PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Demian Mayo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Mayo
vs
Johnson

176 cm
23
170 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Mayo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mayo but Mayo pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Mayo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johnson's guard.
Mayo trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

Mayo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mayo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Johnson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Mayo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mayo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Johnson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Mayo tries to pass.
Johnson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Mayo closes the distance and clinches.
Mayo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mayo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Mayo keeps moving.

Mayo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mayo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mayo keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson trying to control but Mayo is working from the bottom.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Mayo wants to sweep but no luck.
Mayo controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mayo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slips nicely into half guard.
Mayo is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Mayo is defending well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mayo wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson trying to control from half guard but Mayo is working away.
Mayo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mayo.
Johnson looks gassed!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mayo is on top in guard.
Mayo passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Mayo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Johnson, who protects the arm well.
Mayo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayo tries to advance to mount but Johnson denies him.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mayo tries to move to mount but Johnson blocks the move with his legs.
Mayo is working hard here to advance position.

Mayo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.
Johnson tries to bench press Mayo off him but Mayo keeps the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayo trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.

Johnson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Johnson is working for a kimura but Mayo is defending it quite comfortably.
Mayo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mayo.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mayo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Mayo 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.

Johnson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mayo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johnson!
Mayo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Johnson is desperately trying to improve his position but Mayo has a good base and remains in mount.

Mayo is working for a guillotine from mount but Johnson frees his head quite easily.
Mayo takes Johnson's back.

Mayo patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Johnson tries to escape the position.

Johnson is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mayo is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Johnson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Johnson for a finish.

Mayo is looking for the choke from the back position but Johnson is controlling his hands well.
Johnson can't escape the position.
Johnson is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Mayo off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Johnson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Mayo is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Johnson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mayo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Johnson punching from the bottom.
Mayo trying to pass the guard but Johnson defending well.
Demian Mayo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mayo passes Johnson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Mayo has control of the leg.
Mayo works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Mayo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Mayo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Johnson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mayo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Johnson is trying to control Mayo's posture but Mayo avoids it.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mayo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Johnson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Mayo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Mayo works to advance to full mount. Johnson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.

Mayo working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Johnson turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Mayo off and cradles Johnson's limp body as Mayo celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Demian Mayo!
Demian Mayo retains his welterweight title!