PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Johns (ranked 4795 p4p, 5144 weight class) and Jeff Neel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Johns
vs
Neel

170 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
171
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alex Johns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jeff Neel !
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johns sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johns looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Neel fails with an attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Johns.
Neel misses with a low kick as Johns jumps back.
Neel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johns paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johns fails with a takedown attempt.
Neel with the counter takedown but Johns avoids it easily.
Neel misses with a takedown attempt - Johns sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johns looks to score with a jab to the body but Neel is just out of range.
Some wild striking there from Johns.
Neel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johns sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Alex Johns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Neel .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neel lands a right hook to the body.
Neel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johns swivels and escapes.

Johns closes the distance and clinches.
Neel is looking to control Johns's arms but Johns gets an underhook and turns him. Now Neel has his back to the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Neel throws an elbow but misses.
Johns is trying to break the clinch but Neel has him pressed against the cage.
Johns is trying to force a seperation but Neel has the dominant position.
A hook to the body from Johns.
Johns is trying to force a seperation but Neel has the dominant position.
The referee is keeping an eye on Johns - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Neel tries for a takedown but Johns manages to get underhooks.

Johns jumps into guard, dragging Neel to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johns trying to strike off his back.
Neel won't allow Johns to sweep him here.
Johns looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Neel won't allow Johns to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns pulls Neel in close to prevent any damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Johns has his foot on Neel 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Neel works his way back into a safe position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Johns closes the distance and pushes Neel back into the cage.
Neel has Johns pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Johns manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Neel looks winded!

Johns has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Neel uses from the top position.
Neel won't allow Johns to sweep him here.
Johns is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Neel preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johns bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Neel 's guard.

Neel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Neel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johns controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johns pushing down on Neel 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Johns is controlling the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Johns dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Neel moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Johns shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Neel pinned against the cage. Neel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Neel tries to clinch up but Johns circles away and keeps his distance.
Neel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johns swats away the attempt to clinch by Neel .
Neel throws a left and a right that both miss

and Johns counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Johns.
Neel throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neel is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Johns gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Johns drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Neel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Johns is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Neel can do to turn this around?
Neel gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johns.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Johns. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johns pulls guard successfully.
Johns is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Neel decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johns forces Neel back against the cage and clinches.
Johns tries to circle away but Neel has him pinned against the cage.
Johns is trying to break the clinch but Neel is controlling him.

Johns successfully pulls guard.
Johns trying to control the position here.

Johns throws his legs up looking for a submission but Neel uses it to pass to side control.
Neel moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neel working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johns is holding Neel down, trying to stall.
Neel postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Neel tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Neel is breathing heavily.
Neel looking to control but instead Johns has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's four 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.
Neel is pressing down on Johns's thigh, looking to free his foot. Johns is holding on for now.
Johns is pressing down on Neel 's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Johns wriggles free and stands up.
Alex Johns is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Neel dives in for a single leg takedown but Johns sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Johns clinches with his opponent.
Neel gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johns.

Neel breaks from the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Neel wants to clinch up but Johns keeps it at a distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Johns dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Johns forces Neel back against the cage and clinches.

Johns jumps guard.
Neel 's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Johns escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Neel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Neel looking to sit in guard and control but Johns gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johns is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johns drops back looking for a leg! Neel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Neel manages to kick Johns off! Johns jumps back into Neel 's guard.
Neel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johns. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neel working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Johns has passed into half guard!
Neel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johns keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Johns sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Neel defending well though.
Johns is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Johns thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Neel wants to control the action here but instead Johns manages to pass to full mount!

Johns working for a submission but Neel is keeping him at bay.

Johns looking for a guillotine from mount but Neel is having none of it.
Johns tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Johns thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neel is trying to escape the mount.
Johns thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Johns has control of Neel 's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Neel regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Johns looking to control and managing it successfully.
Neel avoids a series of strikes thrown by Johns.

That's four 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.
Johns unloads with some shots from mount but Neel bucks and avoids them well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johns controlling from the full mount.
Neel is trying desperately to improve position.
Johns controlling his opponent.
Johns throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Neel because Johns loaded up on that one.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johns dominating with strikes here.
Jeff Neel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alex Johns is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johns is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Neel can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Johns showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johns 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Johns!