PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Issa Locke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Locke kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Eminem - Till I Collapse. Dave Johnson struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 266.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Dave Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Locke
vs
Johnson

208 cm
25
287 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

208 cm
23
275 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Issa Locke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Russell Pearce and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses with a looping right.
Locke slips under a jab.
A nice combination there by Locke.

It looks like Dave Johnson has been cut.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.

Johnson lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Locke sprawling to the canvas. Johnson follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Locke hang on?
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Locke is defending well.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Johnson looks gassed!
Locke is doing well to control the position and prevent Johnson from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is working for a submission of some sort.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Locke wants to get back to full guard.
Locke blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.

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.
Locke is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.

Locke drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.
Johnson jumps guard but Locke stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Locke ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Locke no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Locke trying to control the position here.
Johnson won't allow Locke to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Locke is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Locke gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johnson has his foot on Locke's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Locke works his way back into a safe position though.
Locke is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Locke is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Locke knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.

That's four 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.
Locke looking to pass the guard.
Locke is working hard here to advance position.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Locke pushes his legs off easily.
Locke tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Johnson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Locke to score with a decent uppercut.
Locke throws a shot to the body.
Locke lands a jab-cross combination.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Locke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Issa Locke dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dave Johnson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Locke tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Locke somewhat.

Locke has taken the fight to the clinch.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Locke holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnson drops back down to his feet.

Locke successfully pulls guard.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Locke is retaining full guard.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Locke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Locke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson being controlled here momentarily.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Locke is keeping the position.
Locke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Locke lands a two punch combo.
Locke shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Locke connects with a body shot.

Locke gets the takedown into side control.
Locke staying calm.
Locke throws a strike aimed at the side of Johnson's head but Johnson avoids it well.
Johnson striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Johnson striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Issa Locke.
Johnson blocks a leg kick.
Locke throws a right and a left that both miss.
Locke shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Locke's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Issa Locke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Locke is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Locke slips a straight right by Johnson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Locke shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Locke's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Locke lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Locke shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Locke throws a series of strikes that have Johnson backpedaling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Issa Locke dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dave Johnson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! 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.

Locke lands with an overhand left.
Locke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Issa Locke is winning the standup battle so far.
Locke dips to his left and cracks Johnson with an uppercut!
Locke lands with a nice combination. Johnson backs away looking to recover.
Johnson checks a low kick from Locke.
Locke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Locke moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Locke won't allow it.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Locke holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnson drops back down to his feet.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Locke smiles and moves away.
Issa Locke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Johnson.
Locke closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Locke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Issa Locke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Locke throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Locke misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Locke moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Locke scores with a nice right hand.
Locke throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Locke lands a two punch combo.
Locke closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.
Locke lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Locke throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
Locke will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Locke moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Locke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Locke bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Johnson's head backwards.
Locke tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Locke lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Johnson at a distance.
Issa Locke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Locke lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Locke lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Locke misses with a series of wild punches.

Locke clinches with his opponent.
Locke tries to score a body lock takedown but Johnson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Locke looking for a takedown.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Locke smiles and moves away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Locke throws out a powerful jab.
Locke lands with a good body shot.
Locke looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Locke persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Locke has a takedown stuffed.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Locke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Locke throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Locke bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Locke gets a takedown into half guard.
Locke trying to mount his opponent but Johnson defends it.
Locke performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to roll over but Locke keeps him under control.
Johnson throws a strike from the bottom but Locke passes into side control!
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dave Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
The referee asks Locke politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Locke prefers to stall for the moment though.
Johnson throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

And that's the end of the fight!
Issa Locke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Locke has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Issa Locke!