PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashuan Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Connors (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Rashuan Johnson has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Rashuan Johnson seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Johnson
vs
Connors

200 cm
25
278 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

202 cm
26
247 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rashuan Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Craig Connors!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Connors throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Connors moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
Connors is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Connors is trying to break free.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Connors pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Connors drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.

Johnson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Connors can't fight it off and eventually Johnson manages to take the fight to the floor. Connors looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Connors wants to get back to his feet but Johnson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Connors looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wanted to stand there but Connors had control of the position.
Connors is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Johnson won't allow Connors to pass to mount.
Johnson wants to control but Connors is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Connors tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Johnson.
Johnson is refusing to be controlled, as Connors sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Connors is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Connors misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Connors leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Connors swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Craig Connors is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Connors moves into the clinch.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connors misses with a combination

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Connors didn't expect that.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Connors is on top in guard.
Connors engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Johnson working for a triangle but Connors defends it easily.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Connors!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Connors can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Connors really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Connors prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Connors is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Johnson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Connors is now in Johnson's guard. A big mistake from Johnson there, giving up the dominant position!
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 Rashuan Johnson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Connors instigates a clinch.

Connors breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Connors keeps it at a distance.
Johnson tries to clinch but Connors is having none of it.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Connors checks a leg kick nicely.

Connors fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Connors has the dominant position.
Connors wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
Nice body punch from Connors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Connors gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Johnson keeps control of Connors as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Johnson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Connors prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashuan Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Connors wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Connors is stalling here.

Connors breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Johnson dives in and scores a takedown into Connors's guard.
Connors 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.
Connors is striking but Johnson is not phased and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stalling.
Connors is trying to control but can't.
Connors missing with punches from the bottom.
Connors tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Connors has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Connors tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Johnson has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Connors is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson with good strikes from the mount here!
Connors tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Connors is looking to escape.
Johnson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connors can't escape the position.
Johnson landing strikes from the mount.
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!
Johnson punching from mount but Connors doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Johnson stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Connors as he jumps to the side.
Johnson wants to clinch.
Rashuan Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connors lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashuan Johnson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Connors misses with a wild body shot.

Connors instigates a clinch.
A short uppercut from Connors.
Johnson taking a breather.
Johnson looking to throw knees to the head but Connors is blocking nicely.
Connors is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Johnson is keeping busy.
A frustrated look appears on Connors's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Connors's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Connors makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.

Connors closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson has Connors pressed against the cage, preventing Connors from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Johnson trying to stall but Connors improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connors lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Connors has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Connors lands a hook to the side of the head.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson tries to clinch up
and Connors counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Connors instigates a clinch.
Connors throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Connors tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnson's elbow.
Connors wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Connors pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Johnson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connors lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Johnson or not.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Connors keeps him there for the moment.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Connors pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Connors rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
Connors wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
Craig Connors seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Connors.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Rashuan Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Connors sprawls well. Connors wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashuan Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Connors saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connors punishes Johnson's body with a nice straight punch.
Connors displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Johnson ducks right into an uppercut from Connors.

Connors clinches.
Johnson has Connors pressed against the cage, preventing Connors from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Connors is looking to break free of the clinch but Johnson has double underhooks.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Connors. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Connors lands a shoulder strike.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson dives in and grabs Connors's left leg, looking for a takedown. Connors pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.

Connors has managed to clinch.
Connors has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connors is looking to break free of the clinch but Johnson has double underhooks.
Connors stalling in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Connors lands a body shot in the clinch.
Connors lands a body shot in the clinch.
Johnson letting Connors take a breather here.
Johnson missing with knees to the body.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Connors has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson being controlled against the cage.

Connors breaks the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connors misses with a two punch combination.
Craig Connors has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rashuan Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Connors comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

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