PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between CJ Johnson (ranked 876 p4p, 126 weight class) and Ricardo Rebenta (ranked 1266 p4p, 193 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Relentless - Slayer. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Rebenta

183 cm
27
181 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

175 cm
25
185 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

PWNAGE
Ma Balls Is Hot 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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, CJ Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo Rebenta!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson feints and then cracks Rebenta's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rebenta down.
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Rebenta shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Rebenta's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rebenta is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Johnson.
Johnson connects with a nice looking jab.

Johnson gets caught flat footed, as Rebenta shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rebenta lands a couple of elbows.
Johnson is trying to keep Rebenta in close.
Rebenta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Rebenta isn't so interested in that idea.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rebenta working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rebenta tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Rebenta is proving a slippery customer.
Rebenta wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Rebenta trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rebenta preventing the sweep.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Rebenta from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The fighters circling - Johnson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rebenta shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
CJ Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rebenta.

That's two 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 stuffs the takedown attempt from Rebenta. Rebenta gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson throwing a counter right hand but Rebenta manages to avoid it.
Rebenta shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.

Rebenta looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Johnson!
Rebenta wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Johnson controlling the action here.
Johnson uses his free foot to push down on Rebenta's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rebenta.

Johnson is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Nice defenses there by Rebenta.
Rebenta tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Johnson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rebenta's head backwards.
Johnson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rebenta. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Johnson there.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rebenta or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnson, which made it look bad.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rebenta avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Rebenta slips under a jab from Johnson.
Johnson lands the left hand.

Rebenta is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Johnson's half guard.

Johnson pushes Rebenta off and gets back to his feet.
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 thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnson lands a head shot.
Rebenta moves away from the strike by Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.
Rebenta looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Rebenta is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson jabs Rebenta right on the nose. Rebenta blinks but takes it well.
Johnson thuds his right hand into Rebenta's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Rebenta moves away and avoids it.

Rebenta drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Johnson has Rebenta pulled in close to control his posture.
Rebenta trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rebenta shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Rebenta's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson misses the jab.
Rebenta avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnson misses with a hook. Rebenta ducked under it nicely.
Johnson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rebenta fails with a takedown attempt.
Rebenta moves out of range of the strikes.
Rebenta tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Johnson.
Rebenta slips a jab from Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson missing with a left hand there. Rebenta was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Rebenta tries to move into range but Johnson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rebenta.
CJ Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rebenta.

Rebenta gets a takedown into half guard.

Johnson has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rebenta is on him like a limpet, forcing Johnson back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rebenta can do to turn this around?
Rebenta slips under a jab from Johnson.
Rebenta fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rebenta slips a jab from Johnson.
Rebenta shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but Rebenta keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Johnson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rebenta misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson with a jab.
Rebenta takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
CJ Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.
Johnson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rebenta.
Nice cross by Johnson.
Rebenta tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A cross from Johnson lands.
CJ Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rebenta uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnson.
Johnson throws a jab when Rebenta was well out of range.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Rebenta shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rebenta's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rebenta takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice uppercut lands for Johnson. That snapped Rebenta's head back.
An inside leg kick lands from Johnson.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
CJ Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rebenta takes one on the button.
Rebenta tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rebenta somewhat.
Johnson throws a looping overhand right but Rebenta ducks down to avoid it.
Rebenta avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.
Rebenta takes a jab right on the kisser.
Decent striking displayed by Johnson there.
Rebenta tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Rebenta on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rebenta tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson digs a good body shot into Rebenta's ribs.
Rebenta takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Johnson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rebenta has time to react.
Rebenta takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ricardo Rebenta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rebenta takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Rebenta looking to score a takedown here. Johnson is defending well but Rebenta drives through and ends up in Johnson's guard.
Rebenta forces his way into half guard.
Rebenta is breathing heavily.
Rebenta is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Johnson!
Johnson tries to hold on but Rebenta pushes him away.
Johnson regains half guard.
Rebenta seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Johnson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rebenta takes one on the button.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rebenta is defended easily by Johnson.
Rebenta takes a kick to the side of the head.
A jab from Johnson does it's job there.
Rebenta blocks a jab.
Rebenta defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.

Rebenta feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rebenta looking to pass the guard.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Rebenta from controlling successfully.
Rebenta preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rebenta lying in Johnson's guard like a wet fish here, stalling away. Johnson decides he's had enough of all that nonsense - he escapes his hips and locks up an armbar! Wow, that was slick! Rebenta taps! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). CJ Johnson!
An out of breath CJ Johnson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.