PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rick Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piotr Johanssen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hart
vs
Johanssen

178 cm
18
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
181 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rick Hart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Piotr Johanssen!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hart fails with a takedown attempt.
Hart shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johanssen but Johanssen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hart misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Hart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johanssen tries to clinch up but Hart circles away and keeps his distance.
Hart fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hart keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice sprawl there from Johanssen as Hart shoots in.

Hart closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johanssen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Johanssen is looking to escape.
Johanssen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Johanssen wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johanssen has one foot on Hart's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Hart is breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown by Johanssen or perhaps it was just good defense by Hart which made him look bad.
Johanssen tries for a takedown but Hart sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Johanssen has managed to clinch.
Johanssen jumps guard but Hart stands there with Johanssen around his waist. Johanssen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Hart is trying to trip Johanssen. He has hold of a leg but Johanssen is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hart persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johanssen wants to sweep but no luck.
Hart won't allow Johanssen to get back to his feet.
Johanssen keeping moving, preventing Hart from controlling successfully.
Hart controlling from the top position.
Hart pushing down on Johanssen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hart is trying to control the action in half guard but Johanssen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johanssen wants to get back to full guard.
Hart trying to control the action but Johanssen is working from the bottom.

Hart is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Johanssen has managed to free his arm - good work.

Hart is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

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.
Hart is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Johanssen!

Hart get's back to his feet.

Hart closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hart lands in his opponent's guard.
Johanssen working a defensive guard here.
Hart slips nicely into half guard.

Hart seems to be looking for submissions.

Hart is working for a submission of some sort.
Johanssen moves into full guard.
Johanssen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hart is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johanssen throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Hart trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hart landing with the ground and pound.
Hart wants to stand but Johanssen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Johanssen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hart looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hart pushing down on Johanssen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hart seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hart sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Hart is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hart stops Johanssen from getting back to his feet.
Hart is tying to control. Johanssen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Hart is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Hart decides to stand up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johanssen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hart counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johanssen!

Hart is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Johanssen is surviving well by controlling Hart's body position as best he can.
Johanssen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Hart 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.

Johanssen tries to clinch but Hart moves away

and Hart decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johanssen's guard.
Hart working some strikes from top position.
Hart postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hart trying to move into half guard but instead Johanssen has managed to sweep!
Hart wants to sweep here but Johanssen controlling him for the moment.
Johanssen is looking to work some ground and pound but Hart has wrist control.
Johanssen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hart is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johanssen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hart's guard.

Johanssen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johanssen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johanssen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hart is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johanssen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hart fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johanssen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Johanssen darts in and clinches Hart up against the cage.
Johanssen lands an uppercut.
Johanssen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hart fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Johanssen fails with a takedown attempt.
Rick Hart has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piotr Johanssen.
Hart shoots in but no luck this time.
Hart misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Piotr Johanssen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Johanssen has closed the distance and engaged Hart in a clinch.

Hart pulls Johanssen into guard.
Hart lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johanssen!
Hart moves to the back.
Johanssen looking very determined here, making life difficult for Hart.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hart has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Johanssen has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Hart sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Johanssen taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rick Hart!