PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sven Johansson (ranked 3283 p4p, 4085 weight class) and Eric Fassett (ranked 179 p4p, 208 weight class). Eric Fassett told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Johansson
vs
Fassett

182 cm
20
140
1 - 1 - 0

156 cm
20
139
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL Hoodie!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sven Johansson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Eric Fassett!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fassett lands with a shot to the body.
Fassett shoots for a double leg takedown but Johansson sprawls well. He's pushed Fassett's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Fassett's coach down at Triumph Over Fear was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Fassett's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Fassett throws a big shot that misses.
Johansson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johansson is looking to counter punch.
Fassett loads up on a big right hand but Johansson slips the punch.
Fassett throws a body shot but no joy.
Johansson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johansson moves away from the strike by Fassett.
Johansson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Fassett sizes up Johansson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johansson defending well as Fassett loads up on a big left hand.
Johansson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Fassett misses the jab.
It looked like Johansson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Fassett.
Johansson throws a shot to the body.
Johansson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson takes one on the button.
Fassett loads up on a big right hand but Johansson slips the punch.
Fassett misses with a takedown
and Johansson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fassett uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johansson.
Fassett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johansson.
An attempted straight right counter from Johansson misses the target.

Fassett shoots in and gets a takedown into Johansson's guard.
Fassett missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fassett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johansson is keeping the position for now.
Johansson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fassett is one step ahead there.
Johansson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fassett is one step ahead there.
Johansson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fassett is controlling him.
Johansson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johansson is on top in guard.

Fassett trying to control the position.
Fassett looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johansson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fassett is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Johansson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Fassett swings for the body but Johansson moves out of range.
Johansson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fassett.
A big right from Fassett misses.
Fassett misses with a jab to the body
and Johansson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fighters circling - Johansson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fassett will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sven Johansson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Fassett.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Johansson, as that shot connected.
Eric Fassett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johansson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johansson throws a big counter combination but Fassett scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fassett scores with a hook to the body. Johansson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A swing and a miss from Fassett.
Johansson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Johansson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johansson ducks under a wild hook from Fassett.
Fassett takes a swing at Johansson's ribcage but misses.
Johansson misses with a hook. Fassett ducked under it nicely.
Fassett slips under a jab.
Fassett dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sven Johansson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fassett. Johansson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fassett is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Johansson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Fassett's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eric Fassett will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Fassett misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Johansson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fassett. Johansson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fassett throws a body punch but Johansson moves out of range.
Johansson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Fassett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johansson.
Fassett swings for the body but Johansson moves out of range.
Johansson throwing a counter right hand but Fassett manages to avoid it.
Fassett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johansson.
Fassett scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Johansson doesn't seem bothered though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fassett looks to score with a jab to the body but Johansson is just out of range.
Johansson throwing a counter right hand but Fassett manages to avoid it.
Fassett just misses with a punch to the body.
It looked like Johansson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Fassett dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Fassett gets the takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson is trying to control Fassett's posture but Fassett avoids it.
Johansson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Johansson is trying to get back to full guard.
Johansson tries to kick Fassett off but Fassett keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Fassett lands a nice short elbow.
Johansson controlling the position well.
Fassett throwing shots but Johansson is blocking nicely.
Johansson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johansson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fassett's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fassett's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Fassett's body.
Johansson'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.
Fassett rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Fassett is looking for a sweep. Johansson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johansson slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson trying to mount his opponent but Fassett defends it.
Fassett regains full guard. Nicely done.

Fassett looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fassett keeping full guard, as Johansson tries to pass.
Johansson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Johansson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johansson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fassett's guard.
Johansson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four 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.
Fassett wants to sweep but no luck.
Johansson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Fassett controls Johansson momentarily but Johansson frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Fassett tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johansson swivels and escapes.
Johansson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fassett.
A jab from Fassett misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fassett throws the left hand but Johansson avoids the punch easily.
Johansson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A big left from Fassett misses.
Fassett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johansson.
Johansson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Fassett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Fassett walks into a left hand.
Fassett cracks Johansson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Johansson scores with a hook.
Fassett misses the shot to the body.
Johansson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Fassett doesn't seem bothered though.
Fassett misses with an uppercut
and Johansson counters with a nice uppercut.
Fassett tests Johansson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johansson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Johansson misses with a looping left.
Fassett throws out a counter right but Johansson avoids it with no problem.
Fassett takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson blocks a jab.
Fassett takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Fassett looks to land a left hand but Johansson moved out of range nicely.
Fassett is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Johansson rather than just go for the knockout.
Johansson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fassett moves away from the strike by Johansson.
A big left from Fassett misses.
Fassett misses with a lunging right hand
and Johansson counters with a nice uppercut.
The fighters circling - Fassett throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Fassett gets a takedown into half guard.
Johansson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fassett scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fassett thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johansson controlling the position for now.
Fassett lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fassett prevents Johansson from standing back up.
Johansson controlling the position for now.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Fassett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johansson keeps working.
Johansson tries to kick Fassett off but Fassett keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Eric Fassett is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson is looking to improve his position.
Fassett scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Johansson tries to get to full guard but Fassett has control of the leg.
Fassett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johansson keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johansson is trying to escape back to his feet but Fassett uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Johansson being controlled for a moment.
Johansson is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Johansson is not content to let Fassett control the position.
Johansson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Fassett staying calm.
Johansson is looking for a sweep.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fassett fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Fassett is looking to take a break and control but Johansson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sven Johansson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The ground and pound from Fassett seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Eric Fassett.
Well Fassett has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Fassett!
Eric Fassett made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'Pekka Pouta is a very nice and respectable person, glad I had the honor to kick his ass! (:'.