PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Marshall (ranked 5221 p4p, 4327 weight class) and Zander Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniel Marshall looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Marshall
vs
Johnson

185 cm
18
201
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
215
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zander Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses with a low kick as Marshall jumps back.
Marshall definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Marshall looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson tries to score with a low kick but Marshall moves his leg out of the way.
Good standup being displayed there by Marshall as he connects with a hook.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Marshall misses with a looping left.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It looked like Marshall wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Zander Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marshall throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnson was well out of range. Poor timing from Marshall.
Johnson with the counter takedown but Marshall avoids it easily.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
It looked like Marshall was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Johnson.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Marshall swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged Marshall in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Marshall avoiding damage as Johnson throws knees to the body.
Marshall managing to block the knees to the body from Johnson.
Marshall throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Johnson is looking for a takedown.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Marshall tries to tie him up.
Marshall blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Marshall blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Johnson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshall.
Marshall avoiding damage as Johnson throws knees to the body.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Marshall manages to get underhooks.
Johnson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marshall is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall letting Johnson take a breather here.
Johnson trying to land knees to the body.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Marshall avoids it.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but Marshall blocks with his arms.
Johnson missing with knees to the body.
Johnson fails to pull guard.
Daniel Marshall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zander Johnson.
Johnson stalling in the clinch.

Marshall escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marshall throws out a powerful jab.

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Marshall breaks the clinch.
Johnson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a head kick but Marshall moves out of range.
Daniel Marshall is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marshall blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marshall is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Marshall circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Marshall keeps it at a distance.
Marshall swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Marshall against the cage.
Johnson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Marshall is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Marshall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Johnson.
Marshall blocks the body kick.
Marshall avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Marshall swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a half hearted mid kick.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Johnson throws a head kick that Marshall semi-blocks.
Johnson throws a head kick but Marshall moves out of range.

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marshall keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson pushing down on Marshall's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Johnson passes to side control.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Marshall is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson advances nicely into full mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zander Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Marshall avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Marshall swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Johnson forces Marshall back against the cage and clinches.
Johnson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshall.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Marshall pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Marshall throws an overhand right that lands on Johnson's shoulder, as Johnson tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Marshall is able to avoid easily.
Marshall is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Zander Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson lands a head kick. Marshall smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Marshall misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Marshall keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall misses with a straight right.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Marshall sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson rushes Marshall and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Marshall gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Daniel Marshall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zander Johnson.
Marshall managing to block the knees to the body from Johnson.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but Marshall blocks it.

Johnson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Marshall uses from the top position.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Marshall's guard.

Marshall avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson stays in close to Marshall's body and controls the position.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall wants to control but Johnson passes easily into half guard.
Johnson wants to control but Marshall is keeping him busy.

Johnson has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Marshall defend it? Johnson steps over the head and cranks it - Marshall is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Johnson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Zander Johnson!