PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Whiskey Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's entrance music is Piano has been drinking- Tom Waits. A fine choice. Owens has chosen The Undertaker's Thirst For Revenge Is Unquenchable as his entrance music. Craig Owens will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Johnson
vs
Owens

176 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

196 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Whiskey Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Craig Owens!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Johnson looking to control but Owens is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Johnson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Owens is looking to get to half guard.

Johnson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Owens has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Owens!
Johnson has momentary wrist control but Owens slips an elbow through the middle.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Owens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Owens controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but Owens is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Johnson to get the leverage.
Owens trying to control here.
Johnson wants to stand but Owens has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Owens is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Owens is trying to control but can't.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Owens defends it.
Owens pushes Johnson off looking to stand but Johnson dives back in and keeps control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Owens feints and as Johnson raises his hands in defense, Owens changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnson pulls Owens in close to prevent any damage.
Johnson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Johnson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens throws and elbow that misses. Johnson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Owens's guard. Nice move by Johnson!
Johnson passes into half guard.
Owens is looking to escape.
Owens slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Owens working a defensive guard here.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Owens is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Owens is pulling down on Johnson's head to control his posture.
Johnson stops Owens from standing up.
Owens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Owens is retaining full guard.

Owens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johnson trying to control but Owens is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Owens circles away easily
and Owens counters with a left and a right that stings Johnson.
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 Whiskey Johnson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Owens throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Owens counters with a nice leg kick.
Owens gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnson counters by clinching up.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Owens to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Owens counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Whiskey Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Owens counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Owens lets loose with a powerful body kick. Johnson will feel that in the morning.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Owens counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Owens to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Owens!
Johnson throws some wild stikes that Owens manages to avoid easily.
Owens tries to reverse the position but Johnson maintains control.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Owens is looking to escape.
Owens is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Johnson wants to take Owens's back here but Owens is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Owens is looking to escape.

Owens bucks up and throws Johnson to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owens looks to land a combination. Johnson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Johnson fails with the takedown

and Owens counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.
Owens looking to control but instead Johnson has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Owens tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Johnson.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson trying to control but Owens postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens wants to stand up but Johnson has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Owens is working for a kimura but Johnson is defending it quite comfortably.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.

Johnson has his feet on Owens's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Whiskey Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Owens circles away easily
and Owens counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Owens sprawls well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Whiskey Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A chopping leg kick lands by Owens.
Owens tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Owens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Owens persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Owens misses with a takedown

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown. Owens fights it but they end up in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Owens 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Owens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
Johnson is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Owens's shoulder. That is not cool.
Johnson working the ground and pound.
Owens seems a little lost for a moment, as Johnson dominates the positioning.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Johnson stands up.
Johnson throws a head kick but Owens moves out of range.
Johnson tries to clinch but Owens is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Owens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Owens moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Owens circles away.
Owens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson wants to clinch

and Owens holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Owens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Whiskey Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right handed body shot lands from Johnson.
Johnson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Owens blocks it with crossed arms.

Johnson pulls guard successfully.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Owens is one step ahead there.
Johnson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Owens to control.
Owens is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Johnson fails to move to back control.
Johnson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Owens wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.
Johnson landing strikes from the mount.
Johnson prevents Owens from getting the reversal.

Johnson is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Johnson takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Owens scores a takedown into full mount!
Owens tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
Johnson tries to hold on but Owens postures up.
Owens putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Johnson tries to reverse the position but Owens maintains control.
Johnson wants to hold on but Owens pushes him away.
Johnson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johnson doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Johnson tries to hold on but Owens postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Whiskey Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Whiskey Johnson!