a leg kick that misses.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mirapthlak circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson throws a right hand that Mirapthlak ducks under and follows up with a left that Mirapthlak also avoids with ease.

Mirapthlak drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mirapthlak seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mirapthlak drops back, looking for a kneebar! Johnson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Johnson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Johnson!
Mirapthlak is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Mirapthlak is trying to improve his position.
Johnson wants to control but Mirapthlak is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mirapthlak tries to improve position but can't.
Johnson has knee on belly and moves into mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tuaisiala Mirapthlak showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mirapthlak has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 for Tuaisiala Mirapthlak!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Tuaisiala Mirapthlak!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for John Johnson!

Tuaisiala Mirapthlak wins by split decision!
Tuaisiala Mirapthlak seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.