PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Rhodes
vs
Johnson

225 cm
23
283 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
250 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 New York, Jon Rhodes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurt Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Bruno Lombardi and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rhodes tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Johnson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rhodes walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Rhodes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rhodes tries to clinch but Johnson moves away
and Johnson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rhodes's knee momentarily.
Rhodes tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rhodes struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Johnson wants to break free but Rhodes has control.
A hook to the body from Johnson.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rhodes closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Johnson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rhodes, who protects the arm well.

Johnson stands up and beckons Rhodes to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Johnson works his foot free and advances to mount.

Johnson stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Rhodes wants to clinch

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson has Rhodes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rhodes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johnson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Johnson jumps guard but Rhodes stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jon Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Johnson.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rhodes.
Rhodes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johnson fails to pull guard.
Johnson tries to circle away but Rhodes has him pinned against the cage.
Johnson jumps guard but Rhodes stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rhodes misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Rhodes lands with a short shot to the head.
Rhodes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Rhodes won't allow it.
Johnson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rhodes or not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rhodes pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Johnson managing to block the knees to the body from Rhodes.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Rhodes holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnson drops back down to his feet.
Rhodes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Johnson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rhodes walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Johnson lands with a kick to the temple. Rhodes shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rhodes tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Rhodes avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Rhodes.
A head kick misses from Rhodes.
Rhodes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jon Rhodes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rhodes tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson blocking some punches.
Rhodes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johnson has Rhodes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rhodes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rhodes can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rhodes is keeping busy.
Rhodes cracks Johnson with a nice body shot.
Rhodes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johnson cracks Rhodes with a nice body shot.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rhodes just misses with a elbow thrown towards Johnson's brow.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Rhodes misses with a punch on the inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rhodes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rhodes slowing the pace effectively.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Rhodes controls the action.
Johnson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rhodes just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rhodes wants to clinch but Johnson slips to the side

and Johnson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Johnson.
Rhodes is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Rhodes is retaining full guard.
Rhodes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnsonis looking to pass into half guard but Rhodes pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rhodes is in guard.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Rhodes controlling him for the moment.
Rhodes wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Rhodes postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Johnson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rhodes is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Rhodes wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Rhodes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson is looking to score with low kicks.
Rhodes lands a head kick. Johnson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Kurt Johnson has been cut.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rhodes.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Rhodes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rhodes scores with a punch to the head.

Johnson is rocked!

Rhodes has closed the distance and engaged Johnson in a clinch.
Rhodes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Johnson is still on wobbly legs! Can Rhodes finish him?
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!
Rhodes will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Johnson up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rhodes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johnson seems to have recovered his senses.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Johnson. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rhodes smiles and moves away.
Rhodes misses with a double jab.
Rhodes misses with a double jab.
Rhodes looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Rhodes moved away.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Rhodes circles away.
No joy there for Rhodes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rhodes closes the distance looking to clinch

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rhodes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a shoulder strike.
Johnson fails to pull guard.
Jon Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Johnson.
Rhodes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Johnson working hard to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rhodes throws a head punch that misses.
Rhodes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rhodes misses with the head strike.
Rhodes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Johnson - that landed with a thud.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rhodes tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Johnson counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rhodes.
Johnson swings wildly with an uppercut but Rhodes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rhodes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rhodes.
Rhodes lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Johnson.
Rhodes lands with a left to the head.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rhodes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Johnson wants to stall.
Rhodes slowing the pace effectively.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rhodes swings wildly with an uppercut but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Rhodes.
Rhodes leaning against his opponent.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Rhodes dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kurt Johnson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rhodes misses with a wild body shot.
Rhodes throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rhodes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Rhodes.
Rhodes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rhodes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rhodes tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rhodes sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kurt Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Johnson in particular looking to stall.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Rhodes defends it.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson stops Rhodes from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rhodes knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

Rhodes makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes struggling a bit here.
Rhodes wants to get back to his feet.
Rhodes is not content to let Johnson control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes is trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rhodes sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rhodes tries to escape but Johnson is in control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rhodes tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jon Rhodes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rhodes tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Rhodes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Rhodes lands a left and a right that send Johnson crashing to the mat, dazed. Rhodes thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Rhodes.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Rhodes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson walks into a jab.
Rhodes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A left and a right from Rhodes both land. Nice combination.
Rhodes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Rhodes moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rhodes lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rhodes looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rhodes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rhodes wants to clinch.
Rhodes slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Rhodes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jon Rhodes.
I think Rhodes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Rhodes!