PBP Commentary

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

Johnson
vs
Vernon

208 cm
22
275 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
255 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leslie Vernon!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, David Schapiro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vernon ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Johnson has Vernon up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Vernon keeps him there for the moment.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Vernon blocks an elbow strike.
Johnson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Vernon has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Johnson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Vernon dodges an elbow strike from Johnson.

Vernon is trying to trip Johnson. He has hold of a leg but Johnson is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Vernon persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Vernon is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Vernon trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Vernon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vernon has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Vernon from controlling successfully.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson tries to clinch but Vernon is having none of it.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vernon tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vernon to the ground. Vernon escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson tries to clinch but Vernon moves out of range.

Vernon drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Vernon is in close to Johnson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vernon landing some decent shots from guard.
Vernon trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Vernon stands and steps away. Johnson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Vernon shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Vernon wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.

Vernon decides to stand and escape the position.
Vernon scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Dave Johnson has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Vernon closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Johnson to the mat! Johnson manages to get full guard.
Vernon trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to strike off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vernon keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.

Vernon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vernon wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vernon gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Vernon gets to his feet - Johnson follows without any prompting.
Johnson is looking to clinch.

Vernon shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Johnson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vernon tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vernon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Vernon trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Vernon is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.

Vernon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnson is just riding it out for now. Vernon eventually gives up the hold.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vernon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leslie Vernon dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dave Johnson'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.

Vernon shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Johnson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Vernon wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Vernon can't handle though.
Johnson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Johnson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Vernon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vernon gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vernon scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnson looking to control.

Johnson working for a triangle but Vernon defends it easily.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Vernon. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Johnson is working an open guard so Vernon takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

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.

Vernon scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Vernon thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Vernon keeps moving and retains side control.
Leslie Vernon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vernon cracks Johnson with a big elbow.
Johnson is trying to improve his position.

Vernon is working to tighten is grip on Johnson's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Johnson has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Vernon is really squeezing tight and eventually Johnson passes out! Vernon breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Leslie Vernon!