PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between David Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Long
vs
Johnson

172 cm
22
155 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

175 cm
22
147 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

1337 ANZAC

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 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, David Long!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Long throws a jab when Johnson was well out of range.
Long misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Long is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Long circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Long.
Long displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Johnson has his takedown stuffed
and Long counters with a lovely straight right hand!
David Long has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Johnson.
Long throws a hook to the side of Johnson's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Johnson forces Long back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson misses with an elbow strike.
Johnson looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Long manages to break the clinch.
Long lands a slapping body shot.
Johnson slips a straight right by Long.
Long lands with an uppercut that bounces Johnson off the cage and back into range.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Long saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Long throws an overhand right that lands on Johnson's shoulder, as Johnson tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson cracks the inside of Long's front leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Long.
Long scores with a jab to the head.
Long misses with a hook

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is working for a submission of some sort.
Long keeping hold of Johnson's head, controlling as best he can.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Long is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Long is defending well.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Long defends it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson is keen to just control but Long is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anthony Johnson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Long avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Long lunges at Johnson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Johnson's hand.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Long.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Long sprawls well.
Long thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson slips a jab from Long.
Johnson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Johnson pushes Long up against the cage in a clinch.
Long avoids the elbow strike from Johnson, against the cage.
Long dodges an elbow strike from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
Johnson throws an elbow but it misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Johnson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Long's brow.
Long blocks an elbow strike from Johnson.
Long blocks the elbow strike.
Johnson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Long avoids the elbow strike from Johnson, against the cage.
Johnson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Johnson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Johnson tries for a kimura but Long is defending well.

Johnson is trying to get an arm triangle but Long is defending well.
Long is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson advances to mount.

Johnson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Long is now in Johnson's guard. A big mistake from Johnson there, giving up the dominant position!

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Long trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson working for a triangle but Long defends it easily.
Long engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnson is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Long keeps moving.

Johnson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Long is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Long has escaped and now he's on top!
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.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Long is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
David Long is winning the standup battle so far.
A jab from Long misses.
A jab from Long misses.
Long swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Long is looking for a sweep.
Johnson advances to mount.
Johnson fails to advance to Long's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Long has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Long!
Long stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Long is stalling in the full guard.
Long is fighting to break Johnson's control of his arms but Johnson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Long trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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.
Long is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.

The ref stands the fighters back up because David Long just wasn't active enough.
Johnson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Long.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Long.
Johnson needs to keep his hands up - Long had a free shot at his head there.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Long chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Johnson can pounce on him.
David Long seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws the kick towards the body but Long avoids it.
Johnson misses with a kick to the body.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Long is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.
Johnson wants to advance to full mount but Long doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
David Long has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Long looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Long looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Long!
Long taking a breather here.
Anthony Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Long keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Long trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.

Long decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anthony Johnson.
I've got Johnson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Anthony Johnson!
A determined Anthony Johnson didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!