PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Troy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Herb Hurt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Johnson
vs
Hurt

185 cm
19
170 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
172 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Troy Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Herb Hurt!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries a low kick but Hurt avoids it.
Hurt slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Johnson, as that shot connected.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Johnson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hurt wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hurt is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnson's back!
Johnson looking very determined here, making life difficult for Hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hurt is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Johnson is defending well though. Hurt let's go of the attempt for now.
Hurt doesn't have the hooks in and Johnson manages to turn into his guard.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Hurt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Johnson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Johnson is in close to Hurt's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Hurt working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Johnson postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Hurt is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Johnson trying to control but Hurt is working from the bottom.
Hurt wants to sweep but no luck.
Hurt is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.

Hurt throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hurt looks gassed!
Johnson is in close to Hurt's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson works over Hurt with some ground and pound from guard.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Hurt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Johnson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hurt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Johnson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hurt 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.

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.

Hurt looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Hurt keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.
Hurt swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.

Johnson has managed to clinch.
Hurt goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Troy 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.

Hurt changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Hurt manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hurt manages to avoid it.
Troy Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Hurt shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson swings for the body but Hurt moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hurt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hurt takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hurt shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Hurt's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Troy Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Herb Hurt.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Hurt sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hurt circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hurt moves forwards but Johnson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hurt moves out of range of the body kick from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a takedown

and Hurt counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hurt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hurt thows a big elbow that misses.
Hurt pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Hurt passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hurt wants to pass the guard but Johnson is defending well.

Hurt wants to work for an arm triangle but Johnson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hurt is breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hurt is looking to clinch.
Johnson throws a lazy body kick

and Hurt holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Johnson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hurt drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Johnson gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurt is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johnson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hurt looking for a takedown.
Johnson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson lands a nice shot that snaps Hurt's head back.

Johnson gets caught flat footed, as Hurt shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hurt manages to get himself to full guard.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hurt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson content to stall in guard here.
Johnson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Johnson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hurt tries to buck Johnson off but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Hurt!
Hurt really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Johnson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hurt can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Troy Johnson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson lands a nice shot to the body.
Hurt avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Johnson clobbers Hurt with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hurt moves out of range of the body kick from Johnson.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Hurt pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Hurt drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Johnson is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Johnson clinches up with Hurt and pushes him back against the cage.
Hurt is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Johnson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
A jab from Johnson misses.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hurt napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Hurt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hurt is looking for a sweep.
Johnson trying to control the action but Hurt is working from the bottom.
Hurt manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control but Hurt is keeping him busy.
Johnson stalling.
Hurt pushes Johnson off looking to stand but Johnson dives back in and keeps control.
Hurt is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson trying to control from half guard but Hurt is working away.
Hurt tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Herb Hurt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson content to control rather than advance.
Hurt is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hurt moves into full guard.
Johnson content to stall in guard here.

Hurt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Johnson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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.
Hurt is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hurt tries to pass the half guard into mount. Johnson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hurt is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.
Hurt lands strikes from half guard.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Hurt is very close to passing his half guard.
Hurt misses with a head shot. Johnson uses the momentum to regain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Troy Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Troy Johnson!