PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between jason day (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rick Johnson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

day
vs
Johnson

187 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

182 cm
24
185 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, jason day!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Johnson!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
day lands a slapping body shot.

Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Johnson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Johnson throws an elbow but day slips to the side and avoids it well.
Johnson with the ground and pound but day regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Johnson lands a nice short elbow.
day avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
day on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if day tries to get out of the position.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
day is breathing heavily.
Johnson thows a huge punch but day dodges it nicely.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
day blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. day defending well though.

Johnson decides to return to a standing position.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but day shows good takedown defense.
Johnson swinging wildly here.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - day sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
jason day has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Johnson.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
day with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but day avoids it really well and circles away.
A slapping leg kick lands for day.
day misses with a head kick.
day looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's two 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.
day misses with an attempted mid kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
day is trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson lands a few punches from side control.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson throws an elbow but day slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Johnson landing strikes.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Johnson scoring with punches from side control.
Johnson scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson cracks day with a big right hand but day just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Johnson throws an elbow but day slips to the side and avoids it well.
Johnson scores with punches from side control.
Johnson is chipping away with strikes.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Johnson working the ground and pound.
Johnson working the body and head with strikes.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but day is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson scores with punches from side control.
Johnson lands a nice forearm strike.

Johnson stands up.
day throws a low kick but Johnson avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson lands with a punch from half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson lands with a punch from half guard.

Johnson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
day leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Johnson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Johnson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice takedown defense from day. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
day throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but day sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
jason day has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Johnson.
Johnson looks for a takedown but day sprawls well.
day throws a hook but Johnson avoids it easily.
day displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
day throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Johnson counters with a left and a right that stings day.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but day shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
day connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Johnson tries to score a power double leg takedown but day sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johnson somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around day's waist but day gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
day misses with a head kick.

Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Johnson landing a few strikes.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
Johnson in side control, throwing shots but day defends.
Johnson working away.
Johnson scores with a couple of short elbows.
day tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Johnson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused day some visible discomfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a few punches from side control.
Johnson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
day takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
day tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.
day is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Johnson landing strikes.
Johnson working away.

Johnson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by day which made him look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. day sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? day is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, day circles away and we're back to standing.
day scores with a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson tries for a takedown but day sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
day throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Johnson tries to score a power double leg takedown but day sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johnson somewhat.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson throws a series of strikes that have day backpedaling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
day wants to land a leg kick but Johnson is out of range.

Johnson clinches up with day and pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
day is trying to stall.
Johnson lands an elbow just above day 's eye.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
day looks to throw a body kick

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into side control. day won't be happy with that.
day taking a bit of punishment here - Johnson scoring with strikes.
Johnson working the ground and pound from side control.
day wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson working the ground and pound but day is defending the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Johnson 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Johnson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
day stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and day wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts day as he jumps to the side.
day lands with a nice combination. Johnson backs away looking to recover.
Nice takedown defense from day. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
jason day has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Johnson.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but day sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
day throws a sloppy head kick

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Johnson lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
day tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson is working for takedown but day is calmly controlling the position for now.
day drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Johnson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and day counters with an inside leg kick.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by day which made him look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
day lands a head kick!
day stuffs the takedown.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but day shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
jason day is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. day tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. day manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A shot to de liver by day. Beautiful body shot.
Johnson fails with the takedown.

That's two 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.
day throws a head kick that Johnson semi-blocks.
day stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but day saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
day lands with a kick to the ribs.
Rick Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
day scores with a spinning back kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
day throws a head kick that misses

and Johnson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

day is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
day 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 postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but day has wrist control.
day avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rick Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
day wants to stand and escape but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson postures up in day's guard and throws a big left but day blocks 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 for a takedown. He's persisting with it as day sprawls well. day wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson with a poor takedown
and day counters with a solid body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but day paws at him with a jab and circles away.
day throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Johnson pushes day back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Johnson.

Johnson shoots in and bounces day off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.
jason day has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
day is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.

day is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.
Rick Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rick Johnson.
I've got Johnson 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 Suge Night scores the fight for Rick Johnson!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Rick Johnson!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Rick Johnson!

Rick Johnson wins by unanimous decision!