PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rayshawn Johnson (ranked 4338 p4p, 4284 weight class) and Ion Popescu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnson
vs
Popescu

163 cm
18
142
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
142
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rayshawn Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ion Popescu!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Popescu coming out on top.
Popescu jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Popescu dips to his left and cracks Johnson with an uppercut!
Popescu cracks Johnson with a good jab.
Johnson walks into a jab.

Popescu darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.
A short uppercut from Popescu.
Popescu can't break the clinch.
Popescu lands an uppercut.
Popescu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Popescu wants to break free but Johnson has control.
Popescu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Popescu lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Popescu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Popescu misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Popescu can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Popescu misses with a punch on the inside.
Popescu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Popescu tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.
Popescu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Johnson seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Popescu is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Popescu avoiding damage.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as Popescu controls his hands.
Johnson looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Johnson tries to work over Popescu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Johnson is trying to maintain a safe position but Popescu gets an underhook and turns Johnson into the cage.
Popescu wants to break the clinch but can't.
Popescu is struggling to control the position.
Popescu misses with the head strike.
Johnson prevents Popescu from breaking the clinch.
Johnson swings wildly with an uppercut but Popescu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popescu lands a hook that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Popescu controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Popescu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Popescu.
Popescu lands a right hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
Popescu tries to circle away but Johnson has him pinned against the cage.
Popescu lands a right hand.
Popescu pushes Johnson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Popescu is trying to force a seperation but Johnson has the dominant position.
Johnson is trying to maintain a safe position but Popescu gets an underhook and turns Johnson into the cage.
Popescu lands with a light punch inside.
Popescu gets through Johnson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Popescu avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Popescu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Popescu misses with a hook from the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Popescu's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popescu misses with a punch on the inside.
Johnson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Popescu up against the cage.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Popescu lands with a right to the head.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Johnson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Popescu.
Popescu holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Popescu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ion Popescu dominated that round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johnson blocks a jab.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Popescu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Popescu fails to land with a series of punches.
Popescu connects with a good right hand that stumbles Johnson. Johnson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Johnson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Popescu has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Some bone on bone action there as Popescu checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
No joy there for Popescu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Popescu swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Johnson has Popescu up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Popescu takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice left hand lands by Popescu.
Popescu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ion Popescu seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Popescu is keeping busy.
Popescu is trying to push Johnson away but Johnson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Popescu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Popescu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Popescu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Popescu throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Popescu lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Johnson or not.
Popescu tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.
Popescu holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A short right from Popescu on the inside.
Popescu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Popescu is trying to push Johnson away but Johnson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popescu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnson's elbow.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Popescu working aggressively here.
Johnson has Popescu pressed against the cage, preventing Popescu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A head punch on the inside from Popescu fails to land.
Popescu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Popescu stalling the fight.
Popescu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Popescu working hard to break the clinch.
The referee calls for Johnson to work.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
Popescu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popescu lands a hook that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Popescu dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Popescu is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson blocking some punches.
Popescu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Johnson misses with a body punch.
Popescu misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Popescu.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Popescu.
Johnson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Popescu is defending well for now.
Popescu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Popescu pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Popescu.
Johnson jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
A clash of legs there as Popescu blocks the low kick.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson fires out a quick counter leg kick but Popescu just manages to avoid it.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Popescu.
Popescu misses with a straight left.
Johnson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A little jabbing left from Popescu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Popescu scores with a jab to the head.
Popescu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Popescu is breathing heavily.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Popescu circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ion Popescu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Popescu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johnson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd cheers as Popescu lands an impressive looking overhand right. Johnson doesn't seem phased though.
Ion Popescu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Popescu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Popescu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Popescu stalling the fight.
Popescu lands a shoulder strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Popescu.
Popescu can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popescu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson has Popescu pressed against the cage, preventing Popescu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Popescu lands an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Popescu.
Popescu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson tries to work over Popescu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Popescu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Johnson misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Popescu controls the action.
Popescu tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as Popescu controls his hands.
Popescu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Popescu scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A frustrated look appears on Popescu's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Popescu wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by Popescu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popescu misses with a punch on the inside.
Popescu wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Popescu - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Johnson misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Popescu.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Popescu forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Johnson fails to pull guard.
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Popescu avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rayshawn Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popescu stalling.
Popescu lands with a right to the head.
Popescu can't break the clinch.
Johnson has Popescu pressed against the cage, preventing Popescu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popescu prevents a body shot from Johnson.
Popescu wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Popescu scores with a nice hook to the head.
Popescu wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Popescu lands with a short shot to the head.
Popescu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Popescu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Popescu misses with the head strike.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Popescu working aggressively here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Johnson blocking some punches.
Popescu can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popescu blocking some punches.
Popescu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Popescu.
Popescu throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Popescu is trying to push Johnson away but Johnson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Popescu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson misses with a punch to the body.
Popescu tries to circle away but Johnson has him pinned against the cage.
Popescu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Johnson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Popescu is defending well.
Popescu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Popescu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rayshawn Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Popescu backwards.

Johnson manages to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ion Popescu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Popescu 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ion Popescu!