PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason High (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

High
vs
Johnson

200 cm
25
280 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

192 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason High!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with High, pushing him back against the cage.

Johnson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Johnson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Johnson is pulling down on High's head to control his posture.
High preventing the sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johnson can do anything to dispel that myth.
High pushing down on Johnson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
It looks like High is going to stand back up.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.

Johnson has one foot on High's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts High as he jumps to the side.
High misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
High shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
High tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from High as Johnson shoots in.
High looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnson lands with a nice body kick.
High pulls out of a head kick attempt.

High shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Johnson is trying to defend but High finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson works his way to full guard. Good work.
High knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
High is breathing heavily.
High looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
High is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but High is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
High throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Johnson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on High, up you get!

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson throws a series of punches but High moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jason High has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Johnson.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as High sprawls well. High wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
High throws a right and a left that both miss.
High shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed High's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
High throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johnson's waist but Johnson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing High off to one side.

High scores with a takedown into Johnson's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
High is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
High has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
High wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
High postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jason High wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and High counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Johnson's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jason High will probably get the nod.
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.

High tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by High.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
High gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Johnson counters by clinching up.
Johnson blocks a body shot from High.
Johnson stalls.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
Johnson goes for a takedown in the clinch but High prevents it.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Jason High has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Johnson.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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 High walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice takedown defense from Johnson. No joy for High on that attempt.
High doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
High throws a leg kick
and Johnson counters with a nice kick to the body.
Johnson throws a one two combo.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts High as he jumps to the side.
High has a takedown stuffed.
High misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. High tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. High manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
High tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
High shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from High.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but High circles away.

Johnson clinches up with High and pushes him back against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Johnson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. High avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents High from breaking the clinch.
Johnson looking for a takedown.
High has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Johnson after a bit of a struggle.
High is trying to drag Johnson to the mat but Johnson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Johnson has High pressed against the cage, preventing High from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
High goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
High is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
High shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed High's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but High moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
High shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnson looks to land a combination but High avoids it well.

Johnson pushes High up against the cage in a clinch.
High has Johnson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Johnson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson unloads a knee to the mid-section. High lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson wants a takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson shoots in and drives through. High sprawls well.
High moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
High closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. High pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Chris Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
High shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing High's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason High. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - High sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

High gets tackled into the cage by Johnson. Johnson maintains the clinch.

Johnson pulls High into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
High trying to stand up but can't free himself from Johnson's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Jason High overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in High's guard.
High keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
High is trying to keep Johnson in close.
High doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
High looking for a sweep. Not yet High, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
High working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson passes into half guard.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but High keeps working.
High is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can High avoid being mounted?
Johnson is pressing down on High's thigh, looking to free his foot. High is holding on for now.
High tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but High defends it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chris Johnson.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but High swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
High is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
High tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
High avoids a punch combination nicely.
High goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from High. High gets slowly back to his feet.
High jabs at Johnson's body.
High stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and High wants it to stay on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from High is defended easily by Johnson.
High moves out of range as Johnson strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30

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