PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between buzz cola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rock Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

cola
vs
Johnston

190 cm
19
150 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, buzz cola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rock Johnston!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston avoids the head kick by cola.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnston is defended easily by cola.
cola really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Johnston misses with a head kick.
cola closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnston circles away.
Good standup being displayed there by cola as he connects with a hook.
Johnston tries to close the distance and clinch but cola swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big right from Johnston misses.

cola gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Johnston with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Johnston comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like buzz cola has been cut.
Johnston misses with a knee strike.
cola takes an elbow to the temple.
Johnston misses with a knee to the head.

cola has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Johnston uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnston tries to free his leg and advance position but cola is retaining full guard.
cola wants to sweep here but Johnston controlling him for the moment.
Johnston trying to control the position from guard on top but cola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
cola is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Johnston got a little sloppy there for a moment and cola has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnston has managed to get both his arms back between cola's legs - danger averted.
cola wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnston trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
cola is looking to stand up but Johnston isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
cola fails with the takedown.

cola looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Johnston!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
cola is breathing heavily.
cola avoids the attempt from Johnston to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
cola is not going to allow Johnston to sit and survive in this position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - cola's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Johnston tries to escape but cola has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Johnston tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is trying desperately to improve position.
Johnston is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Johnston takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
cola sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Johnston tries to hold on but cola pushes him away.
cola unloads with some shots from mount but Johnston bucks and avoids them well.
cola throwing strikes here but Johnston is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four 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.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, cola cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
cola looking to finish with strikes here!
cola lands a heavy elbow.
A nice elbow there by cola.
cola throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Johnston tries to hold on but cola postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnston regains half guard.
Johnston trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

buzz cola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on buzz cola's cut.
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.

cola misses with a jab, cross combination.
cola tries to clinch but Johnston moves out of range.

Johnston moves into the clinch.
Johnston with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
cola with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
cola dodges an elbow strike from Johnston.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Johnston misses with a knee strike.
cola tries to land knees in the clinch but Johnston avoids the damage to the body.
Johnston tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Johnston tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
cola is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johnston pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
cola throws an elbow but it misses.
Johnston misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnston looking to throw knees to the head but cola is blocking nicely.
cola tries for a takedown but Johnston manages to get underhooks.
Johnston landing knees to the head.
cola drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for buzz cola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnston comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston tries to land knees in the clinch but cola avoids the damage to the body.
Johnston trying to control the position but instead, cola has worked for underhooks and has pushed Johnston into the cage.
cola goes for a takedown in the clinch but Johnston prevents it.
Johnston working cola over with knees to the body.
Johnston with a knee to the head.
cola tries to pull guard but Johnston holds him up against the cage and eventually cola drops back down to his feet.
Johnston tries a knee to the head but cola blocks it.
Johnston landing knees to the head.
cola lands a body punch in the clinch.
cola has had enough of the clinch but Johnston keeps him there for the moment.
Johnston looking to throw knees to the head but cola is blocking nicely.
Johnston with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Johnston gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
cola blocks an elbow strike.
cola fails to pull guard.

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.
Johnston throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but cola blocks it with crossed arms.
Johnston comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
cola has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Johnston avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
cola takes a knee right on the jaw!
Johnston misses with an elbow strike.
cola throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnston.
Johnston connects with a nasty looking knee right to cola's face.
cola tries to break free but Johnston pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for cola.
Johnston using the Thai plumb to throw knees but cola has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Johnston just misses with a elbow thrown towards cola's brow.

cola has hold of one of Johnston's legs. Johnston is fighting the takedown attempt but cola gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

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

Johnston has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but cola can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
cola preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
cola trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
cola lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Johnston keeping moving, preventing cola from controlling successfully.
cola wants to stand but Johnston has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Johnston is looking for a triangle but cola pushes his legs off easily.

That's four 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.
cola wants to get up but he can't break Johnston's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Johnston working for a triangle but cola defends it easily.

cola thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
cola will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnston trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rock Johnston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on buzz cola's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

cola lands a head kick!
cola fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnston avoids it really well and circles away.
Johnston scores with a three punch combo!
cola swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnston.
Johnston avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
cola fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rock Johnston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnston shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

cola is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnston is aware though and is defending well.

Johnston 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston wants to pass the guard but cola is keeping the position.

Johnston avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johnston sitting in guard, not really doing much.

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.
Johnston tries to free his leg and advance position but cola is retaining full guard.

cola pushes Johnston off and scrambles back to his feet.
cola keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnston moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
cola looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnston is fending him off so far but cola persists. Nope, Johnston circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for buzz cola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice uppercut there from Johnston.
cola throws a leg kick
and Johnston counters with a thumping low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston throws a head kick that misses.
Johnston takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johnston doesn't manage to clinch there - cola circles away.
cola avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
buzz cola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
cola tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnston paws at him with a jab and circles away.
cola doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnston counters with a low kick, right behind cola 's knee.

cola looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
cola wants to take a breather but Johnston is having none of it.
Johnston trying to hold on to cola's head to control him but cola postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

cola decides to return to a standing position.
cola throws a sloppy head kick and Johnston moves out of range easily.
Johnston looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Johnston steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from cola. That one must have hurt.
Johnston tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
cola tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnston darts in trying to clinch

and cola moves into the clinch.
Johnston using the Thai plumb to throw knees but cola has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Johnston throws an elbow but it misses.
Johnston throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but cola blocks it with crossed arms.

cola works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
cola trying to control but Johnston is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rock Johnston.
I think Johnston has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rock Johnston!