PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dick Wellington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wellington comes to the cage accompanied by The Who - Eminence Front. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Wellington
vs
Johnson

186 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dick Wellington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bill Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wellington moves out of range as Johnson throws a body kick.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Wellington napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Johnson tries for a kimura but Wellington is defending well.
An elbow from Johnson crashes against the mat.
Johnson working away.

Johnson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Johnson tries to move to mount but Wellington blocks the move with his legs.
Wellington is trying to control Johnson's posture but Johnson avoids it.
Wellington controls the position for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wellington is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Wellington tries to control but Johnson manages to take his back.
Johnson tries to get the hooks in deep but Wellington pushed the leg off.

Johnson is looking for a choke. Wellington gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Wellington manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Wellington has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johnson controlling Wellington's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Wellington from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wellington content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wellington trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wellington trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Wellington is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Wellington throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Wellington tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Johnson looks gassed!
Johnson is thwarting Wellington's attempts to control the position.
Wellington is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wellington tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Johnson is keen to just control but Wellington is a slippery customer.
Wellington gets full guard.
Wellington looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Johnson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Wellington gets back to full guard.

Wellington working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Johnson has passed into half guard!
Johnson prevents Wellington from improving his position.
Johnson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Wellington!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wellington misses with a takedown

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Wellington didn't expect that.
Wellington working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.

Johnson stands up and waves to Wellington to follow him.
Wellington stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Wellington wants it to stay on the feet.

Wellington looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Johnson!
Wellington trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wellington wants to get back to his feet but Johnson is holding on tight.
Wellington trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Johnson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wellington wants to control but Johnson has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Johnson moves into full guard.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wellington is controlling him.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Wellington from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wellington trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wellington working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wellington looking to pass the guard.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wellington controls the pace.
Bill Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Johnson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Wellington escapes and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control!

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.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Wellington keeps moving and retains side control.

Wellington decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Wellington.
Johnson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
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 Dick Wellington will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Johnson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Wellington to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Johnson looking to control.
Johnson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Wellington kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wellington looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wellington looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Johnson wants to stand but Wellington is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wellington trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Wellington scores with a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Wellington tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Wellington's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Wellington trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wellington wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Wellington stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wellington pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Wellington misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson shoots and misses

and Wellington counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.
Wellington throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Wellington isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wellington manages to get himself to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dick Wellington showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Wellington 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dick Wellington!