PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between joshua johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Foti Vasa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

johnson
vs
Vasa

180 cm
19
189 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

183 cm
18
199 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, joshua johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Foti Vasa!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasa throws a hook to the side of johnson's head but johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vasa throws a sloppy head kick and johnson moves out of range easily.

johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Vasa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vasa misses with a knee to the head.

Vasa gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vasa preventing the sweep.
Vasa slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Vasa postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vasa content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
johnson working a defensive guard but Vasa passes into half guard.
Vasa prevents johnson from standing back up.
johnson gets back to full guard.
Vasa working some strikes from top position.
Vasa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vasa wants to stand and escape but instead johnson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
johnson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vasa's guard.
johnson passes Vasa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Vasa striking from the bottom.
Vasa wants to improve his position but johnson is controlling well.
johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vasa defending well though.
Vasa trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vasa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Vasa is trying to stand up here but johnson is controlling him well.
johnson wants to stand but Vasa has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vasa fails with the takedown.
Vasa looks gassed!
johnson throws a nice head kick!
Vasa swinging wilding here.
johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vasa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Vasa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
johnson wants to get back to his feet but Vasa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

Vasa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Vasa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
joshua johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Foti Vasa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasa misses with a few strikes there.
johnson lands a head kick!
Vasa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
johnson throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
johnson tries to clinch up but Vasa circles away and keeps his distance.
Vasa avoids a punch combination nicely.

Vasa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Foti Vasa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vasa gets a takedown into half guard.
johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Vasa tries to pass the half guard into mount. johnson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Vasa wants to stand up but johnson is controlling the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. johnson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Vasa is breathing heavily.
johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
johnson keeping moving, preventing Vasa from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
johnson striking off his back but it's not causing Vasa any problems.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
johnson moves out of range of the strikes.
Vasa fails with an attempt to clinch.
johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Vasa counters with a nice double leg into guard.
johnson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Vasa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
johnson is trying to keep Vasa in close.
johnson pulls Vasa in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasa throws a big right hand that misses.
Vasa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Vasa lands a couple of decent looking shots.
johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vasa.
Vasais looking to pass into half guard but johnson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now johnson is in guard.

johnson drops back looking for a leg! Vasa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vasa manages to kick johnson off! johnson jumps back into Vasa's guard.
Foti Vasa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vasa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for johnson!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Vasa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
johnson tries to hold on but Vasa pushes him away.
Vasa looking to finish johnson with some ground and pound. This is bad for johnson!
Vasa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. johnson looks a forlorn figure.
Vasa lands with some vicious ground and pound - can johnson hang on?
Vasa content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasa tries to control but johnson wriggling away.
johnson 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.

Vasa decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

johnson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Vasa to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Vasa scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Foti Vasa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Vasa leaves johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
johnson wants to stall.
A body shot lands from Vasa.
johnson looking to stall.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vasa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
johnson tries for a takedown but Vasa manages to get underhooks.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
johnson jumps guard but Vasa stands there with johnson around his waist. johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for joshua johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vasa has johnson pressed against the cage.

Vasa has clasped his hands together around johnson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vasa decides to stand back up.
Vasa throws a combination that misses
and johnson counters with a solid body kick.
johnson misses with a takedown

and Vasa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Vasa sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Vasa gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
johnson throws a head kick but Vasa moves out of range.
johnson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
johnson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Vasa counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Vasa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vasa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vasa is looking to stand up but johnson won't let him.
Vasa works over johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
Vasa is looking to advance position but johnson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
johnson dominating with strikes here.
Vasa is squirming around, avoiding johnson's attempts to control the action.
Vasa regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasa wants to sweep but johnson has passed to side control!
Vasa is looking for a sweep.
johnson trying to control the position but Vasa is working away.
johnson lands a nice forearm strike.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vasa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vasa is trying to get back to half guard.

johnson stands up and beckons Vasa to his feet.

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.

Vasa instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Vasa controlling the action here for a moment.
johnson is pressed up against the cage. Vasa 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.
johnson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
johnson moves out of range of the body kick from Vasa.

Vasa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming johnson to the mat! johnson manages to get full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vasa is controlling him.
Vasa tries to stand but johnson is controlling from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Foti Vasa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vasa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Foti Vasa!