PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Stann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brian Stann will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Johnson
vs
Stann

188 cm
25
189 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
196 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

GR Design - Elegance and Comfort (Made in Italy)

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Johnson !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brian Stann!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jorge Garcia and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Stann.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stann defends it nicely.
Stann fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stann misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stann throws a head kick that misses.
Brian Stann seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Stann.
Stann takes a swing at Johnson 's ribcage but misses.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stann circles away.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Stann shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Johnson . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stann throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stann as he jumps to the side.
Stann misses with the combination.
Stann throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stann scores with a crisp jab that stopped Johnson in his tracks.
Stann swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Johnson checks a low kick from Stann.
Stann throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
Stann misses with an uppercut

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Stann didn't expect that.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Johnson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson postures up in Stann's guard and throws a big left but Stann blocks it.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson throws a strike but Stann rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Johnson has his foot on Stann's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stann works his way back into a safe position though.
Stann really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stann can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson is working an open guard so Stann takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stann swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.

Johnson looking to score a takedown here. Stann is defending well but Johnson drives through and ends up in Stann's guard.
Johnson throws a strike but Stann rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Johnson has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Stann is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Johnson .
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stann is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Johnson will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson sneaks back into half guard.
Stann wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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 Anthony Johnson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stann displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Stann lands a left and a right that sends Johnson crashing to the canvas! Stann dives into mount looking to finish!

Johnson is rocked!

It looks like Anthony Johnson has been cut.
Johnson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Oh Johnson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Stann takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Johnson seems to have got his legs back now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson wants to control but Stann is having none of it.
Johnson is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Johnson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Stann trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johnson tries to get out of the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stann stuffs the takedown.
Stann fails to land with a series of punches.
Brian Stann seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Stann.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Stann, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Stann against the cage but Stann circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Johnson . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stann throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stann lands with a kick to the ribs.
Stann looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stann as he avoids it easily.
Stann connects with a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stann tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stann to the ground. Stann escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stann sprawls well. Stann wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
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!
Stann throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Stann.
Good standup being displayed there by Stann as he connects with a hook.
Stann lands a slapping body shot.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Stann.

Oooh a lovely combination from Stann sends Johnson down but not out. Stann dives into side control looking to finish.
You can see the frustration on Johnson 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Stann stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four 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!
Stann throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stann.
Stann tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Stann does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stann circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stann lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Johnson sprawling to the canvas. Stann follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Johnson hang on?
Johnson gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Stann showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anthony Johnson 's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stann ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Stann throws a left and a right that both miss
and Johnson counters with a left to the body.
A big left from Stann misses.
Johnson checks a leg kick.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Stann just misses with a punch to the body.
Stann misses with a hook.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Stann.
Anthony Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stann circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stann sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Johnson . That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Johnson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Stann is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Johnson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Johnson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Stann works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stann defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stann wants to get back to his feet.
Stann has hold of Johnson 's hands but Johnson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Johnson stops Stann from getting back to his feet.
Johnson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stann is trying to stand up here but Johnson is controlling him well.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson working over Stann with some ground and pound. Stann looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stann is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.
Anthony Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stann keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stann blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson .
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Johnson wants to work for an arm triangle but Stann is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stann defending well though.
Johnson uses his free foot to push down on Stann's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Stann.
Johnson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Stann is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Johnson scoring with strikes but Stann is staying in there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson thowing shots but they're missing.
Johnson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28

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