PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clayton Harding (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Harding
vs
Johnson

185 cm
22
230 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

190 cm
24
255 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Clayton Harding!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bob Johnson!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Bruno Lombardi and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harding moves to clinch but Johnson breaks away
and Johnson counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Clayton Harding has been cut.
Harding tries to clinch
and Harding takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Harding wants to clinch but Johnson slips to the side
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harding displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Harding leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Harding closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Harding has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Harding controlling the position well.
Harding gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harding has a closed guard, preventing Johnson from standing up.
Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Harding is trying to keep Johnson in close.

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.

Clayton Harding has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Harding closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Harding didn't expect that.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harding works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Harding is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Harding has wrist control.
Harding keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harding wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Johnson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Harding on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Harding tries to get out of the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Bob Johnson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Harding closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side
and Johnson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Johnson looks to throw a body kick

and Harding counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Harding throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.
Johnson jumps guard but Harding stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Clayton Harding has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Johnson.
Harding landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Johnson looking to slow down the pace here.
Johnson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Harding is breathing heavily.
Harding misses with a knee to the head.

Johnson has picked Harding up - he's going for a ride! Johnson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Johnson in particular looking to stall.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Harding defends it.
Johnson tries to stand and escape but Harding is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bob Johnson was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Clayton Harding's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Harding closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bob Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Harding looks to clinch

and Johnson counters by clinching up.
Harding throws a knee to the head but misses.
Harding misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Harding lands a knee to the head.
Johnson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Harding trying to land knees to the body.
Harding with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Harding throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Harding gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Harding trying to land knees to the body.
Harding is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Johnson is defending well for now.
A knee to the head by Harding.
Harding with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Harding with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but Harding blocks with his arms.
Harding tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harding looking to throw knees to the head but Johnson is blocking nicely.

Johnson decides to pull guard.
Johnson has his hands on Harding's head, controlling the position.
Johnson looking to control but Harding passes into half guard.
Johnson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Harding's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Harding's back!

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 really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Harding.
Harding manages to reverse the position and now he's in Johnson's guard. Nice work there by Harding.
Johnson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Harding gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harding tries to clinch
and Johnson counters with a left and a right that stings Harding.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Harding, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Harding against the cage but Harding circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Clayton Harding has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Johnson.
Harding wants to clinch but Johnson slips to the side

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Harding!
Harding tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson misses with a head shot.
Harding tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
Johnson lands a big shot there that rocks Harding but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson thowing shots but they're missing.
Harding working to try and regain half guard.
Johnson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Johnson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Clayton Harding's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Harding just stands there and leans against the cage.
Harding lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Bob Johnson has been cut.
A knee to the head by Harding.
Harding tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson fails to pull guard.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Harding looking to throw knees to the head but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Harding using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Johnson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Harding throws a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Harding is controlling the position.
Harding tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike.
Harding misses with a knee strike.
Johnson is trying to stall.
Harding on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Harding gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.
Clayton Harding has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Johnson.
Harding misses with an elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Harding backwards.
Harding tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Harding misses with a knee to the head.
Harding connects with a nasty looking knee right to Johnson's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Harding closes the distance looking to clinch

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Harding is trying to stand back up but Johnson is controlling him
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Johnson lands a nice short elbow.
Johnson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Johnson wants to stand up but Harding is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stalling.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Harding has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bob Johnson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Harding wants to clinch

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson jumps into guard, dragging Harding to the mat.
Johnson is looking to stand back up but Harding counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Johnson.
Johnson wants to sweep but Harding has passed to side control!
Bob Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Johnson trying to control but not successfully.

That's four 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.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Johnson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

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