PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between The Eagle (ranked 6063 p4p, 4156 weight class) and Jimmy Johnson (ranked 468 p4p, 482 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Eagle
vs
Johnson

179 cm
21
144
8 - 6 - 0

175 cm
19
161
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

EFC Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, The Eagle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jimmy Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eagle wants to clinch but Johnson slips to the side
and Johnson counters with a series of strikes. Eagle will be more careful next time no doubt.
Eagle misses the jab.
Eagle fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Eagle's waist but Eagle gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Eagle will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Eagle wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Eagle fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Eagle is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent Eagle's takedown attempt.
Eagle looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Eagle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Eagle is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johnson pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Johnson breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eagle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson trying to control but Eagle is working from the bottom.
Eagle trying to control the position.
Eagle looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Johnson wants to stand but Eagle is controlling his posture from full guard.
Johnson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Eagle really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eagle trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Eagle has managed to free his arm - good work.
Eagle tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Johnson escapes and gets back to his feet.

Johnson feints and as Eagle raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Eagle has his feet on Johnson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
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!
Eagle lands a nice shot to the body.
Eagle misses with a wild combination.
Johnson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Eagle defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson tries to clinch but Eagle moves out of range.
Eagle tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson shoots in but Eagle avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Johnson throws a leg kick that is checked

and Eagle counters with a shoot takedown. Johnson fights it but they end up in guard.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Eagle defends it easily.
Eagle lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Eagle landing some decent shots from guard.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eagle is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Eagle trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eagle connects with a couple of short punches.
Eagle lands a couple of digs.
Eagle postures up.
Eagle throwing strikes but missing.
Eagle scoring with some ground and pound.
Eagle content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Eagle scoring with some ground and pound.
Eagle scoring with punches to the head and body.
Eagle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson wants to stand but Eagle is controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

The Eagle dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson shoots for a takedown but Eagle saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Eagle seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Eagle is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Johnson is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Eagle misses with a wild combination.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Eagle against the cage.
Eagle looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Johnson jumps guard and drags Eagle to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Eagle defends easily.
Eagle scoring with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eagle throwing strikes from guard but Johnson blocks nicely.
Eagle 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 has his feet on Eagle's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Eagle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Eagle lands with a right hand.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson prevents Eagle from breaking the clinch.
Eagle wants to break the clinch but can't.
Eagle has been working on his balance at EFC Gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Johnson.
Eagle wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
Eagle has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Johnson after a bit of a struggle.
Eagle wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Eagle is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
We've been informed that Johnson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Eagle tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Eagle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Johnson walks away with a smile on his face. Eagle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Eagle. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Eagle is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eagle is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.
Johnson stalling.
Eagle is looking to improve his position.
Johnson looks to land a strike but Eagle avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Eagle.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eagle is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Eagle has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between Eagle's legs - danger averted.
Eagle trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Eagle managing to control the position.
Eagle keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

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.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Eagle.
Eagle wants to control but Johnson passes easily into half guard.
Eagle trying to control but Johnson postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson wants to stand up but Eagle is controlling the position.
Eagle trying to control from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Johnson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Eagle controls his leg.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Eagle misses the target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Johnson is looking to stall here but Eagle recovers full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Eagle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jimmy Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson takes the fight into the clinch.
Eagle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Johnson walks away with a smile on his face. Eagle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Eagle throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Eagle looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged Eagle in a clinch.
Johnson lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Eagle jumps guard and drags Johnson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Eagle looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Johnson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Eagle is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. Eagle uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Eagle!

Eagle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Eagle working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Eagle is working Johnson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Eagle makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Eagle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Eagle is proving a slippery customer.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Eagle's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Eagle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The Eagle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Eagle cracks Johnson with a solid left hand.
Eagle postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson's brow.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Eagle postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Eagle drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Eagle jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Eagle lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eagle landing some decent shots from guard.
Eagle works over Johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
Eagle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Eagle throwing strikes but missing.
Eagle trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Eagle defends easily.
Eagle is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eagle wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Eagle works over Johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
Eagle stands up over Johnson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Eagle is controlling him.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Eagle defends easily.
Eagle lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Eagle scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Eagle won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

The Eagle clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Eagle throws a hook to the side of Johnson's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Eagle looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Johnson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Eagle but Eagle pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Eagle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Eagle scores with a decent looking hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson takes one to the side of the head.
Johnson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Eagle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to chop away at Eagle's legs.

Johnson has Eagle up against the cage in a clinch.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Eagle.
Johnson throws a counter combo.
Johnson swinging wildly here.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Eagle.
Johnson wants to counter with a clinch but Eagle pushes him away.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
The Eagle is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Eagle 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 Eagle off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Johnson lands a jab-cross combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Johnson clinches up against the cage.
Eagle is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Eagle is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johnson is defending well.

Johnson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Johnson manages to end up in side control.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Eagle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Eagle throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eagle is trying to control Johnson's posture but Johnson avoids it.
Johnson blocks the strikes from Eagle.
Johnson blocks the strikes from Eagle.
Johnson trying to control the position but Eagle is working away.
Eagle is looking for a sweep.
Eagle parries the strikes from Johnson easily there. Johnson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Eagle to escape.
Johnson working away.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Johnson trying to control the action but Eagle is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
Eagle looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johnson moves out of range of the strikes.
The Eagle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Johnson clinches up with Eagle and pushes him back against the cage.
Eagle looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Eagle wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Eagle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Eagle has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Johnson after a bit of a struggle.
Eagle drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Eagle up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for The Eagle!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Jimmy Johnson!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!