PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Afa Sila (ranked 3122 p4p, 3123 weight class) and Nick Johnson (ranked 337 p4p, 338 weight class). Sila comes to the cage accompanied by Samoa Joe - Destroyer (Entrance Theme). The crowd seem to be enjoying Johnson's choice of entrance music: On March The Saints. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sila
vs
Johnson

173 cm
47
161
35 - 25 - 0

170 cm
41
159
16 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Afa Sila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nick Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sila was covering up waiting for the punch and Johnson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sila wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Johnson manages to pass to side control.

Johnson winds up and cracks Sila with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sila wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Sila wants to control the action here but instead Johnson manages to pass to full mount!
Sila wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson punching from mount but Sila doing a good job of avoiding damage.

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 tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sila is wriggling around trying to escape.
Johnson controlling the pace for now.
Sila tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sila is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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 misses with a head shot.
Sila tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson dives in and scores a takedown into Sila's guard.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sila being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Johnson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sila enables Johnson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sila manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Johnson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sila is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Johnson is continuing to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nick Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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 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.
Sila being controlled here, momentarily.
Sila keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Sila being controlled here, momentarily.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Sila wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sila is looking to chop away at Johnson's legs.
Johnson moves out of range of the leg kick from Sila.
Johnson unleashes a big counter combination but Sila bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sila cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sila attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Johnson is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Sila with a body shot.
Sila ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.

Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.
Sila is trying to escape back to his feet but Johnson uses the scramble to pass into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sila prevents Johnson from improving position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is staying tight to Sila's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Sila prevents Johnson from improving position.
Johnson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Afa Sila has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson working the ground and pound.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The adventures of Johnson the control monster continue. Boring.
Johnson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sila's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Sila is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Johnson is controlling him well.
Sila is not content to let Johnson control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Johnson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sila looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sila is looking to regain half guard here but Johnson keeps moving and retains side control.
Johnson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sila will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson in the domination position with Sila hanging on.
Johnson taking a breather here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nick 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Johnson!
After the fight, Nick Johnson was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
The defeated Afa Sila had this to say: 'Sorry Bro Gonna Win Next Fight Bro'.