PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason Mason (ranked 3751 p4p, 24143 weight class) and John Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mason is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Mason
vs
Johnson

185 cm
26
185
1 - 2 - 0

182 cm
21
188
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Urban Fighter

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Mason is breathing heavily.
Mason stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Mason is looking to counter punch.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
We've been told by Mason's head coaches at Mentor Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Mason uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jason Mason has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Johnson.
Johnson swings away with a body shot that misses
and Mason counters with a stiff right hand.
John Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mason's waist but Mason gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Mason lands with a nice body punch.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mason as he avoids it easily.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mason defends it nicely.
Mason went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Mason looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mason circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Mason. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mason as he jumps to the side.
Mason closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Mason saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Johnson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mason tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Mason is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.
Mason tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson tries to control but Mason wriggling away.
Mason is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Johnson wants to take Mason's back but he can't do it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Mason to control.
Johnson tries to control but Mason wriggling away.
Mason working to try and regain half guard.
Johnson trying to control but Mason is having none of it.
Mason is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Mason to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mason is looking to escape.
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Mason dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Johnson shoots for a takedown but Mason saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Mason is just out of range.

Mason gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mason fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mason smiles and moves away.
Jason Mason has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Johnson.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
Mason swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mason pinned against the cage. Mason gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mason swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Mason sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Mason shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Mason sprawls well.
Mason half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Mason circles away easily
and Mason counters with a good low kick that Johnson was not able to check.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Mason tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mason manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mason fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Johnson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Johnson has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mason is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Mason circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Mason stuffs the takedown.
Mason lands a nice leg kick that just misses Johnson's sensitive parts.

Mason tries to sprawl but Johnson drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Johnson is thwarting Mason's attempts to control the position.
Johnson is keen to just control but Mason is a slippery customer.
Johnson wants to pass to mount but Mason is defending the position.
Johnson passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason has given up his back here.
Good control from Johnson.
Mason can't escape the position.
Johnson trying to control momentarily.
Mason trying to get back to his feet but Johnson is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mason wants to control his opponent's hands but Johnson gets his hands free.
Mason can't escape the position.
Johnson gets his hands free as Mason looks to control.
Well, with Johnson on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Mason is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Mason staying busy and making it hard for Johnson to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mason just trying to survive but Johnson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mason swivels and escapes.
Johnson with a poor takedown
and Mason counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mason throws out a leg kick but Johnson moves out of range and Mason only half commits.
Johnson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mason sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johnson somewhat.
Jason Mason has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Johnson.
Mason slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Mason rather than just go for the knockout.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Mason gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mason as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Johnson digs a good hook to Mason's body.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mason to the mat! Mason manages to get full guard.
Mason is looking to stand back up but Johnson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mason.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson trying to control from half guard but Mason is working away.
Mason is looking to escape.
Mason wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Mason wants to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Johnson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mason!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mason tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Mason is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to control but Mason is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mason is working to get back to half guard.
John Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson mounts Mason! Really nice guard pass there!
Johnson wants to control the pace but Mason is squirming around nicely.
Johnson pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

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 trying to control but Mason is having none of it.
Mason wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mason can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Johnson.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

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