PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randall Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, East Bound And Down. Rua is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: West Bound And Down. Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Johnson
vs
Rua

195 cm
32
267 lbs
24 - 7 - 1

180 cm
27
199 lbs
17 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randall Johnson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Rua!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson moves out of range as Rua strikes.
Rua moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rua closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes Johnson against the ropes but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson lands a lovely overhand right.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Rua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rua fails with the takedown.
Rua closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes Johnson against the ropes but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Randall Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Rua.

Johnson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rua's half guard.
Johnson wants to pass to mount but Rua is defending the position.
Johnson trying to control the action but Rua is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Rua is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Johnson is thwarting Rua's attempts to control the position.

Johnson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rua does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rua won't allow Johnson to pass to mount.
Rua is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rua defends it well.
Rua is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rua gets back to full guard.
Rua is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Randall Johnson.
Rua throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a head kick that Rua semi-blocks.
Nice sprawl there from Rua as Johnson shoots in.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rua pinned against the ropes. Rua gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A head kick misses from Rua.

Rua looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rua stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson is trying to keep Rua in close.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rua postures up.
Rua won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rua wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rua is aware though and is defending well.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Rua postures up.
Johnson is really struggling to control Rua but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alex Rua was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Rua which made him look bad.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck for Rua with that takedown attempt.
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.

Rua shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rua was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rua tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
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 Randall Johnson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Johnson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rua finds it's way round the side to connect with Johnson's head.
A head kick from Johnson lands but Rua takes it in his stride.
Johnson throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Rua will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Rua. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rua as he jumps to the side.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Randall Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Rua.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Rua.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Rua.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice uppercut there from Johnson.
Randall Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Rua throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rua momentarily.
Rua fails with the takedown.

Johnson gets caught napping as Rua dives in and scores a takedown. Johnson manages to retain guard.
Johnson looking to control.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rua preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Randall Johnson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Rua moves away and avoids it.
Rua blocks a head kick by Johnson.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rua shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rua showed some decent athleticism there.
Rua trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is pressing down on Johnson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Johnson is holding on for now.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Johnson won't allow Rua to pass to mount.
Johnson keeping control of the position.
Johnson wants to control but Rua is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rua's waist but Rua gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.

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

Johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rua is aware though and is defending well.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson is controlling Rua's posture.
Rua trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson trying to control the position.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alex Rua wasn't active enough on the ground.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rua is looking to escape.
Rua is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.
Johnson looking to control but Rua is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Johnson raining down hammerfists from mount.
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rua tries to reverse the position but Johnson maintains control.
Johnson trying to control but Rua is having none of it.
Rua tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to improve his position but Johnson isn't that keen on the idea.
Johnson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rua looks a forlorn figure.
Alex Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rua tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Johnson with good strikes from the mount here!
The referee warns Rua that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control the pace but Rua is squirming around nicely.
Rua keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johnson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Johnson tries to control but Rua wriggling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Randall Johnson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rua shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Rua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rua trying to control the position.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.
Rua pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.

Rua throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Johnson escapes and throws Rua's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Johnson looks up at the clock and then as Rua takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Johnson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rua tries to buck Johnson off but Johnson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control but Rua is keeping him busy.
Johnson gets to mount! Rua was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Rua is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.
Rua tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson dominating with strikes here.
Rua is looking to improve his position but Johnson isn't that keen on the idea.
Johnson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rua?

Rua is rocked!
Johnson lands a heavy shot. That's hurt Rua! Johnson sees the opportunity and turns up the heat - strike after strike land to the defenseless Rua and the ref dives in to save him! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Randall Johnson!
Randall Johnson is the new super heavyweight champion!
Randall Johnson tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.