PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Niklas Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wandy Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johansson
vs
Rua

178 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

178 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Niklas Johansson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wandy Rua!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johansson shoots in and bounces Rua off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rua is trying to control the position but Johansson postures up.

Rua working for a triangle but Johansson defends it easily.

Rua throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rua trying to control the position.
Johansson wanted to stand there but Rua had control of the position.

Johansson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Rua misses with a takedown

and Johansson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson landing with the ground and pound.
Rua managing to control the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Johansson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rua's guard.
Johansson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Johansson gets to his feet. Rua looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Johansson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A head kick by Rua misses

and Johansson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Johansson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johansson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johansson wants to get back to his feet.
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Johansson is very close to passing his half guard.
Rua looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Johansson there.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Johansson is looking to stall here but Rua recovers full guard.
Rua doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Johansson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rua is proving hard to escape from.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rua with a poor takedown

and Johansson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
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!
Johansson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rua will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Johansson wants to stand but Rua has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johansson trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson wants to stand but Rua has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rua wants to sweep here but Johansson controlling him for the moment.

Rua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johansson wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Johansson has taken the fight to the clinch.

Johansson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Johansson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rua fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Niklas Johansson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wandy Rua.

Johansson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rua throws a right hand that Johansson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johansson also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Johansson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rua really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
BOOM! Johansson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Johansson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rua is squirming around, avoiding Johansson's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua is looking to get to half guard.
Johansson lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Johansson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rua walks into a jab.

Johansson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rua taking punishment in the form of punches.

Johansson stands up and beckons Rua to his feet.
A combination from Johansson does no damage.
Johansson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johansson misses with a series of wild punches.
Rua throws out a leg kick but Johansson moves out of range and Rua only half commits.
Niklas Johansson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Johansson clinches with his opponent.
Rua tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johansson smiles and moves away.
Johansson tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Johansson fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Rua misses.
Some wild striking there from Johansson.
Rua slips a jab and a cross from Johansson.
Rua misses with a hook. Johansson ducked under it nicely.
Rua gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johansson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rua trying to control here.
Johansson working the head and body with strikes.
Rua wants to improve his position but Johansson is controlling well.
Johansson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Johansson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Johansson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rua with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Johansson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johansson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Johansson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rua's head.
Johansson thows a big elbow that misses.

Johansson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rua, up you get!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johansson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Johansson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wandy Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua with a poor takedown

and Johansson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Niklas Johansson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wandy Rua.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.
Rua wants to sweep but Johansson has passed to side control!

Johansson stands up and beckons Rua to his feet.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Johansson moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johansson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Johansson decides to stand and escape the position.
Rua takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rua tries for a takedown but Johansson circles away easily
and Johansson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rua's knee momentarily.
Good standup being displayed there by Johansson as he connects with a hook.
Johansson with a nice cross.
Johansson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Johansson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rua's guard.

Johansson gets to his feet - Rua follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johansson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johansson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rua tries to roll over but Johansson keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johansson is working away from the top position though.
Rua is looking for a sweep. Johansson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Johansson stands up from half guard.
Johansson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Johansson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Johansson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A left and a right from Johansson both land. Nice combination.
Johansson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rua with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johansson counters with a two punch combo.

Rua is rocked!
Johansson throws a right hand that Rua ducks under and follows up with a left that Rua also avoids with ease.
Rua is still on wobbly legs! Can Johansson finish him?
Johansson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rua seems to have recovered his senses.
Rua looks to land a body kick but Johansson moved away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johansson.
Johansson lands some shots froms side control.
Johansson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Johansson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rua to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rua feints and as Johansson raises his hands in defense, Rua changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johansson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rua can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua pushes down on Johansson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Johansson is pressing down on Rua's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Johansson keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

Johansson pushes Rua off and scrambles back to his feet.

Johansson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rua!
Rua wants to control but Johansson is having none of it.
Johansson trying to control but Rua is having none of it.
Rua is desperately trying to improve his position but Johansson has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Johansson controlling the position easily from mount.
Rua is looking to improve his position but Johansson isn't that keen on the idea.
Johansson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rua is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johansson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Johansson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rua is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rua throwing hammer fists to the chest of Johansson. What's that going to do exactly?
Johansson with a couple of short strikes.
Rua is squirming around, avoiding Johansson's attempts to control the action.
Johansson content just to control the position here.
Johansson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rua hang on?
Johansson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Johansson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rua's face.
Rua tries to hold on but Johansson pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johansson wants to control the pace but Rua is squirming around nicely.
Johansson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Johansson landing shots from mount.
Rua working to try and regain half guard.
Niklas Johansson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johansson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rua is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johansson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

And that's the end of the fight!
Niklas Johansson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johansson 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niklas Johansson!