PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Borden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnson
vs
Borden

177 cm
22
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Robert Borden!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Borden, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Borden against the cage but Borden circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Borden.
Borden is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Johnson's shoulder. That is not cool.
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Borden's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson trying to hold on to Borden's head to control him but Borden postures up.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Borden on the ground.
Borden trying to control the pace.
Johnson is trying to stand.
Johnson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Borden trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Borden has control of the leg.
Johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Borden drives through with a takedown into guard.

Borden gets to his feet - Johnson follows without any prompting.
Johnson with a lazy takedown attempt

so Borden counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Borden passes into half guard.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Borden is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Johnson won't allow Borden to pass to mount.
Johnson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Borden has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to hold on but Borden postures up.
Johnson is working to get back to half guard.
Borden looking to control but Johnson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Borden controlling from mount.
Johnson wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Johnson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borden controlling from the back.

Borden looking for the RNC.
Johnson tries to roll but Borden sticks to his back.
Johnson just trying to survive but Borden is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Borden is looking for the choke from the back position but Johnson is controlling his hands well.
Johnson breaks Borden's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Borden has his foot on Johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnson works his way back into a safe position though.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Johnson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Johnson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Johnson drops back looking for a leg! Borden is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Borden manages to kick Johnson off! Johnson jumps back into Borden's guard.
Borden seems keen to control Johnson's posture.

Johnson has gone for a leg lock! Borden slips out almost immediately though and dives into Johnson's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Borden dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Johnson misses with a takedown

and Borden decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Borden lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Johnson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Borden puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

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

Borden clinches.

Borden has hold of one of Johnson's legs. Johnson is fighting the takedown attempt but Borden gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Borden passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Johnson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johnson tries to get out of the position.
Borden gets to mount! Johnson was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Borden patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Borden is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Johnson. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Johnson trying to control but not successfully.
Borden keeps control of the position as Johnson tries to break free.

Johnson is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Johnson rolls, trying to escape but Borden keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Borden controlling well, preventing Johnson from escaping the position.
Borden controls the action.
Johnson trying to control but not successfully.
Johnson is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to escape but Borden has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Borden's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Borden cracks Johnson with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Johnson from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Johnson tries to roll but Borden sticks to his back.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but Borden has full control of the position and if anything, Johnson has just worked his way into a worse spot.
I really don't envy Johnson right now.
Borden controls the position.
Johnson tries to roll but Borden sticks to his back.
What can Johnson do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

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.
Borden loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Johnson hold on?
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Borden's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Johnson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Borden's guard. Nice work there by Johnson.
Borden is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.

Johnson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Borden is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Borden has escaped and now he's on top!
Borden pushes down on Johnson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Borden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Johnson tries to clinch up

and Borden counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Borden content to control rather than advance.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Borden pulls his head out easily.

Borden stands up out of the half guard.

Borden closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.

Borden pulls guard.
Johnson wants to stand but Borden has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borden controlling from the top position.
Borden wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

Johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Borden is aware though and is defending well.
Johnson can't keep his opponent in guard - Borden advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

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.
Borden is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.

Johnson looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Borden pushes past his half guard into mount!
Borden scoring with strikes but Johnson is staying in there.
Johnson tries to improve his position but instead Borden has taken his back!
Johnson prevents Borden from getting a body triangle.
Johnson is in bad spot here.
Borden throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Johnson!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Borden softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Johnson is taking damage to the body and head.
Johnson is really stuck here.
Borden is not going to allow Johnson to sit and survive in this position.
The referee is taking a good look at Johnson as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Borden!
Borden is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Borden is looking to control Johnson but Johnson is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Borden has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Johnson's body.

That's four 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.
Johnson is keeping busy.

Johnson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Borden is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Borden not allowing Johnson to control his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Borden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Borden has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Borden!