PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Freddie Salvador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keenan Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Freddie Salvador has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Salvador
vs
Johnson

183 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

200 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Freddie Salvador!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Keenan Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Winston Alpacca and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Salvador tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson wants to counter the offense by Salvador and move into the clinch position.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Salvador.
Johnson is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Salvador misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson tries a low kick but Salvador avoids it.
Salvador throws a push kick but Johnson slaps the foot to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salvador has a takedown stuffed.
Salvador avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Salvador gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
Freddie Salvador has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keenan Johnson.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Salvador manages to get underhooks.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Salvador throws a chopping leg kick but Johnson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Salvador keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Johnson tries to sprawl but Salvador drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Salvador knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Salvador with the ground and pound but Johnson uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Johnson kicks Salvador off and gets to his feet.
Salvador tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Johnson shoots and misses

and Salvador counters with a takedown into side control.

Johnson throws Salvador to one side and escapes!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salvador displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Johnson looks winded!
Salvador throws a leg kick but Johnson moved away.
Johnson feints the counter takedown.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Salvador, pushing him back against the cage.
Salvador prevents a takedown attempt there.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Salvador manages to get underhooks.

Salvador pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Salvador breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Salvador.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Salvador is avoiding it.
Salvador could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Salvador fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Salvador shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Salvador was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Johnson throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Johnson!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Johnson drives through and clinches with Salvador against the cage.

Johnson jumps into guard, dragging Salvador to the mat.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson pulls Salvador in to control the position.
Johnson 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.
Salvador is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Salvador trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
No joy there for Salvador, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Freddie Salvador is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salvador stuffs the takedown.
Salvador attempts a counter takedown but Johnson avoids it well and moves away.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salvador.
Johnson dives in and grabs Salvador's left leg, looking for a takedown. Salvador pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
Salvador is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Johnson.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but Salvador has taken the fight into the clinch.
Salvador keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson fails to pull guard.
Freddie Salvador has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keenan Johnson.
Salvador 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. Salvador gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Salvador keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Salvador counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Salvador lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.

Johnson has managed to clinch.

Salvador breaks from the clinch.
Salvador definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Salvador tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Salvador sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Salvador breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Salvador pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Salvador jabs Johnson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Salvador saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Salvador.
Johnson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Salvador is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Salvador.
Salvador doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson instigates a clinch.

Johnson pulls guard effortlessly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Salvador is trying to stand.
Johnson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Salvador's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvador pushes Johnson off looking to stand but Johnson dives back in and keeps control.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson controlling the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Johnson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddie Salvador dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Salvador feinted with a counter takedown.
Johnson scores with a jab. Salvador acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with Salvador.
Johnson avoids the elbow strike from Salvador, against the cage.
Salvador misses with the head strike.
Salvador jumps guard but Johnson stands there with Salvador around his waist. Salvador gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salvador can't break the clinch.
Salvador wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvador stalling against the cage.
Salvador fails to pull guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Salvador saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson has his takedown stuffed
and Salvador counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Freddie Salvador has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keenan Johnson.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salvador sprawls well. Salvador wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Salvador pushes him off.
Salvador scores with a crisp jab that stopped Johnson in his tracks.
Salvador tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Salvador has managed to clinch.

Salvador breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Salvador manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Salvador tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Salvador manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvador stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Salvador wants it to stay on the feet.

Johnson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Salvador accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Salvador controlling him for the moment.

Salvador stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salvador is looking to land body kicks.
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Salvador darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.
Johnson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Salvador as Johnson tries to tie him up.

Salvador manages to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Salvador circles away and keeps his distance.
Salvador went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Salvador keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

And that's the end of the fight!
Freddie Salvador showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Salvador has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Freddie Salvador!
Our winner, Freddie Salvador, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.