PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Mathius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rVFi6qkPHE. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Johnson
vs
Mathius

188 cm
19
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
198 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ricky Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, George Mathius!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathius scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Crunch! Mathius slams his shin into Johnson's torso.
Mathius feints and then cracks Johnson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Johnson down.

Johnson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mathius was covering up waiting for the punch and Johnson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mathius looking to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mathius is on top in guard.
Mathius sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Johnson's guard.
Mathius wants to pass to mount but Johnson is defending the position.
Mathius is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mathius wants to pass to mount but Johnson is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mathius is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Mathius is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mathius wants to pass to mount but Johnson is defending the position.
Mathius wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Mathius has control of the leg.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Mathius gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Mathius throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mathius preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mathius trying to control the position.
Johnson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mathius on the ground.
Johnson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Mathius is retaining full guard.
Mathius not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson postures up in Mathius's guard and throws a big left but Mathius blocks it.
Mathius is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mathius working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Johnson's thigh. Johnson counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Johnson is pulling down on Mathius's head. It's preventing any offense from Mathius, at least for the moment.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Mathius from controlling successfully.

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 working a defensive guard here.
Johnson wants to stand up but Mathius is controlling him.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mathius forces his way into half guard.
Johnson is staying active underneath Mathius, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but George Mathius will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Johnson has taken the fight to the clinch.

Johnson wants the takedown. Mathius is fighting it off but Johnson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Mathius's guard against the cage.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson working some strikes from top position.

Mathius has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Mathius is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Mathius has wrist control.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Mathius.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mathius is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathius tries to pass to full mount but Johnson defends it.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard.
Mathius trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Mathius wants to pass to mount but Johnson is defending the position.

Mathius seems to be looking for submissions.
Mathius is breathing heavily.

Johnson has one foot on Mathius's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Johnson throws a one two combo.

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Mathius is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ricky Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mathius is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mathius works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mathius wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mathius's head.
Mathius working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnson passes Mathius's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathius keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mathius gets back to full guard.
Mathius is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Johnson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mathius's head.
Mathius lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Mathius looking to control but Johnson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Johnson wants to hold on but Mathius pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathius is looking to work his way around to Johnson's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Mathius takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Johnson looking very determined here, making life difficult for Mathius.

Mathius is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Johnson has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Johnson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Johnson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mathius. Mathius obviously looking to wear him down.
Mathius lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mathius attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
Mathius sneaks back into half guard.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mathius keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johnson throws a strike but Mathius avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Mathius is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mathius lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Mathius takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mathius is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Johnson is in real trouble.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Johnson showing good submission defense here.

Mathius is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Johnson is defending well though. Mathius let's go of the attempt for now.
Johnson tries to escape but Mathius has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathius is trying to stick to Johnson's back but Johnson is turning into Mathius. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Mathius's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Johnson.
Mathius avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mathius avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Mathius manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mathius fails to take his opponent's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Mathius's attempts to control the action.
Johnson is desperately trying to improve his position but Mathius has a good base and remains in mount.
Mathius controlling from mount.
Johnson tries to lock up and control but Mathius gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Mathius has hold of Johnson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Johnson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson is looking to get to half guard.
Mathius controlling his opponent.
Johnson regains half guard.
Mathius is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to George Mathius.
I think Mathius 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... George Mathius!