PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Card Holder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holder comes into the arena with Death March blaring out of the sound system. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Holder
vs
Johnston

180 cm
24
170 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

173 cm
21
180 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Card Holder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Don Johnston!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Steve Montenegro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnston uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Holder.
Johnston scores with a jab.
Johnston swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Holder throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Holder gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

It looks like Card Holder has been cut.
Johnston throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Holder looks to throw the jab but Johnston is out of range.

Holder closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Holder not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnston avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Holder.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holder missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Holder thows a huge punch but Johnston dodges it nicely.

Holder is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnston has managed to free his arm - good work.
Holder trying to control from half guard but Johnston is working away.

Holder is looking for a kimura but Johnston is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Holder to get the leverage.
Johnston wants to get back to his feet.

Holder is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnston is just riding it out for now. Holder eventually gives up the hold.
Holder trying to control from Johnston's half guard. Johnston has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnston working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holder.
Johnston avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Holder throwing strikes but missing.
Johnston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Holder throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Holder throws a hook but Johnston avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holder tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnston was well out of range. Poor timing from Holder.
Holder is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnston.
Holder misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnston.
Holder fails to land the takedown.
Holder throws a low kick but it's checked well by Johnston.
Johnston moves out of range of the strikes.
Holder bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big left from Holder misses.

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.
Johnston throws a series of punches but Holder moves out of range.
Holder avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnston displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Holder throws out the jab.
Johnston misses with a double jab.
A slow jab from Holder misses its intended target.
Johnston blocks a jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holder throws a jab when Johnston was well out of range.
Holder looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnston is fending him off so far but Holder persists. Nope, Johnston circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Johnston dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Card Holder's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnston misses with a double jab.
Holder throws a hook but Johnston avoids it easily.
Johnston paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Johnston slips a jab from Holder.
Johnston lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Holder circles away quickly and effectively.
Card Holder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holder throws a lazy right hand but Johnston sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnston misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holder throws a body punch but Johnston moves out of range.
Johnston avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holder throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnston sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Johnston.
Johnston throws a one two combo.
Johnston moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Don Johnston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slow jab from Holder misses its intended target.

Holder scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Johnston won't allow Holder to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holder trying to control from Johnston's half guard. Johnston has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holder trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Holder throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Holder is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Johnston is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Johnston has escaped and now he's on top!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Holder is on top in guard.
Holder passes into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Holder is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holder looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Holder wants to pass the guard but Johnston is defending well.
Holder throwing shots but Johnston is blocking nicely.

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.
Johnston is trying to stand back up but Holder is controlling him
Holder is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Holder punching from mount but Johnston doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Johnston is trying to stand.

Holder moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Johnston has worked his arm free - good work by Johnston!
Johnston is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Holder is controlling him well.
Johnston dodges the ground and pound from Holder.
Holder throwing shots but missing, from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Johnston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Card Holder's cut.
That's time! Holder's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Holder throws a shot from downtown. Johnston moves away and avoids it.
Johnston fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnston fails to land with a series of punches.
Holder circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnston defending well as Holder loads up on a big left hand.
Johnston steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Holder.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holder throws a hook but Johnston blocks it.
Holder throws a hook to the side of Johnston's head but Johnston sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johnston tries to clinch up but Holder circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston misses with a few strikes there.
Johnston waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Holder.
Johnston throws a nice looking combination but Holder bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnston misses with a double jab.
Johnston throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Holder throws a big shot that misses.
Holder throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Holder misses.
Holder throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A slow jab from Holder misses its intended target.

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.
A punch combination from Johnston misses.
Johnston is looking to clinch.
Holder swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnston.
Johnston throws a nice looking combination but Holder bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnston ducks under a wild hook from Holder.

Holder shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Holder throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Holder throws some wild stikes that Johnston manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holder wants to finish this one by submission but Johnston is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Holder.
Holder throws some wild stikes that Johnston manages to avoid easily.
Holder sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Holder moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Johnston has worked his arm free - good work by Johnston!
Holder working the strikes but Johnston uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Holder is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Holder stops Johnston from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holder passes to side control.

Holder tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Holder looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Johnston is avoiding damage well.
Card Holder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Don Johnston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
An elbow from Holder crashes against the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Card Holder 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

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