PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paul Stewart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brett Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stewart
vs
Johnson

178 cm
20
145 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

183 cm
22
151 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paul Stewart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brett Johnson!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Stewart as Johnson shoots in.

Stewart manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Johnson on his heels. He'll look to pass Johnson's guard now, I'm sure.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stewart defends it easily.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Stewart tries to pass.
Stewart not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stewart doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stewart manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stewart is pushing down on Johnson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Johnson is fighting to maintain full guard but Stewart has managed to sneak the leg through.
Johnson tries to roll over but Stewart keeps him under control.
Johnson moves into full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Stewart has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Stewart stands up from Johnson's guard - Stewart perhaps looking for a knockout.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Stewart 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.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stewart defends it easily.

Stewart gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Stewart will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Stewart closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Johnson to the mat! Johnson manages to get full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stewart trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stewart controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stewart passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Stewart thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Johnson tries to improve position but can't.
Stewart tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Stewart's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Johnson is not content to let Stewart control the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Stewart lands a nice short elbow.
Stewart is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stewart thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.
Stewart passes the guard and advances to mount!
Johnson tries to reverse the position but Stewart maintains control.

Johnson defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Stewart.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stewart is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Johnson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Johnson regains half guard.
Stewart wants to pass to mount but Johnson is defending the position.
Johnson trying to control here.
Stewart wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson wants to improve his position but Stewart is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Stewart dominated that 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.

Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Stewart circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stewart wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Stewart pulls guard successfully.

Johnson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stewart manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Johnson has Stewart in his guard.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stewart gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stewart tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart forces his way into half guard.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stewart pulls his head out easily.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stewart wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Stewart missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nice strikes from Stewart there.
Stewart trying to pass the guard but Johnson defending well.
Stewart is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is pressing down on Stewart's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stewart not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stewart doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stewart manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stewart landing with the ground and pound.
Stewart trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stewart controls the pace.
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 trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Stewart avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stewart trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stewart is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
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.
Stewart wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Paul Stewart wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.

Stewart decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stewart works his foot free and advances to mount.
Stewart is looking to work his way around to Johnson's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johnson is really trying hard 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.
Johnson can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Stewart dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Stewart fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Stewart.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Stewart sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Stewart tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stewart manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Paul Stewart has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett Johnson.
Stewart fails with a takedown attempt.
Brett Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stewart moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.

Stewart gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Stewart is controlling well.
Paul Stewart overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stewart is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Stewart seems to be looking for submissions.
Johnson tries to roll over but Stewart keeps him under control.

Stewart is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Stewart with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stewart is working away from the top position though.
Johnson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Stewart slips nicely into half guard.
Stewart prevents Johnson from improving his position.
Johnson wants to control but Stewart is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.
Stewart sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Johnson's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.
Stewart stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Johnson for as long as he can get away with.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stewart missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stewart prevents Johnson from standing back up.
Stewart is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Paul Stewart.
Nice takedown defense from Stewart. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Stewart misses with a low kick.

Stewart gets a takedown into half guard.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Stewart is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Johnson is looking to escape.
Stewart not doing much here.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Stewart is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Stewart is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stewart content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Stewart showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stewart has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Paul Stewart!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Paul Stewart!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Paul Stewart!

Paul Stewart wins by unanimous decision!