PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robbie Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Deacon Downs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Deacon Downs is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Johnson
vs
Downs

210 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
218 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robbie Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Deacon Downs!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jorge Garcia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Robbie Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Johnson duly obliges.
Downs lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Downs.
Johnson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Deacon Downs has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Downs tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Downs looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Well, if Downs is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Downs prevents Johnson from standing back up.
Johnson tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Downs manages to move to mount!
Johnson is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Downs is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Johnson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Johnson shrugs it off.
Johnson tries to buck Downs off but he can't manage it.
Downs controlling from mount.
Johnson is trying to stand but he's just given Downs his back.
Johnson has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Downs really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Downs is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Johnson has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Downs is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Johnson up.
Downs controlling from the back.

Downs is persistently looking for the submission but Johnson is defending it well.
Johnson controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson showing good submission defense here.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Downs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson showing good submission defense here.

Downs is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Downs has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Johnson's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downs trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Johnson holding both Downs 's hands and preventing any damage.
Downs throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Johnson!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Downs loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Johnson hold on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deacon Downs dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Deacon Downs'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.

Downs fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
Downs prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.
Downs lands with a right to the head.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nice body punch from Downs.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Downs lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Johnson tries to circle away but Downs has him pinned against the cage.
Johnson is trying to push Downs away but Downs has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Downs prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.

Downs gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Johnson regains guard.
Downs wants to stand but Johnson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Downs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Downs tries to stand but Johnson is controlling from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Downs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Downs is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Downs must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Downs is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Downs is controlling him.

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

Downs pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Downs is leaning against Johnson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Downs lands a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Downs works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Downs lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Downs lands a body punch.
Downs stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Downs pulls guard successfully.
Downs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Downs is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.
Downs is adopting a defensive guard.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Downs managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands and steps away. Downs gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Johnson loads up on a big right hand but Downs slips the punch.

Downs closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Johnson to the mat! Johnson manages to get full guard.
Downs looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Downs working some strikes from top position.
Downs has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downs connects with a couple of short punches.
Downs's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Downs looking to pass the guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Downs lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Downs is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Downs seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Deacon Downs has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Downs is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.

Johnson manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Downs moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deacon Downs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Deacon Downs'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. This is the final round!

Johnson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Downs counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Downs looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Downs with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Downs tries to stand but can't do so whilst Johnson controls his leg.
Downs scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Downs is trying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Downs seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Johnson pushes Downs off looking to stand but Downs dives back in and keeps control.
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Downs is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Downs to get the leverage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Downs performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson kicks off Downs and gets to his feet.

Downs has managed to clinch.
Downs is pushing Johnson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Downs.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Downs works on Johnson's body with a couple of short punches.
Downs makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Downs lands a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Downs lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Downs presses Johnson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Downs digs a right hand underneath Johnson's ribcage. Johnson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nice body punch from Downs.
Downs slowing the pace effectively.

Downs manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Downs throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Downs is in Johnson's guard.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Downs is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Johnson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Downs with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Downs controls from within his opponent's guard.
Downs keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Downs slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Downs is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Deacon Downs was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Johnson gets tackled into the cage by Downs. Downs maintains the clinch.
Downs scores with a hook to the body.
Downs displaying some good clinch control by pressing Johnson up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Downs.
Downs works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The referee is keeping an eye on Downs - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Downs lands a right hand.
Downs works on Johnson's body with a couple of short punches.
Robbie Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Downs makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Johnson is rocked!

Downs manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Oh Johnson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.

Downs looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Downs wants to stand and escape but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson seems to have got his legs back now.
Downs controlling Johnson's posture.

Downs working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Downs is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Deacon Downs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Downs 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Deacon Downs!