PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matty Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Blanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnson
vs
Blanks

187 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matty Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Billy Blanks!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Blanks sprawls well.
Blanks missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Blanks fails to land with a series of punches.
A right-left combo lands from Johnson.

It looks like Billy Blanks has been cut.
Johnson swinging wildly here.
Blanks misses with a double jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matty Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Blanks sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Blanks leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Blanks throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Johnson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Blanks throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanks swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Blanks is just out of range.
Johnson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Blanks misses with a straight left.
Blanks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
Johnson needs to keep his hands up - Blanks had a free shot at his head there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Blanks.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blanks.
Blanks misses with a looping left.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Blanks tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blanks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Blanks avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Blanks sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Blanks napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Johnson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Blanks pushes Johnson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Johnson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Blanks regains half guard there - taking advantage of Johnson's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Blanks from standing back up.
Blanks won't allow Johnson to pass to mount.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blanks.
Blanks throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Blanks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Blanks throws a predictable looking body shot
and Johnson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blanks is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Blanks circles away and we're back to standing.
Blanks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.

Johnson clinches up with Blanks and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Blanks manages to get underhooks.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Blanks is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Blanks pulls his leg out and moves away.
Blanks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Billy Blanks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blanks misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blanks but Blanks pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Blanks swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Blanks misses with a combination
and Johnson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matty Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Billy Blanks's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson throws a hook but Blanks blocks it.
Some wild striking there from Blanks.
Johnson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Blanks defends it nicely.
Blanks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Blanks circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Blanks shows good takedown defense.
Blanks dodges the punch combination from Johnson.

Blanks gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson stops Blanks from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Blanks keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

Blanks wriggles free and stands up.

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 telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Blanks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matty Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Blanks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Blanks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Blanks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Blanks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Blanks throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
Blanks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in but Blanks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Blanks throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blanks throws the left hand but Johnson avoids the punch easily.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Blanks which made him look bad.
Nice takedown defense from Blanks. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Matty Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blanks throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Matty Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice sprawl there from Blanks as Johnson shoots in.
Blanks misses with a hook. Johnson ducked under it nicely.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blanks pinned against the cage. Blanks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Blanks sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Blanks circles away.
Blanks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Blanks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Blanks thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Blanks.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Blanks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Blanks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blanks misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Blanks throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matty Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Billy Blanks's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Blanks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johnson dives in and grabs Blanks's left leg, looking for a takedown. Blanks pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
Blanks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Blanks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Blanks slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Blanks swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Blanks misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Blanks sprawls well. Blanks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matty Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanks throws a combination that misses

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Blanks didn't expect that.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Blanks keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Blanks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blanks wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Blanks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson pushes down on Blanks's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Blanks is trying to stand.

Johnson 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.
Blanks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blanks's waist but Blanks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Blanks leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Blanks tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blanks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Blanks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johnson somewhat.
Blanks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnson is looking to wear down Blanks with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blanks stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Blanks misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blanks pinned against the cage. Blanks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Blanks throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Billy Blanks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blanks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blanks throws a hook but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Blanks sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matty Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matty Johnson!