PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steve Tigechelar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahmed Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Johnson's choice of entrance music: C.R.E.A.M.. This should be fireworks!

Tigechelar
vs
Johnson

166 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

155 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Biobonds Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Tigechelar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ahmed Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Tigechelar shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson misses with a hook.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Tigechelar avoids it well.

Tigechelar drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tigechelar trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tigechelar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tigechelar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Tigechelar tries to pass.

Tigechelar thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tigechelar distracts Johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tigechelar is controlling him.

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

Johnson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Johnson in side control, throwing shots but Tigechelar defends.
Tigechelar wants to control but Johnson postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Johnson lands a few punches from side control.
Tigechelar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Johnson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Johnson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Tigechelar works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

Tigechelar looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tigechelar trying to control here.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Tigechelar dodges it nicely.
Johnson prevents Tigechelar from improving his position.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tigechelar slips a jab and a cross from Johnson.
Tigechelar has his takedown stuffed

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Tigechelar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson looks gassed!
Tigechelar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Tigechelar is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tigechelar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnson cracks Tigechelar with a solid left hand.

Tigechelar is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson wants to get up but he can't break Tigechelar's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tigechelar is keeping the position for now.
Johnson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tigechelar will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Johnson is working Tigechelar over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tigechelar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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

Johnson defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tigechelar throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Tigechelar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Johnson lands a couple of elbows.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson working some strikes from top position.
Tigechelar controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Tigechelar wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tigechelar lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.
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 Steve Tigechelar will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Johnson misses with a takedown attempt

and Tigechelar counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.

Tigechelar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tigechelar lands a nice forearm strike.
Tigechelar wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.

Tigechelar thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Tigechelar looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tigechelar wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Tigechelar is putting a hurting on Johnson here, landing some big shots from side control.

Tigechelar thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tigechelar working the body and head with strikes.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Tigechelar keeps moving and retains side control.
Johnson taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tigechelar creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Johnson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Tigechelar tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Tigechelar swings around for an armbar but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tigechelar's guard.
Johnson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tigechelar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tigechelar is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Johnson gets to his feet. Tigechelar looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Some wild striking there from Johnson.
Tigechelar fails with the takedown

and Johnson moves into the clinch.

Johnson has picked Tigechelar up - he's going for a ride! Johnson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Johnson prevents Tigechelar from improving his position.

Tigechelar looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
Tigechelar is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson drops an elbow to the side of Tigechelar's head.
Johnson prevents Tigechelar from improving his position.
Steve Tigechelar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tigechelar counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tigechelar throwing strikes from guard but Johnson blocks nicely.
Tigechelar tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Johnson 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tigechelar advances position into side control!
Tigechelar has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Johnson!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Tigechelar dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tigechelar misses with a takedown

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Johnson is trying to trip Tigechelar. He has hold of a leg but Tigechelar is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Johnson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Tigechelar has wrist control.
Johnson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tigechelar is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Johnson tries to stand but Tigechelar is controlling from the bottom.

Tigechelar looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Johnson is defending well. Tigechelar quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Johnson has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Tigechelar celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Steve Tigechelar!