PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matas Kestenis (ranked 4446 p4p, 382 weight class) and Carl Johson (ranked 4791 p4p, 392 weight class). Carl Johson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kestenis
vs
Johson

195 cm
20
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 Las Vegas, Matas Kestenis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carl Johson!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johson connects with a nice looking jab.
Johson lands a jab to the nose.
Johson jabs Kestenis right on the nose. Kestenis blinks but takes it well.
Kestenis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johson but Johson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kestenis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johson lands with a good body shot.

Kestenis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kestenis showed some decent athleticism there.
Johson scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Kestenis manages to mount him!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johson tries to hold on but Kestenis pushes him away.

Kestenis looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kestenis throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kestenis trying to control but Johson is having none of it.
Kestenis throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kestenis looking to ground and pound but Johson is blocking nicely.
Kestenis has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kestenis working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kestenis trying to control but Johson is having none of it.
Kestenis throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Johson because Kestenis loaded up on that one.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kestenis looking to secure an arm triangle but Johson defends it well.
Kestenis avoids the attempt from Johson to control.
Kestenis has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kestenis punching from mount but Johson doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kestenis avoids the attempt from Johson to control.
Johson avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kestenis.
Kestenis looking to ground and pound but Johson is blocking nicely.
Johson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kestenis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kestenis thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Johson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Johson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kestenis tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Johson tries to improve his position but Kestenis has taken his back! Kestenis has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Johson tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Kestenis pushes Johson away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Matas Kestenis!