PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Franklin Marshall (ranked 4400 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Johnson (ranked 7976 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Marshall
vs
Johnson

175 cm
25
171 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

182 cm
23
177 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Franklin Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Leon Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Phil Schofield and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marshall manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Johnson on his heels. He'll look to pass Johnson's guard now, I'm sure.
Johnson is pulling down on Marshall's head to control his posture.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Marshall pushes his legs off easily.
Marshall stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
Marshall knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Marshall postures up.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Marshall isn't so interested in that idea.
Marshall slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
Marshall lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.
Johnson trying to control the position.
Marshall wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Marshall gets a double leg takedown into Johnson's guard.

Johnson scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Marshall shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Marshall is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Marshall stops Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Marshall is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marshall not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Marshall postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Johnson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Johnson striking off his back but it's not causing Marshall any problems.
Johnson controls Marshall momentarily but Marshall frees himself.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marshall is one step ahead there.

That's four 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 keeps trying to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marshall keeps the fight on the outside.

Marshall darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Johnson has one foot on Marshall's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Johnson looks winded!
Marshall shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Marshall sets himself, and Johnson steps forward looking for the clinch! Marshall avoids it this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Johnson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Marshall looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Johnson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Johnson misses with a looping right.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Marshall counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Johnson jumps guard and drags Marshall to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Marshall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Johnson wants to control but Marshall passes easily into half guard.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Marshall is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Johnson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Marshall off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Marshall is avoiding it.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Marshall circles away easily

and Marshall counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

Marshall jumps guard.
Johnson pushing down on Marshall's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marshall is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Marshall wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Marshall is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Marshall is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johnson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Marshall knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Johnson prevents Marshall from standing back up.
Marshall is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Marshall on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall manages to get to full guard.
Marshall not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marshall can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Johnson controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.

Marshall shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Marshall preventing the sweep.
Marshall keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall tries to stand but Johnson is controlling from the bottom.
Marshall stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Marshall from controlling successfully.
Marshall is stalling in the full guard.
Johnson is trying to keep Marshall in close.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Marshall gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leon Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Marshall drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.
Marshall tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johnson smiles and moves away.

Marshall shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johnson's guard.
Johnson is pulling down on Marshall's head. It's preventing any offense from Marshall, at least for the moment.
Leon Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marshall stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson looking to control.

Marshall drops back looking for a leg! Johnson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Johnson manages to kick Marshall off! Marshall jumps back into Johnson's guard.
Marshall landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Marshall isn't so interested in that idea.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Marshall defends easily.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Marshall with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Johnson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Johnson looking to control.

Marshall gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Marshall.

Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Marshall tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Johnson prevents Marshall from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for a guillotine from mount but Marshall is having none of it.
Johnson prevents Marshall from getting the reversal.
Johnson looking to finish with strikes here!
Johnson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Johnson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Johnson landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Marshall to control.
Johnson looking to finish with strikes here!
Marshall tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marshall tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Marshall is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Franklin Marshall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leon Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marshall throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Leon Johnson.
I've got Johnson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30

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