PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ciccio Barrese (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and john johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Barrese
vs
johnson

195 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ciccio Barrese!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, john johnson!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Franklyn Lucas and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
johnson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Barrese's head.

johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barrese creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through johnson's defenses.

It looks like john johnson has been cut.
Barrese has johnson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. johnson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Barrese lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Barrese is looking to control johnson's arms but johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Barrese has his back to the cage.
Barrese gets through johnson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from johnson fails to land.

Barrese breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Barrese shoots for a takedown but johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Barrese wants to clinch

and johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barrese's guard.
Barrese working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from johnson.
Barrese keeping moving, preventing johnson from controlling successfully.
johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrese is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst johnson is controlling him.
johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barrese is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
johnson wants to pass the guard but Barrese is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
johnson lands a head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barrese gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and johnson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by johnson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ciccio Barrese. That's going to take a lot out of him.

johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barrese is trying to drag johnson to the mat but johnson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Barrese avoiding damage as johnson throws knees to the body.
johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Barrese gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Barrese managing to block the knees to the body from johnson.
Barrese tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Barrese fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Barrese is breathing heavily.
johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barrese smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Barrese is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
johnson throwing strikes from guard but Barrese blocks nicely.
johnson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Barrese really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

johnson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barrese.
Barrese tries to land a body kick

and johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barrese's guard.
johnson is stalling in the full guard.
Let's hope that johnson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

john johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on john johnson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Barrese tries to keep at a distance but johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barrese blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barrese is looking to break free of the clinch but johnson has double underhooks.
johnson is looking to control Barrese's arms but Barrese gets an underhook and turns him. Now johnson has his back to the cage.
Barrese lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Barrese tries for a takedown. No joy.
johnson looking to throw knees to the head but Barrese is blocking nicely.

Barrese escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

johnson scores a takedown into full mount!
johnson controlling the position easily from mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barrese is squirming around, avoiding johnson's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson looking to finish with strikes here!

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 looking to finish with strikes here!
johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barrese is looking to escape.
Barrese looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrese looking very determined here, making life difficult for johnson.
Barrese turns into johnson and is now in his guard.

johnson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barrese defends well.
johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Barrese with a flurry of punches that miss.
johnson has his hands on Barrese's head, controlling the position.
Barrese has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Despite being in the dominant position, john johnson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barrese with a poor takedown

and johnson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by johnson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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.

Barrese has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

john johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on john johnson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barrese swats away the attempt to clinch by johnson.
Barrese fails with the takedown

and johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Barrese looking to stall.
johnson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
johnson misses with some punches.
johnson missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Barrese holding his opponent close, against the cage.
johnson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
johnson is trying to force a seperation but Barrese has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson keeps control of Barrese as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
johnson misses with a knee to the head.
Barrese jumps guard but johnson stands there with Barrese around his waist. Barrese gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Barrese is trying to break the clinch but johnson is controlling him.
Barrese tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. johnson just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ciccio Barrese. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barrese managing to block the knees to the body from johnson.
Barrese is trying to work for a single leg takedown but johnson pulls him back up using the underhooks.

johnson pulls guard effortlessly.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now johnson is on top in guard.
johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrese is trying to hold johnson in close to prevent damage but johnson has managed to pass into half guard.
johnson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barrese on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Barrese trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but johnson manages to pass to mount!
johnson controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrese can't escape the position.
johnson looking to control but Barrese is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
john johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Barrese is desperately trying to improve his position but johnson has a good base and remains in mount.
johnson controlling from the full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
johnson throws some wild stikes that Barrese manages to avoid easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
john johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well johnson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... john johnson!