PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Chan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Johns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Chan
vs
Johns

179 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jerome Chan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Johns!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Eliza Hachem and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Johns pulls Chan in close to prevent any damage.
Chan throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johns seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Chan trying to control the position from guard on top but Johns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johns has his hands on Chan's head, controlling the position.
Chan wants to stand but Johns has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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

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.
Chan controlling Johns's posture.
Johns showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Johns drops back looking for a leg! Chan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Chan manages to kick Johns off! Johns jumps back into Chan's guard.

Johns 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johns accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

Chan shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Johns is trying to defend but Chan finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Johns is not content to let Chan control the position.
Chan is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chan tries to pass the half guard into mount. Johns knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Chan is keen to just control but Johns is a slippery customer.
Chan thows a huge punch but Johns dodges it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chan wants to pass to mount but Johns is defending the position.
Chan passes to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Chan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice takedown defense from Johns. No joy for Chan on that attempt.

Chan tries to keep at a distance but Johns has taken the fight into the clinch.
Chan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Chan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Chan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johns but Johns pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johns has his takedown stuffed
and Chan counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Johns counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Chan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johns drops back looking for a leg! Chan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Chan manages to kick Johns off! Johns jumps back into Chan's guard.
Johns not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Johns throwing strikes but missing.
Johns trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Chan is trying to keep Johns in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johns thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Chan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johns doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johns manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Johns thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Johns looking to sit in guard and control but Chan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Johns 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johns is keeping the position for now.

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

Johns 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.

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.
Chan is trying to control the position but Johns postures up.

Chan is working an open guard so Johns takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Johns shoots and misses

and Chan counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johns won't be happy with that.
Chan misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Chan swings around for an armbar but Johns sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Chan's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Johns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Chan tries to clinch there but Johns circles away.

Chan rushes Johns and presses him up against the cage.
Johns wants a takedown but no success here.
Johns prevents a takedown attempt there.
Chan gets underhooks to prevent Johns's takedown attempt.

Chan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johns shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Chan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Jerome Chan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Johns.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johns is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Chan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Chan shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Johns napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johns keeps working.
Johns is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Chan's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Chan is trying to work for a kimura but Johns is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johns is pressing down on Chan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Chan wants to control from the top but Johns keeps moving.
Chan throws and elbow that misses. Johns uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Chan's guard. Nice move by Johns!
Johns lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johns 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.
Johns is looking to stand up but Chan won't let him.
Chan wants to sweep here but Johns controlling him for the moment.
Chan working a defensive guard here.
Chan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Johns is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

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

and Chan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johns!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johns is looking to improve his position but Chan isn't that keen on the idea.
Johns wants to hold on but Chan pushes him away.
Chan looking to control but Johns is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerome Chan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Chan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerome Chan!