PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maeda Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greg Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Machado
vs
Johnson

190 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

193 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Win Nutritional

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maeda Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Greg Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Johnson not doing much here.
Machado trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Johnson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Johnson is keen to just control but Machado is a slippery customer.
Machado is trying to control but can't.
Machado is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
The fighters circling - Johnson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Machado. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Machado won't allow Johnson to pass to mount.
Machado is trying to get back to full guard.
Machado 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!
Machado is looking to control Johnson but Johnson is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Machado struggling to land strikes to the head as Johnson covers up.
Machado 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.

That's two 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.
Johnson trying to control the position but Machado manages to sink in the hooks.
Johnson is keeping busy.
Johnson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Machado trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Machado prevents Johnson from improving his position.
Johnson wants to control but Machado is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Machado tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Machado didn't expect that.
Machado is breathing heavily.
Machado preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson throws a strike but Machado rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Machado postures up.
Johnson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Machado wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Machado looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machado 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.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johnson can do anything to dispel that myth.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Machado fails with the takedown

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Machado's guard.
Johnson tries to stand but Machado is controlling from the bottom.
Machado looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Johnson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to Machado's temple.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Johnson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Machado throws a right and a left that both miss.
Machado shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnson counters with a nice kick to the body.
Johnson connects with a solid leg kick.
Machado tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Johnson working Machado over with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machado wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson throwing shots but Machado is blocking nicely.
Johnson is trying to control. Machado wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson prevents Machado from improving his position.
Johnson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
Machado is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Johnson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Johnson trying to control the position but Machado is working away.
Johnson cracks Machado with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Machado's face as Johnson controls the position.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Machado is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Machado is trying to improve his position.

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

Johnson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Machado moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Machado is working from the bottom.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machado is keeping the position for now.
Machado looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Machado throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Johnson escapes and throws Machado's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Machado stops Johnson from passing to mount.

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.
Machado tries to buck Johnson off but Johnson is having none of it.
Greg Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson scoring with punches from side control.

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

Johnson scores with a takedown into Machado's guard.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Machado is keeping the position.

Machado 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 is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

Johnson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Johnson wants to control but Machado is keeping him busy.
Machado is looking for a sweep.
Johnson trying to control the action but Machado is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to advance to mount but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
You can see the frustration on Machado's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.
Machado wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Machado has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Johnson is trying to maintain a safe position but Machado gets an underhook and turns Johnson into the cage.
Johnson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Machado using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Johnson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two 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.

Johnson breaks the clinch.

Johnson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnson lands in his opponent's guard.
Johnson is stalling in the full guard.
Machado 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 is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Johnson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Machado looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Machado looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Machado looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Machado keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Machado misses with a takedown attempt

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Machado!
Machado tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Machado is in all sorts of trouble here.
Maeda Machado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.
Johnson landing shots from mount.
Johnson content just to control the position here.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Machado sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Greg 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

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