PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leon Johnson (ranked 4470 p4p, 222 weight class) and Jack Young (ranked 4563 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.

Johnson
vs
Young

170 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Leon Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Young!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Young throws the kick towards the body but Johnson avoids it.
Young jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Young fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Johnson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Young swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Young throws a combination that misses

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Johnson.
Johnson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Young.
Johnson lands with a left to the head.
Johnson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Johnson is leaning against Young and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Johnson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Young backwards.

Young pulls Johnson into guard.
Johnson postures up in Young's guard and throws a big left but Young blocks it.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Young is retaining full guard.
Johnson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Johnson stands up from Young's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Nice body kick from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.

Johnson has managed to clinch.
Young is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Young goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Young looks winded!
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Johnson stalks Young and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Young's face. Young staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Young throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johnson's waist but Johnson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Young off to one side.
Johnson throwing a counter right hand but Young manages to avoid it.
Leon Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Young.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson lands a front kick.
Johnson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Johnson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Young 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 tests Young's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Johnson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Young avoids a punch combination nicely.
Young avoids a punch combination nicely.

Johnson pushes Young up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson can't get the takedown.
Johnson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Johnson is stalling here.
Young gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
Johnson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Young is defending well.
Johnson slows down the pace here.
Young has Johnson pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Young is working Johnson over against the cage.
Young wants to break the clinch but can't.
Young looking to slow down the pace here.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with Young.
Johnson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Young prevents a takedown attempt there.
Johnson misses with a knee to the head.
Young tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnson's elbow.
Johnson lands a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Young 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.
Young has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Jack Young has been cut.

Johnson has taken the fight to the clinch.

Young breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Young dives in and grabs Johnson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes down on Young's head and hops out.

Johnson clinches.
Young wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnson works on Young's body with a couple of short punches.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Young fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Johnson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Young.
Leon Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Young.
Young fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leon Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Young is breathing heavily.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
As Johnson backs off Young throws a huge counter combo but Johnson manages to avoid it all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Young fails with the takedown.
It looked like Johnson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Johnson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Leon Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Young on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Jab by Johnson.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Young can do to turn this around?
Johnson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Young.
Young takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with Young.
A left hand lands to the body for Johnson.
Johnson slowing the pace effectively.
Young's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Young being controlled against the cage.
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!
Johnson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Young backwards.
Leon Johnson has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Young gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.
Young is working for takedown but Johnson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Johnson lands a right hand.
Young tries to break free but Johnson pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Young gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Johnson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Young moves out of range.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.
Johnson taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Young is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johnson is defending well.

Johnson pulls guard effortlessly.
Young content to stall in guard here.
Young trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnson is on top in guard.

Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Young preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Young working a defensive guard here.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Young working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Young avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Johnson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jack Young's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

A good leg kick by Johnson.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Young taking a breather.
Johnson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Young pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Johnson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Young tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Young drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Young is looking to take this one to the mat.
Johnson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Young wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Young.
Leon Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Young.
Young takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A right handed body shot lands from Johnson.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Johnson.
Johnson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Johnson.
Johnson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Youngs head.
Johnson prevents the takedown attempt.
Johnson lands a hook that snaps the head of Young backwards.
Johnson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Johnson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Young is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Johnson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Johnson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Leon Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Young tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Young tries to pull guard but Johnson won't allow it.
Young is looking to take this one to the mat.
The referee calls for Johnson to work.
A short body shot lands from Johnson as the two fighters clinch.
Johnson effectively controlling the action here.
Johnson holding his opponent close, against the cage.

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.
Young is trying to drag Johnson to the mat but Johnson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Young is looking to take this one to the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Jack Young has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Young being controlled against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leon 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:26
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:26

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