PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Persius Masters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rock Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Masters
vs
Johnston

178 cm
23
160 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Persius Masters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rock Johnston!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston lands a high kick!

Masters gets a takedown into half guard.
Johnston is trying to control but Masters passes into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnston sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Johnston tries to kick Masters off but Masters keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Masters is keen to just control but Johnston is a slippery customer.
Johnston wants to get back to his feet.
Masters controlling the action here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Masters lands a nice short elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Masters lands a nice short elbow.
Johnston slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters with a nice head shot there.
Masters trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masters stands up over Johnston, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Johnston utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Masters trying to control but Johnston is working from the bottom.
Masters has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johnston wants to sweep but no luck.
Masters trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Masters stands up over Johnston, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Johnston is trying to keep Masters in close.
Johnston looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Masters thows a big elbow that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Masters throws a nice looking combination but Johnston bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Masters fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnston avoids it really well and circles away.
Masters keeps the fight on the outside.
Masters fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Masters stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Johnston.
Masters is breathing heavily.

Masters closes the distance and pushes Johnston back into the cage.
Johnston working Masters over with knees to the body.
Johnston lands with a light punch inside.
Johnston throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Masters blocks it with crossed arms.
Masters avoiding damage as Johnston throws knees to the body.
Johnston working hard to break the clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masters shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Johnston is trying to defend but Masters finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Johnston is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Masters's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Masters's back!
Johnston has good solid back control here.
Johnston lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Masters is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
I would not like to be Masters right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston scores with punches to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rock Johnston will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnston is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Masters.
Masters throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Masters working away.
Johnston is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Masters has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Masters scores with a couple of short elbows.
Johnston is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Johnston sneaks back into half guard.
Masters trying to control from half guard but Johnston is working away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnston is looking to control Masters's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnston avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Masters drops an elbow to the side of Johnston's head.
Johnston manages to get to full guard.
Masters throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnston works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnston wants to stand up but Masters is controlling him.
Masters with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Masters avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnston dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

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.
Johnston wants to clinch.
Johnston wants to clinch.
Masters slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnston, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Masters fails with the takedown
and Johnston counters with a series of strikes. Masters will be more careful next time no doubt.

Johnston shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Johnston wanted to stand there but Masters had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston trying to control but Masters is working from the bottom.

Johnston decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Masters tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnston swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Persius Masters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A right-left combo lands from Johnston.
Masters takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnston scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Masters misses with a takedown
enabling Johnston to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnston moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Masters closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnston circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Persius Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masters walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Masters circles away from the clinch attempt.

Johnston has Masters up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnston lands a good knee to the midsection. Masters won't want to take too many of those.
Masters blocking some punches.
Johnston lands an elbow inside.
Johnston is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Masters keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnston's efforts to push away.
Johnston creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Johnston trying to stall but Masters improves his position.
Johnston misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Masters.
Masters blocks an elbow strike.

Masters wants the takedown. Johnston is fighting it off but Masters persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Johnston's guard against the cage.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Johnston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Masters clinches up with Johnston and pushes him back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Masters dodges an elbow strike from Johnston.
Johnston can't find room to land a body shot as Masters controls the action.
Johnston with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Johnston throws an elbow but it misses.

Masters turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Johnston is trying to improve his position.
Johnston manages to work his way to half guard, despite Masters's best efforts.
Persius Masters overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnston moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnston wants to get back to his feet but Masters is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston has momentary wrist control but Masters slips an elbow through the middle.
Masters knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnston on the ground.
Johnston wants to stand but Masters is controlling the position.
Johnston looking to control.
Masters wants to pass the guard but Johnston is keeping the position.
Johnston avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnston pulls Masters in close to his closed guard and prevents Masters from doing any damage or advancing position.
Masters trying to control but Johnston is working from the bottom.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Johnston with a lazy takedown attempt

and Masters counters with a takedown into side control.
Masters working the ground and pound from side control.
Johnston taking a bit of punishment here - Masters scoring with strikes.
Johnston avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Masters.
Johnston avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Masters.
Johnston taking a bit of punishment here - Masters scoring with strikes.
Johnston wants to get back to his feet.

Johnston throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Masters or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnston which made him look bad.
Johnston tries to close the distance and clinch up but Masters swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Johnston rushes Masters and presses him up against the cage.
Johnston creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Masters's defenses.
Masters has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Johnston is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Johnston is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Johnston seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Johnston stops a takedown attempt from Masters.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Persius Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnston creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Masters's defenses.
Johnston connects with a knee to the head.
Johnston prevents the takedown attempt.

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

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.

Masters shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Johnston napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Masters lands a decent elbow from side control.
Johnston manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Masters sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnston defending well though.
Masters looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Masters misses with a head shot. Johnston uses the momentum to regain guard.
Masters postures up and lands a big shot to Johnston's brow.
Johnston utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnston scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Persius Masters has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rock Johnston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Masters throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Persius Masters showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

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