PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shane Mitchell (ranked 1671 p4p, 188 weight class) and Adam Johnson (ranked 1505 p4p, 173 weight class). Mitchell comes to the cage accompanied by Michael Jackson - Beat it. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mitchell
vs
Johnson

170 cm
27
155 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

171 cm
20
151 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shane Mitchell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Adam Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mitchell tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Mitchell moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mitchell.
Johnson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mitchell prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mitchell pulls his leg out and moves away.
Shane Mitchell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mitchell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Mitchell circles away easily
letting Mitchell counter with a right hand.
Shane Mitchell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Johnson.
Mitchell slips under a jab from Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mitchell defends it nicely.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mitchell.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Johnson wants to stand but Mitchell has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Mitchell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Mitchell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but instead Mitchell has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mitchell passes into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mitchell is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mitchell is working Johnson over with some ground and pound from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Mitchell from improving position.
Mitchell trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson tries to bench press Mitchell off him but Mitchell keeps the position.
Johnson being controlled for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson tries to buck Mitchell off but Mitchell is having none of it.

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.
Mitchell is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Johnson is trying to improve his position.
Mitchell wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mitchell staying calm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Mitchell dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mitchell scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Johnson doesn't seem bothered though.

Mitchell closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Johnson did well to prevent Mitchell getting side control.
Mitchell is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Johnson!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mitchell lands a heavy elbow.
Johnson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mitchell sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Johnson is working to get back to half guard.
Shane Mitchell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson keeps trying to improve his position.
Mitchell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?

Mitchell working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Mitchell controlling from the full mount.

Mitchell goes for an armbar but Johnson turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mitchell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Johnson defends it easily.

Johnson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mitchell manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Johnson has Mitchell in his guard.

Mitchell passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
Mitchell wants to pass to mount but Johnson is defending the position.
Johnson pushes Mitchell off looking to stand but Mitchell dives back in and keeps control.
Mitchell content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mitchell seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Johnson for as long as he can get away with.
Mitchell has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mitchell is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johnson gets back to full guard.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Mitchell defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Johnson working for a triangle but Mitchell defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Mitchell dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mitchell drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Johnson tries to bench press Mitchell off him but Mitchell keeps the position.
Mitchell cracks Johnson with a big elbow.
Johnson tries to buck Mitchell off but Mitchell is having none of it.
Johnson gets back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mitchell in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to escape.
Mitchell wants to pass to mount but Johnson is defending the position.
Johnson is trying to stand back up but Mitchell is controlling him
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mitchell stalling.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A combination from Mitchell does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Mitchell cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johnson's coach down at Gateway To Greatness was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Johnson's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Mitchell misses with a series of wild punches.
Mitchell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.
Mitchell lands with a right hand.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mitchell swivels and escapes.
Mitchell clobbers Johnson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Mitchell fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Johnson on the side of the head.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Mitchell circles away.
We've been told by Mitchell's head coaches at Five Round Fight Club NY (50 max) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Mitchell shoots in and bounces Johnson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mitchell sitting in guard, not really doing much.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Mitchell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mitchell has gone for a leg lock! Johnson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mitchell's guard.

Johnson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mitchell is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Johnson, into his guard.

Mitchell scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Johnson can't keep his opponent in guard - Mitchell advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mitchell lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mitchell wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
Mitchell wants to pass the guard but Johnson is defending well.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mitchell working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Johnson is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Mitchell clearly takes that 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.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mitchell as he jumps to the side.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Mitchell, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Mitchell against the cage but Mitchell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mitchell pinned against the cage. Mitchell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shane Mitchell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Johnson.

Mitchell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson being controlled against the cage.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent Mitchell's takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Come on Mitchell - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Mitchell'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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mitchell is keeping busy.
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mitchell avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mitchell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Johnson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mitchell is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mitchell down to the mat. Mitchell avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mitchell just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab from Mitchell does it's job there.
Johnson is still on wobbly legs! Can Mitchell finish him?
Mitchell shakes his hands by his side, trying to relax. Johnson takes his eyes off the ball for a moment - Mitchell sees the opportunity and cracks him with a massive hook! Johnson bends double and collapses on top of himself - he's out! The crowd are going absolutely nuts! Wow, what a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Shane Mitchell!
During a confident post fight interview, Shane Mitchell thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.