PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rick Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Sela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Sela

182 cm
26
185 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

185 cm
22
187 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Fernando Sela!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a right hand that Sela ducks under and follows up with a left that Sela also avoids with ease.
Johnson scores with a one two! Sela had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Sela gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Sela sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Johnson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sela has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sela defending well though.
Johnson throwing shots but Sela is blocking nicely.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sela on the ground.
Sela blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sela is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Sela slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Johnson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sela doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Sela is pulling down on Johnson's head to control his posture.
Sela looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sela works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sela wants to sweep but no luck.
Sela working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sela working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Sela fails with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Johnson scores a takedown into full mount!
Sela is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Johnson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Johnson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sela?
Johnson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Johnson with a couple of short strikes.
Sela wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Johnson punching from mount but Sela doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Sela is working to get back to half guard.
Sela looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson raining down shots from the mount!
Johnson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Johnson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sela?
BOOM! Johnson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Johnson working the ground and pound effectively.
Johnson scoring with strikes but Sela is staying in there.
Sela taking shots to the head.
Johnson with shots to the head and body - Sela looks very uncomfortable down there.
Johnson lands with some strikes.
Johnson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sela takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sela swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the head.
Sela in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Johnson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sela in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Johnson is landing with some decent strikes but Sela is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Johnson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sela can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Johnson breaks from Sela's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Johnson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Johnson landing strikes from the mount.
Johnson scoring with strikes but Sela is staying in there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Johnson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Johnson landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Johnson dominated that round.
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 is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sela's half guard.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sela is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sela on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Johnson working over Sela with some ground and pound. Sela looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
Sela trying to control from the bottom.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Sela won't allow it.
Johnson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johnson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sela with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sela is breathing heavily.
Sela avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Sela dodges it nicely.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.
Johnson working Sela over with strikes.
Johnson trying to control from half guard but Sela is working away.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Johnson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sela trying to control from the bottom.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sela's head.
Rick Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sela has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Johnson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sela gets full guard.
Sela working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson works over Sela with some ground and pound from guard.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson is working Sela over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Sela's brow.
Johnson trying to control but Sela is working from the bottom.
Sela utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson distracts Sela with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sela looking to control.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson is in close to Sela's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Johnson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sela trying to control but Johnson postures up.
Sela on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
Sela on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Johnson drops an elbow to the side of Sela's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson winds up and cracks Sela with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Johnson is nestled in close to Sela, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Sela dodges it nicely.
Sela has hold of Johnson's hands but Johnson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Johnson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Johnson slips a nice elbow through Sela's hands, connecting with Sela's forehead.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to Sela's temple.
Johnson drops an elbow to the side of Sela's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Johnson lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Johnson dominated that second round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

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.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sela swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sela can do to turn this around?
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Sela has wrist control.
Johnson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sela is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sela is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson pulls Sela in close to his closed guard and prevents Sela from doing any damage or advancing position.

Johnson pushes Sela off and gets back to his feet.
Johnson misses with a takedown

and Sela counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Sela politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Sela prefers to stall for the moment though.
Sela tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

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.

Johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Johnson is working Sela over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sela works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sela's head.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Sela blocks nicely.
Johnson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Johnson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sela utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Sela won't let him.
Johnson distracts Sela with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Johnson throws and elbow that misses. Sela uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Sela!
Sela trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

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 Rick Johnson.
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 Suge Night scores the fight for Rick Johnson!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Rick Johnson!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Rick Johnson!

Rick Johnson wins by unanimous decision!