PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Johnson (ranked 3082 p4p, 1477 weight class) and Jean Cristopher La Vellei (ranked 399 p4p, 217 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Johnson
vs
La Vellei

183 cm
35
190
16 - 17 - 3

196 cm
35
185
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 17 - 3, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeff Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jean Cristopher La Vellei!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as La Vellei backs up against the cage.
La Vellei tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Johnson defends well and La Vellei ends up having to push Johnson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
La Vellei throws a body shot but no joy.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.
La Vellei misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
La Vellei is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nice body kick from La Vellei.
Good shot there by Johnson.

La Vellei looking to score a takedown here. Johnson is defending well but La Vellei drives through and ends up in Johnson's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as La Vellei accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
La Vellei working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Johnson has momentary wrist control but La Vellei slips an elbow through the middle.
La Vellei throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but La Vellei is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
La Vellei trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Vellei working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst La Vellei is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as La Vellei accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
La Vellei trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson wants to stand but La Vellei is controlling the position.

La Vellei stands and steps away. Johnson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Johnson misses with a hook.
La Vellei scores with a hook.
La Vellei moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Johnson tries to land a front kick but La Vellei steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
La Vellei looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. La Vellei moves away and avoids it.
La Vellei will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A counter left hand to the body from Johnson misses its target.
Jean Cristopher La Vellei seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson throws a right and a left that La Vellei avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a sloppy body shot
and La Vellei makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Johnson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
La Vellei looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but La Vellei persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Jeff Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Cristopher La Vellei.
La Vellei staying out of range there.
La Vellei throws a leg kick but Johnson checks it.
Johnson needs to keep his hands up - La Vellei had a free shot at his head there.
Sloppy strikes from La Vellei. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by La Vellei.
Johnson throws a jab when La Vellei was well out of range.
La Vellei lands with a cross.
La Vellei dives in for a single leg takedown but Johnson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
La Vellei misses with a body shot.
Johnson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and La Vellei connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Johnson scrambles back to his feet.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
La Vellei dips to his left and cracks Johnson with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
La Vellei shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing La Vellei's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A telegraphed right hand from La Vellei misses the target.
Johnson throws a body punch but La Vellei moves out of range.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson lands with a shot to the body.
La Vellei will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

La Vellei closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - La Vellei lands in his opponent's guard.
La Vellei pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
La Vellei has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but La Vellei is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
La Vellei works a leg free and moves into half guard.
La Vellei wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

La Vellei is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
La Vellei wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Tran MMA Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

La Vellei is working for a kimura but Johnson is defending it quite comfortably.
La Vellei wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

La Vellei is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for La Vellei to get the leverage.

Johnson has one foot on La Vellei's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
La Vellei lands with a shot to the body.

La Vellei closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - La Vellei lands in his opponent's guard.
Johnson wants to stand but La Vellei is controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jean Cristopher La Vellei will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

La Vellei misses with a jab, cross combination.
La Vellei will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

La Vellei fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Johnson to the ground. La Vellei is now in Johnson's guard.

La Vellei decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Johnson, up you get!
Nice body punch from La Vellei.
La Vellei throws a jab when Johnson was well out of range.
Johnson is looking to counter punch.

La Vellei shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but La Vellei is controlling him well.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from La Vellei.
La Vellei is looking to advance position but Johnson won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson is trying to stand back up but La Vellei is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
La Vellei missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
La Vellei drops an elbow to the side of Johnson's head.
La Vellei lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
La Vellei wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
La Vellei not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
La Vellei wants to pass the guard but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson is looking to escape.
Johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johnson pushes La Vellei off looking to stand but La Vellei dives back in and keeps control.
La Vellei trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.

La Vellei is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnson is just riding it out for now. La Vellei eventually gives up the hold.
Johnson is refusing to be controlled, as La Vellei sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

La Vellei is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.

Johnson kicks La Vellei off and gets back to his feet.
La Vellei lands a slapping body shot.
Jeff Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
La Vellei ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Nice defenses there by La Vellei.
Johnson throws a body kick that misses.
La Vellei avoids the body shot from Johnson.
La Vellei misses with a two punch combination.
La Vellei shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick misses from La Vellei.
A big left from La Vellei misses.
La Vellei doesn't succeed with the takedown
and La Vellei takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a glancing blow to the side of La Vellei's head.
La Vellei scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Johnson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Jeff Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Johnson enables La Vellei to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Johnson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
La Vellei trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson wants to stand but La Vellei is controlling the position.
La Vellei pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
La Vellei working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
La Vellei prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
La Vellei tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
La Vellei prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
La Vellei avoids the head kick by Johnson.
A low kick lands for La Vellei.
La Vellei throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson throws a jab when La Vellei was well out of range.
La Vellei fails to land the takedown.
Jeff Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Cristopher La Vellei.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
La Vellei misses with a looping right.

La Vellei shoots in and gets a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Johnson is looking to stand up but La Vellei isn't so interested in that idea.
La Vellei throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson wants to stand up but La Vellei is controlling him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Cristopher La Vellei showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson throws a leg kick but La Vellei checks it.
It seemed like La Vellei was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
La Vellei misses with a wild combination.
La Vellei connects with a jab.
La Vellei dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Johnson. That did some damage!
Johnson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
La Vellei lands a high kick!
La Vellei shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but La Vellei 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.
Johnson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson lands a jab to the nose.
La Vellei shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed La Vellei's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson throws a big counter combination but La Vellei scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
La Vellei fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Jeff Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Cristopher La Vellei.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Vellei throws the left hand but Johnson avoids the punch easily.
A head kick from Johnson lands but La Vellei takes it in his stride.
No luck for La Vellei with that takedown attempt.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.
La Vellei takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
La Vellei uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by La Vellei.
La Vellei on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Johnson throws out a loose jab but La Vellei uses good head movement to avoid it.
La Vellei shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
La Vellei has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Johnson misses with a left hand
and La Vellei counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Johnson.
Jean Cristopher La Vellei is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
La Vellei has a takedown stuffed.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand
and La Vellei counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters circling - Johnson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
La Vellei goes for a double leg but Johnson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Johnson continues to drive forward.
Johnson lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
La Vellei looks to throw the jab but Johnson is out of range.

La Vellei throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. La Vellei is in Johnson's guard.
Johnson wants to stand up but La Vellei is controlling him.
La Vellei advances to half guard.
Johnson tries to kick La Vellei off but La Vellei keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Jean Cristopher La Vellei has got the better of the ground game so far.
La Vellei is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

La Vellei is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La Vellei wants to pass to mount but Johnson is defending the position.
La Vellei trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
La Vellei seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
La Vellei is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
You get the feeling that Johnson really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
La Vellei landing strikes, looking to finish!
Johnson tries to buck La Vellei off but he can't manage it.
La Vellei is landing with some decent strikes but Johnson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
La Vellei content just to control the position here.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

La Vellei looking for a guillotine from mount but Johnson is having none of it.
La Vellei with shots to the head and body - Johnson looks very uncomfortable down there.
La Vellei controlling the pace for now.
La Vellei wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
Johnson tries to buck La Vellei off but he can't manage it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, La Vellei cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Jeff Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
La Vellei controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Cristopher La Vellei comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got La Vellei 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jean Cristopher La Vellei!
After winning the bout, Jean Cristopher La Vellei thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.