PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and john johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Silva
vs
johnson

200 cm
22
178 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

185 cm
22
180 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brandon Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, john johnson!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick from Silva misses.

johnson scores a takedown into full mount!
johnson trying to control but Silva is having none of it.
johnson misses with a head shot.
Silva is trying to escape the mount.

johnson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Silva has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Silva is in all sorts of trouble here.
johnson content just to control the position here.
Silva is looking to improve his position but johnson isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson unloads with some shots from mount but Silva bucks and avoids them well.
Silva wants to control but johnson is having none of it.
Silva working to try and regain half guard.
johnson trying to control but Silva is having none of it.

johnson is working for a guillotine from mount but Silva frees his head quite easily.
Silva wants to control but johnson is having none of it.
Silva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Silva is squirming around, avoiding johnson's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Silva really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
johnson wants to control the pace but Silva is squirming around nicely.
Silva can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to control but johnson is having none of it.
johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Silva is looking to escape.

Despite being in the dominant position, john johnson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Silva, looking for a takedown. johnson pushes Silva against the cage but Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

johnson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
johnson keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
johnson pulls Silva in close to prevent any damage.
Silva trying to control but johnson is working from the bottom.

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.
Silva is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because johnson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Silva throwing strikes but missing.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
johnson wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

john 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.

Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from johnson.
johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silva circles away.
Silva with a poor takedown

and johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
johnson trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.

johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Silva is pressing down on johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
johnson trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst johnson is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
johnson wants to stand but Silva is controlling his posture from full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Silva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but johnson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Silva can't do much from the bottom here.

johnson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
johnson working away.
johnson is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
johnson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Silva gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Silva manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.
Silva trying to keep a closed guard but johnson is proving a slippery customer.
johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
johnson slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

johnson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
johnson tries to pass to full mount but Silva defends it.
Silva is looking for a sweep. johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
johnson trying to mount his opponent but Silva defends it.
johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Silva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva keeping moving, preventing johnson from controlling successfully.

That's four 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.

Silva working for a triangle but johnson defends it easily.
Silva keeping moving, preventing johnson from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

john johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

johnson tries for a takedown but Silva circles away easily

and Silva counters with a nice double leg into guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by john johnson.

johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Silva seems to be working for a kimura but johnson defends the submission attempt.
Silva blocks the strikes from johnson.
johnson trying to control but Silva postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
john johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson keeps control of the position for the meantime.
johnson is staying active underneath Silva, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silva stalling.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

johnson instigates a clinch.
Silva looking for a takedown.

That's two 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.
johnson is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.
johnson looking for a takedown.
Brandon Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of john johnson.

johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
johnson leaves Silva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
johnson misses with a takedown

and Silva counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva wants to control from the top but johnson keeps moving.

johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Silva is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Silva's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Silva trying to control but johnson is working from the bottom.
Brandon Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Silva 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!
Silva being controlled for a moment.
johnson has knee on belly and moves into mount.
john johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that johnson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Silva regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Silva manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Silva keeping moving, preventing johnson from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
I think johnson 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... john johnson!