PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gata Lesatele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dick Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lesatele comes into the arena with Lole Usoalii Arise Tu i Luga blaring out of the sound system. Johnson has chosen Mosh as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Lesatele
vs
Johnson

166 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gata Lesatele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dick Johnson!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lesatele circles away.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Lesatele darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Lesatele there.
Lesatele takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lesatele knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Johnson pushes Lesatele off looking to stand but Lesatele dives back in and keeps control.
Lesatele is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson tries to kick Lesatele off but Lesatele keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lesatele is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lesatele is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lesatele decides to return to a standing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesatele scores with a jab. Johnson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lesatele circles away from the clinch attempt.

Lesatele darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.

Lesatele pulls guard effortlessly.
Johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lesatele is proving hard to escape from.

Lesatele throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Johnson wants to get up but he can't break Lesatele's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Johnson looks gassed!
Lesatele doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Lesatele is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Johnson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lesatele's guard.
Lesatele striking from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Lesatele drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lesatele controlling from the top position.

Lesatele decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Lesatele defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.

Lesatele shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lesatele showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lesatele is working for a kimura but Johnson is defending it quite comfortably.
Lesatele prevents Johnson from standing back up.
Still in half guard, Lesatele seems content to control.

Lesatele stands up from half guard.
Johnson lands a lovely overhand right.
Johnson tries to clinch but Lesatele moves away

and Lesatele counters by clinching up.

Lesatele pulls guard successfully.

Lesatele has his foot on Johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnson works his way back into a safe position though.
Lesatele trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lesatele is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lesatele pushes Johnson off and scrambles back to his feet.
Johnson misses with a hook. Lesatele ducked under it nicely.
A big left from Johnson misses.
Lesatele throws a one two combo.

Lesatele shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lesatele showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnson is trying to stand back up but Lesatele is controlling him
Lesatele controlling the action here.
Lesatele is keen to just control but Johnson is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice defenses there by Lesatele.
Johnson wants to clinch

and Lesatele counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lesatele chips away with some ground and pound.
Lesatele prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Johnson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Johnson is working an open guard so Lesatele takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Lesatele looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Johnson pushes Lesatele off but Lesatele dives into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Lesatele is dominant here and he's now got Johnson's back!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Lesatele controlling the positon.
Johnson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesatele scores with strikes from the back.
Johnson has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Lesatele controls the position.
The referee is taking a good look at Johnson as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Lesatele!

That's two 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 looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Lesatele loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Johnson hold on?
Lesatele has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Johnson.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Gata Lesatele overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is covering up but some of the strikes from Lesatele are getting through and doing damage.
Lesatele scores with punches from the back.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Lesatele connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Johnson to escape the position.
Lesatele lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Johnson hold on?!
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lesatele cracks Johnson with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Johnson from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Lesatele trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Johnson doesn't escape.
Johnson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lesatele scores with punches to the body.
Johnson trying to get back to his feet but Lesatele is in full control for now.
A lull in the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gata Lesatele dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johnson throws a head kick that misses

and Lesatele counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lesatele.
Lesatele's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lesatele has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lesatele stops Johnson from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lesatele distracts Johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Lesatele decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Johnson misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson clinches but Lesatele breaks the clinch

and Lesatele counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johnson!
Lesatele controlling the position easily from mount.
Lesatele working Johnson over with strikes 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.
Lesatele landing strikes, looking to finish!
Johnson is trying to stand up.
Lesatele looking to finish Johnson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Johnson!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Lesatele can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Johnson really wants to buck Lesatele off and get back to his feet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Lesatele cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Lesatele has control of Johnson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Johnson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Lesatele.
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.
Lesatele raining down shots from the mount!
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Lesatele's attempts to control the action.
Lesatele lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Johnson hang on?
Lesatele trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lesatele pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Johnson tries to buck Lesatele off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lesatele scoring with strikes but Johnson is staying in there.
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.
Johnson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Johnson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Dick Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gata Lesatele is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lesatele takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gata Lesatele showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lesatele has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gata Lesatele!