PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andy Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andy Graham has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Graham
vs
Johnston

195 cm
21
215 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

189 cm
23
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Andy Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jimmy Johnston!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston is looking to clinch but Graham is avoiding it.
Johnston tries to clinch but Graham is having none of it.
No luck for Graham with that takedown attempt.
Johnston with a lazy takedown attempt

and Graham counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Graham postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Johnston is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Graham, into his guard.

Graham had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Johnston is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Graham Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Johnston's back instead.

Johnston defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Graham's arms.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnston showing good submission defense here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston holding on to Graham's left wrist, preventing the choke.

Graham is looking for the choke from the back position but Johnston is controlling his hands well.

Graham has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Graham is breathing heavily.

Graham working for the choke.
Johnston tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's two 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.

Graham jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Johnston is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Johnston and Graham has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Johnston is looking to regain half guard here but Graham keeps moving and retains side control.

Graham swings around for an armbar but Johnston sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Graham's guard.
Johnston not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Graham looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston content to stall in guard here.

Graham escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnston gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnston is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Graham looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Johnston has picked Graham up and slammed him! Graham can't keep hold of the triangle and Johnston manages to pass to side control!

That's four 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.
Johnston scores with a couple of short elbows.
Graham tries to buck Johnston off but Johnston is having none of it.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Johnston really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Graham. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Johnston misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Johnston taking a breather here.
Graham is looking for a sweep.
Johnston throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Andy Graham will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Johnston throws a body punch but Graham moves out of range.
Johnston closes the distance but Graham moves to the side

so Graham counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Graham drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Johnston manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Graham has Johnston in his guard.

Graham working for submissions but it's allowed Johnston to get to half guard.
Johnston tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Graham.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Graham is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnston pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston working Graham over with strikes.

Graham actively working from the bottom here.
Johnston seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Graham actively working from the bottom here.

Graham is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnston pulls his head out easily.

Graham looking for subs from the bottom but Johnston mounts him!
Graham is wriggling around trying to escape.
Johnston controlling the pace for now.
Graham can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jimmy Johnston just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnston scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnston wants to clinch

and Graham counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johnston!
Graham avoids the attempt from Johnston to control.
Johnston is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Johnston tries to lock up and control but Graham gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Graham moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Johnston has worked his arm free - good work by Johnston!
Johnston gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Johnston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Graham's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Johnston tries to clinch but Graham moves out of range.
Johnston tries to clinch up.
Graham shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Johnston sprawls well. Johnston wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Graham gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnston moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Graham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnston throws a quick inside leg kick.
Andy Graham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnston tries to clinch up.
Graham keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston throws a quick inside leg kick.

Johnston has closed the distance and engaged Graham in a clinch.
Johnston lands a good knee to the midsection. Graham won't want to take too many of those.
Johnston lands a knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnston landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Johnston with a knee to the head.
Johnston unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Johnston stalling.
Johnston lands a knee to the head.
Johnston landing knees to the body.
Graham takes a knee right on the jaw!
Johnston with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Graham takes a knee right on the jaw!
Johnston tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Johnston misses with a knee to the head.
Graham managing to block the knees to the body from Johnston.
Johnston tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Graham avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Johnston landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Graham goes for a takedown in the clinch but Johnston prevents it.
Johnston is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Johnston prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnston displaying some good clinch control by pressing Graham up against the cage.
Johnston lands a knee to the body.
Johnston using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Johnston crunches a lovely knee into Graham's ribcage.
Graham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johnston pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Knees in the clinch landing for Johnston.
Johnston tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Graham avoids it.
Johnston tries a knee to the head but Graham blocks it.
Johnston with a knee to the head.
Graham changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Johnston fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnston tries to close the distance and clinch up but Graham swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnston fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnston fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnston is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Graham as Johnston shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Graham shoots for a takedown but Johnston saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnston is looking to clinch.

Johnston has closed the distance and engaged Graham in a clinch.
Johnston effectively controlling the action here.
Graham takes a knee to the side of the body.
Johnston with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnston lands a nice knee to the body.
Graham takes a knee right on the jaw!
Johnston scores a nice knee to the body.
Graham tries for a takedown but Johnston manages to get underhooks.
Johnston prevents the takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Johnston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johnston has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy Johnston!