PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josaya Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garcia comes to the cage accompanied by Go. Johnson comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Maple Leaf Forever kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Garcia
vs
Johnson

180 cm
19
234 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
250 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Josaya Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Matt Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garcia takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Johnson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnson lands in his opponent's guard.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Garcia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Garcia wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Garcia wants to stand and escape but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.
Johnson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johnson prevents Garcia from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Garcia keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Garcia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Garcia persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Garcia is breathing heavily.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
Johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Garcia wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Garcia to get to his feet.

Johnson rushes Garcia and presses him up against the cage.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson throws a head kick that Garcia semi-blocks.
Garcia takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Johnson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Garcia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Garcia.
Garcia is looking to advance position but Johnson won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Garcia 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.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Garcia is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garcia 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. Garcia eventually gives up the hold.

Garcia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four 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.
Garcia misses with a head shot. Johnson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Garcia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson misses with the combination.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson lands with a nice body kick.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Garcia, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Garcia against the cage but Garcia circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Johnson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Garcia counters with a nice body shot.
Garcia's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Garcia duly obliges.
Johnson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Garcia looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Garcia circles away and keeps his distance.

Garcia tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Garcia goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Garcia is trying to buck Johnson off.
Johnson tries to advance to mount but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Johnson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Johnson is putting a hurting on Garcia here, landing some big shots from side control.
Garcia is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Johnson trying to control the action but Garcia is working from the bottom.
Garcia is trying to get back to his feet.
A lull in the action here as Johnson stalls from top position.
Johnson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Johnson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Johnson controls the position.

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.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Garcia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Garcia is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Johnson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Garcia will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Garcia 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.
Johnson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Garcia down.
Garcia is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Johnson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Johnson working the ground and pound.
Johnson lands a few punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Garcia's face as Johnson controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is trying to buck Johnson off.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Johnson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Garcia parries the strikes from Johnson easily there. Johnson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Garcia to escape.
Johnson prevents Garcia from escaping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson misses with a combination
and Garcia counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Johnson thinking.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Garcia circles away.
Horrible takedown by Garcia or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnson which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josaya Garcia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Garcia is defended easily by Johnson.

That's four 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.
Garcia avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Garcia blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Garcia circles away from the clinch attempt
and Garcia counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Garcia to acknowledge the strikes.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson wants to clinch but Garcia slips to the side
and Garcia counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Garcia shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Johnson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Garcia lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson throws a sloppy head kick
and Garcia makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Johnson takes one to the chin there.
Josaya Garcia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Garcia has his takedown stuffed
and Johnson counters with a left and a right that stings Garcia.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Johnson manages to pull guard.

Garcia is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Johnson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Johnson has escaped and now he's on top!
Garcia wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson pushes down on Garcia's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Garcia looks like he's trying to stand up.
Johnson working over Garcia with some ground and pound. Garcia looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Garcia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Garcia kicks off Johnson and gets to his feet.
Nice body kick there by Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Garcia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Garcia connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson misses with a combination
and Garcia counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.

Garcia shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Garcia is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Johnson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Garcia wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Garcia trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matt Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Garcia looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Garcia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Garcia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Johnson tries to clinch up but Garcia circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Garcia counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Garcia to acknowledge the strikes.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Garcia pushes him off.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Garcia counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.
Garcia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Garcia trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

Garcia drops back, looking for a kneebar! Johnson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Johnson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Johnson!
Josaya Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Garcia wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josaya Garcia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

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