PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brett Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Johnson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Johnson
vs
Bender

186 cm
19
184 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brett Bender!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Bender.

Johnson closes the distance and pushes Bender back into the cage.
Johnson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Johnson tightens his grip and picks Bender up, before dumping him to the ground. Bender manages to land in guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bender can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bender keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.

Bender is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
A nice right hand lands inside from Johnson.
Johnson lands with a left to the head.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bender is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bender prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Johnson.

Johnson pulls guard effortlessly.
Johnson wants to stand but Bender is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Johnson trying to strike off his back.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Bender chips away with some ground and pound.
Johnson can't keep his opponent in guard - Bender advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bender is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Well, if Bender is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Bender seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nice strikes from Bender there.
Johnson is pressing down on Bender's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.
Bender trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bender content to stall in guard here.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bender postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bender with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bender lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bender distracts Johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Bender tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bender is standing up over Johnson. Johnson looks to escape but Bender dives into side control.
Bender lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Johnson down.
Johnson tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Bender has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Bender looks gassed!
Johnson is not content to let Bender control the position.
Johnson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bender prevents Johnson from escaping the position.
Bender wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson tries to bench press Bender off him but Bender keeps the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bender swivels and escapes.
Johnson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bender is out of range and Johnson settles back down.
Bender throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Bender stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bender but Bender pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bender throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.

Johnson takes the fight into the clinch.
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Bender has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnson down to the mat. Johnson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brett Bender will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bender will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bender jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Bender shows good takedown defense.
Bender pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson tries a low kick but Bender avoids it.
Bender swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bender counters with a two punch combo.
Bender stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bender tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Bender sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bender!
Bender is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson unloads with some shots from mount but Bender bucks and avoids them well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws some wild stikes that Bender manages to avoid easily.
Bender holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Johnson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Johnson punching from mount but Bender doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Johnson has control of Bender's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Bender regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Johnson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

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.
Bender is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Bender suckers Johnson into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Bender is now in Johnson's guard!
Johnson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
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.
Johnson trying to strike off his back.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bender's guard.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Johnson drops back looking for a leg! Bender is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bender manages to kick Johnson off! Johnson jumps back into Bender's guard.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson pushes down on Bender's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Johnson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Bender controls his leg.

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.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Bender defends it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bender pinned against the cage. Bender gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
John Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bender pinned against the cage. Bender gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson connects with a body shot.
Bender stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bender wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bender's waist but Bender gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Some wild striking there from Bender.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Johnson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bender throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
John Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bender misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Bender backs up against the cage.

Johnson forces Bender back against the cage and clinches.

Johnson pulls guard.
Bender pushes down on Johnson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are battling for position here. Johnson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bender pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bender slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Bender is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Johnson regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bender won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
Bender postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.

Bender avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bender wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Bender working some strikes from top position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bender has a takedown stuffed.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bender sprawls well. Bender wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Bender sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bender is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bender defending well though.

Johnson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
John Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Bender dodges it nicely.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender is trying to stand up here but Johnson is controlling him well.

Johnson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bender sees it coming and defends easily.
Bender avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.

Johnson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bender doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Johnson.
Johnson working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Bender's thigh. Bender counters though and makes it back to full guard.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bender checks it well.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bender tries to score a body lock takedown but Johnson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Johnson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bender uses from the top position.

Johnson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bender defends well.
Bender trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

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