PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dwayne Johnson (ranked 6003 p4p, 11144 weight class) and Sota Sankari (ranked 571 p4p, 600 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Montero. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Sota Sankari enters the cage!

Johnson
vs
Sankari

196 cm
26
260
1 - 2 - 0

195 cm
51
260
14 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dwayne Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sota Sankari!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Sankari sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sankari fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sankari moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Johnson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sankari.
Sankari changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Sankari manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sankari misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Sankari sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sankari throws a sloppy head kick

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Johnson pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sankari controlling from the top position.
Sankari wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sankari slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sankari throws a big elbow that misses.
Sankari not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Johnson controlling Sankari's posture.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sankari wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sankari.
Dwayne Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sota Sankari.
Johnson goes for a double leg but Sankari avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sankari continues to drive forward.
Sankari changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Johnson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Sankari shoots in.
Sankari looks winded!
Left hook, right uppercut from Johnson.

It looks like Sota Sankari has been cut.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Sankari sprawls well.
Sankari lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sankari sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Johnson escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Sankari sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Sankari shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A jab from Johnson finds it's way through Sankari's defenses.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.

Johnson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Johnson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sankari's guard.

Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Sankari from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sankari is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson stands and throws Sankari's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sota Sankari's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson rushes Sankari and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sankari.
Johnson lands a shot to the body.

Sankari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sankari changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Sankari manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sankari fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sankari avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Sankari is breathing heavily.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sankari, pushing him back against the cage.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Sankari is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Sankari checks a leg kick.
Sankari lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Johnson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Sankari has wrist control.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Sankari has wrist control.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Johnson gets to his feet - Sankari follows without any prompting.
Sankari on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sankari jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Johnson walks away with a smile on his face. Sankari gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dwayne Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sota Sankari.
Sankari stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sankari wants it to stay on the feet.
Dwayne Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sankari as he avoids it easily.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Sankari gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.

Johnson pulls guard successfully.

Johnson pushes Sankari off and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sankari sprawls well. Sankari wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Sankari shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Sankari's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sankari misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sankari pinned against the cage. Sankari gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Sankari moves out of range of the body kick.
Sankari is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Sankari gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sankari smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sankari tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Johnson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Johnson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sankari throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Johnson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sota Sankari's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sankari fails to land the takedown.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sankari can do to turn this around?
No luck for Sankari with that takedown attempt.
Johnson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sankari sprawls and moves away.

Johnson closes the distance and pushes Sankari back into the cage.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Sankari dives in and grabs Johnson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes down on Sankari's head and hops out.
Dwayne Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sota Sankari.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sankari circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sankari fails to land the takedown.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sankari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Johnson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sankari gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sankari avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Johnson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sankari is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson jumps guard and drags Sankari to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sankari missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Johnson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Johnson.

Johnson jumps guard and drags Sankari to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson is pulling down on Sankari's head to control his posture.
Johnson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson pushes Sankari off and gets back to his feet.

Johnson shoots in and bounces Sankari off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Johnson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sota Sankari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sankari looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Johnson sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Dwayne Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwayne Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwayne Johnson!
A very excited looking Dwayne Johnson rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.