PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Deon Du Plessis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kendrell Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Du Plessis comes to the cage accompanied by Fort Minor - Remember the name. Johnson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 2-Pac (Hit Em Up). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Du Plessis
vs
Johnson

175 cm
27
168 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

165 cm
26
158 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Deon Du Plessis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kendrell Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Steve Erwin and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
Du Plessis tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Du Plessis as he avoids it easily.

Du Plessis closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Du Plessis is controlling him.
Johnson takes a shot to the head.
Du Plessis goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Du Plessis closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Du Plessis pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Du Plessis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Deon Du Plessis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab lands there for Johnson.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Du Plessis swivels and escapes.
Du Plessis ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Du Plessis dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Du Plessis.
Du Plessis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Du Plessis fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Du Plessis tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Du Plessis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Du Plessis moves out of range.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Du Plessis moves away and avoids it.
Du Plessis wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Du Plessis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnson.
Johnson throws a jab when Du Plessis was well out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson misses with a looping right.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Du Plessis is looking to clinch.
Du Plessis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson misses with a double jab.

Johnson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Du Plessis's half guard.
Johnson prevents Du Plessis from improving his position.
Du Plessis is breathing heavily.
Johnson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Johnson.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Du Plessis is looking to escape.
Johnson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Du Plessis is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson unloading with bombs!
Johnson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Du Plessis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Johnson lands a big elbow.
Johnson lands with some strikes.
Du Plessis tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
Johnson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Du Plessis wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson trying to control but Du Plessis is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
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 with good strikes from the mount here!
Du Plessis holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Johnson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Johnson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Du Plessis is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Du Plessis and Johnson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Du Plessis is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Du Plessis rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Johnson's guard! Nice work there by Du Plessis!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendrell Johnson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Du Plessis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Du Plessis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Du Plessis.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Du Plessis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.

Du Plessis 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.
Du Plessis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Du Plessis wants to get up but he can't break Johnson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Du Plessis is one step ahead there.

Du Plessis stands and steps away. Johnson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A cross from Johnson lands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Du Plessis.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson takes a swing at Du Plessis's ribcage but misses.

Du Plessis moves into the clinch successfully.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Du Plessis struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Du Plessis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Du Plessis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Du Plessis wants a takedown.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Du Plessis circles away quickly and effectively.
Deon Du Plessis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice body punch from Johnson.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Du Plessis is controlling the position.
Du Plessis struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Johnson looks to land a left hand but Du Plessis moved out of range nicely.
Du Plessis keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnson.
Du Plessis wants to clinch.
Du Plessis avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Du Plessis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Du Plessis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Du Plessis closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side
and Johnson counters with a leg kick.
Du Plessis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Johnson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Du Plessis avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson working Du Plessis over with strikes.
Johnson stops Du Plessis from getting back to his feet.
Johnson throws a strike but Du Plessis avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Du Plessis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Du Plessis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Du Plessis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Du Plessis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Du Plessis keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Du Plessis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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 with a nice head shot there.
Du Plessis wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Du Plessis keeps moving.

Du Plessis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Johnson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Johnson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Du Plessis slips a jab from Johnson.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Du Plessis moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendrell 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 looks to land a right hand but Du Plessis moved out of range.
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Du Plessis darts in trying to clinch
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Du Plessis misses with a takedown
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Du Plessis misses with a double jab.
Du Plessis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Du Plessis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.
Du Plessis wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Johnson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Johnson lands with a hook. Du Plessis tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Du Plessis takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Johnson throws a jab but it's blocked by Du Plessis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Du Plessis ducks right into an uppercut from Johnson.

Johnson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Du Plessis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Johnson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Du Plessis is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Johnson is controlling him well.
Johnson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Du Plessis down.
Du Plessis is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Johnson working the ground and pound.
Johnson working the head with strikes.
Johnson looks up at the clock and then as Du Plessis takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Johnson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Johnson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Johnson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Johnson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Du Plessis tries to improve position but can't.
Johnson lands a decent elbow from side control.
Johnson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Du Plessis sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Du Plessis is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Kendrell Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson cracks Du Plessis with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Johnson wants to control but Du Plessis is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Johnson just content to control the position.
Johnson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Johnson is putting a hurting on Du Plessis here, landing some big shots from side control.

Johnson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Johnson lands a nice forearm strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the action but Du Plessis is working from the bottom.
Johnson landing a few strikes.
Du Plessis is trying to get back to his feet.
Du Plessis is looking to regain half guard here but Johnson keeps moving and retains side control.
Deon Du Plessis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson in side control lands a decent elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kendrell Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kendrell Johnson!