PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pyotr Petrov (ranked 2531 p4p, 300 weight class) and Mike Johnson (ranked 3065 p4p, 358 weight class). The key to victory for Pyotr Petrov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Petrov
vs
Johnson

185 cm
19
174 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

179 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Knockdown Clothes

Urban Fighter
Knockdown Clothes

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pyotr Petrov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Damien Edna and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petrov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Petrov keeps it at a distance.
Johnson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Petrov counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Petrov.
Mike Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petrov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Johnson has managed to clinch.
Petrov tries to stall but Johnson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Petrov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short body shot lands from Petrov as the two fighters clinch.
Petrov scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Petrov scores with a shoulder strike.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Petrov won't allow it.

Johnson has Petrov pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Johnson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Petrov tumbling to the mat - Johnson dives into Petrov's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Petrov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Petrov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson connects with a couple of short punches.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Petrov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petrov wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Petrov blocks nicely.
Petrov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Petrov tries to get out of the position.
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Petrov's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Johnson is in close to Petrov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Johnson postures up in Petrov's guard and throws a big left but Petrov blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Petrov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson pushes down on Petrov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Johnson moves nicely into side control.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Johnson lands a decent elbow from side control.
You can see the frustration on Petrov's face as Johnson controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov dodges the ground and pound from Johnson.
Johnson trying to control the position but Petrov is working away.
Johnson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Petrov is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Johnson has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Johnson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Johnson punching from mount but Petrov doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Petrov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Johnson.
Petrov is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.
Petrov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Johnson lands a big shot there that rocks Petrov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson punching from mount but Petrov doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Johnson looking for a guillotine from mount but Petrov is having none of it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson has hold of Petrov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Petrov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Johnson dominated that 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.

Johnson throws a right and a left that Petrov avoids nicely.
It looked like Petrov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Johnson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnson throws a body kick that misses
and Petrov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Petrov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Johnsons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Petrov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Petrov tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And Johnson tries to counter it with a takedown but Petrov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Petrov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Petrov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Jab by Petrov.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Petrov avoids them all with ease.
Petrov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Petrov lands a jab to Johnson's midsection.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Petrov to counter with a crisp jab.
Petrov connects with a looping right hand.
Johnson darts in trying to clinch
and Petrov counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov scores with a nice strike.
Pyotr Petrov is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson misses with a hook.
Petrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Petrov ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.

Johnson dives in and scores a takedown into Petrov's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Petrov keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Petrov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Johnson controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Johnson postures up in Petrov's guard and throws a big left but Petrov blocks it.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Johnson working his ground and pound in the gym.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson working some strikes from top position.

Johnson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Johnson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Johnson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Petrov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson postures up in Petrov's guard and throws a big left but Petrov blocks it.
Johnson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson passes Petrov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Petrov is looking to escape.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Johnson lands a nice short elbow.

Petrov is defending against the submission attempts here by Johnson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pyotr Petrov will probably get the nod.
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.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Petrov but Petrov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Petrov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Johnson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Johnson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Petrov connects with a looping right hand.
Some wild striking there from Petrov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Johnson tries to clinch but Petrov is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
A quick step to the side and Petrov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Petrov swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Johnson tries to clinch up.

Johnson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Petrov did well to prevent Johnson getting side control.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Petrov defends it.
Johnson is taking a breather. Petrov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Johnson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Johnson controlling his opponent.
Johnson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Petrov because Johnson loaded up on that one.

Johnson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Petrov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Petrov is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson unloading with bombs!
Johnson dominating with strikes here.
Johnson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Johnson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Johnson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Petrov because Johnson loaded up on that one.
Petrov is bucking up trying to escape but Johnson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Petrov is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Johnson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov is desperately trying to improve his position but Johnson has a good base and remains in mount.
Johnson landing punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson content just to control the position here.
Johnson landing punches.
Petrov is desperately trying to improve his position but Johnson has a good base and remains in mount.
Johnson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Johnson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Petrov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Petrov wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Johnson really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson tries to clinch
and Petrov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Petrov stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Petrov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Petrov circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson misses with a takedown
and Petrov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Johnson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Petrov's half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson is thwarting Petrov's attempts to control the position.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throwing shots but Petrov is blocking nicely.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson lands with a punch from half guard.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Petrov wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Petrov taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
Johnson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Petrov is trying to control but can't.

Johnson in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Petrov tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Johnson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mike Johnson!
Mike Johnson is the new welterweight champion!