PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between JJ Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Smalling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnston's entrance music is Shackler's Revenge - Guns N Roses. A fine choice. JJ Johnston could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Rob Smalling's chin.

Johnston
vs
Smalling

169 cm
22
132 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

176 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, JJ Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rob Smalling!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Johnston there as he acknowledges the shot.
Smalling lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Smalling misses with the combination.
Johnston wants to clinch but Smalling slips to the side
and Smalling cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smalling fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Johnston gets a takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Johnston seems content to control.
Johnston prevents Smalling from standing back up.
Johnston seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Johnston is looking to take a break and control but Smalling is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston prevents Smalling from standing back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of JJ Johnston.
Smalling listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Johnston fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smalling defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Johnston.
Johnston pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnston closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smalling counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Smalling lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smalling.

It looks like JJ Johnston has been cut.
Johnston closes the distance but Smalling moves to the side
and Smalling counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Smalling lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smalling lands with a cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnston on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Johnston takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Smalling looks to land a combination but Johnston avoids it well.
Smalling lands a glancing blow to the side of Johnston's head.
Johnston takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Smalling keeps the fight on the outside.
Smalling tries to bum rush Johnston with a series of wild strikes but Johnston uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smalling moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Johnston doesn't manage to clinch there - Smalling circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Smalling scores with a four punch combination!
Smalling with a hook.
Johnston fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnston tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smalling manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Smalling.
Johnston tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Smalling counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Smalling lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnston circles away quickly and effectively.
Smalling lands with a nice combination. Johnston backs away looking to recover.
Smalling looks to land a combination but Johnston avoids it well.
Johnston tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnston tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnston moves in looking to clinch but Smalling pushes him off.
Smalling cracks Johnston with a good jab.
Smalling circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnston walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Smalling looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smalling has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Johnston moves into the clinch.
Johnston is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smalling to keep the fight standing.
Johnston is breathing heavily.
Still in the clinch, Smalling scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smalling makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Smalling scores with a nice hook to the head.
Smalling wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnston has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Smalling pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnston wants to clinch.
Smalling throws a right hand that Johnston ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnston also avoids with ease.
Smalling looks to land a combination but Johnston avoids it well.
Jab by Smalling.
Smalling cracks Johnston with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smalling lands a body shot.
Smalling moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Johnston tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Smalling counters with a two punch combo.
Smalling's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Smalling duly obliges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Smalling dominated that round.
The cut man is working on JJ Johnston's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnston closes the distance but Smalling moves to the side
enabling Smalling to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnston doesn't manage to clinch there - Smalling circles away.
Johnston closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smalling counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A jab from Smalling finds it's way through Johnston's defenses.
Smalling lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smalling.
Rob Smalling seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smalling throws a nice looking combination but Johnston bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smalling looks to land a combination but Johnston avoids it well.
Smalling looks to land a combination but Johnston avoids it well.
Johnston wants to clinch
and Smalling counters with a stiff right hand.
Smalling scores with a jab to the jaw.
Johnston on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Smalling is working the combinations to good effect here.
Johnston slips a jab and a cross from Smalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnston doesn't manage to clinch there - Smalling circles away.
Johnston tries to clinch
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Smalling counters with a left and a right that stings Johnston.
Smalling throws a series of punches but Johnston moves out of range.
Johnston shoots in looking for a takedown but Smalling manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnston's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
JJ Johnston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smalling's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Smalling duly obliges.
Smalling swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnston.
Johnston tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smalling manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnston moves in looking to clinch but Smalling pushes him off.
Smalling misses with a few strikes there.
Smalling scores with a one two! Johnston had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Smalling displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Johnston wants to clinch up but Smalling keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Smalling scores with a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnston tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Smalling counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smalling cracks Johnston with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Johnston looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Johnston tries to clinch but Smalling moves out of range.
Smalling throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smalling lands with a nice combination. Johnston backs away looking to recover.
Johnston looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smalling connects with a body shot that sends Johnston's belly button to the back.
Smalling throws a shot to the body.
Smalling avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smalling scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Johnston tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smalling swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fighters circle momentarily. Smalling darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Smalling lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnston circles away quickly and effectively.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnston closes the distance but Smalling moves to the side
and Smalling counters with a three punch combo that has Johnston backing up. Johnston nods at Smalling to acknowledge the strikes.
Smalling lands a nice hook to Johnston's body. Johnston takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smalling works Johnston's body with a nice hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smalling stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Smalling moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Johnston takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smalling counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smalling throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Smalling throws a nice looking combination but Johnston bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smalling lands a two punch combo.
Johnston tries to close the distance and clinch but Smalling swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnston tries to clinch up
and Smalling counters with a one-two to the body.
Smalling scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smalling thuds a left hand into Johnston's body.
Smalling scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Johnston shoots in and drives through. Smalling sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Smalling showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on JJ Johnston's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smalling lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnston circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnston on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Johnston doesn't manage to clinch there - Smalling circles away.
Johnston takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Smalling throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Johnston doesn't manage to clinch there - Smalling circles away.
Smalling throws a series of punches but Johnston moves out of range.
Johnston ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Smalling throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Smalling lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Johnston backs up against the cage.
Johnston tries to clinch but Smalling moves out of range.
Smalling lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Johnston is rocked!
Smalling digs a good body shot into Johnston's ribs.
Smalling scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Oh Johnston is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smalling throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Johnston on the side of the head.
Johnston seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalling avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johnston with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Smalling to score with a decent uppercut.
Smalling will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smalling looks to land a combination but Johnston avoids it well.
Jab from Smalling.
Johnston takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Smalling avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smalling connects with a crisp jab.
Johnston wants to clinch up but Smalling keeps it at a distance.
Rob Smalling is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smalling displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Johnston dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Smalling. That did some damage!
Smalling is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smalling swinging wildly here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnston tries to clinch there but Smalling circles away.
Smalling misses with a few strikes there.
Smalling has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnston tries to clinch there but Smalling circles away.
Smalling swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnston.
Johnston tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smalling manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smalling throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smalling keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Smalling circles away from the clinch attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnston takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston doesn't manage to clinch there - Smalling circles away.
Johnston closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smalling counters with a stiff right hand.
Johnston looks to clinch
and Smalling counters with a straight right hand.
Smalling feints a jab promting Johnston to slip. Smalling then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Johnston slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Smalling listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
JJ Johnston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A nice combination there by Smalling.
Smalling uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Johnston has Smalling up against the cage in a clinch.
Smalling is trying to break the clinch but Johnston has him pressed against the cage.
Rob Smalling is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Smalling avoiding damage as Johnston throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston lands a nice knee to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smalling.
Johnston looking to stall.
Smalling managing to block the knees to the body from Johnston.
Smalling lands with a short shot to the head.
Smalling has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Smalling.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smalling lands a nice uppercut.
Johnston misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smalling.
Smalling prevents a body shot from Johnston.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Smalling comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smalling 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Smalling!