PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sepp Maier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Maier
vs
Johnson

189 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Elite Nutrition Supplements
Prime Time Fighting Clothing

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 Rio de Janeiro, Sepp Maier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maier moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
No luck for Maier with that takedown attempt.
Maier shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Maier shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sepp Maier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Maier showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Maier doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
Maier manages to work his way to half guard, despite Johnson's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maier looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson content to control rather than advance.

Maier looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Maier defends it.
Maier is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Maier controls his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Well, if Johnson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Maier is looking to get back to full guard here but Johnson has managed to pass to side control instead.
Maier working to try and regain half guard.
Maier is breathing heavily.

Johnson stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Maier wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Maier avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maier moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Maier gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Maier is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maier swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson wants to get up but he can't break Maier's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Maier looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johnson gets to his feet. Maier looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Johnson lands with a straight right. Maier didn't see that one coming.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maier moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with the combination.
Johnson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
Nice jab there from Johnson.
Maier has his takedown stuffed
and Johnson counters with a series of strikes. Maier will be more careful next time no doubt.
Johnson cracks Maier with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Maier against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Johnson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maier slips a jab and a cross from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Johnson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Maier drops his hands momentarily and Johnson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Maier misses with a takedown
and Johnson counters with a left and a right that stings Maier.
Johnson tries to bum rush Maier with a series of wild strikes but Maier uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maier showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throws a right hand that Maier ducks under and follows up with a left that Maier also avoids with ease.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Maier backs up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maier misses with a takedown attempt

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Maier avoids it well.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Maier moves out of range.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Johnson throws a head kick that half lands.
Johnson tries to bum rush Maier with a series of wild strikes but Maier uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maier gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sepp Maier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maier doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a three punch combo that has Maier backing up. Maier nods at Johnson to acknowledge the strikes.
Joe Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Johnson connects with a nice looking jab.
Sepp Maier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maier blocks the body kick.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maier.
Maier misses with a takedown attempt
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maier dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Johnson duly obliges.
Johnson tries to bum rush Maier with a series of wild strikes but Maier uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maier misses with a takedown attempt
and Johnson counters with a three punch combo that has Maier backing up. Maier nods at Johnson to acknowledge the strikes.
Maier with a poor takedown
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
Johnson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt

so Johnson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maier working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Maier working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Johnson has passed into half guard!
Maier wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson trying to control the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson prevents Maier from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Johnson 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Johnson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Johnson tests Maier's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Johnson throws a right hand that Maier ducks under and follows up with a left that Maier also avoids with ease.
Maier slips a jab and a cross from Johnson.
Maier doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maier with a poor takedown
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson lands with a right hand.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Maier is rocked!
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maier moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maier. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Maier is trying desperately to improve position.
Maier is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Maier to take his back!
I really don't envy Maier right now.
Johnson is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
I really don't envy Maier right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Maier doesn't escape.

Johnson looking for the choke but no joy.
Maier is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Maier right now.
I really don't envy Maier right now.

Johnson working for the choke.
Johnson is trying to stick to Maier's back but Maier is turning into Johnson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Johnson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Maier.
Maier tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maier clinches but Johnson breaks the clinch
and Johnson counters with a one-two to the body.
Maier gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnson counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sepp Maier. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Maier goes for a takedown in the clinch but Johnson prevents it.
Maier looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sepp Maier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson is working the combinations to good effect here.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Joe Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Maier avoids them all with ease.
Johnson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Maier's head backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Johnson!