PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lionel Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rebel Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson has chosen If you want blood, you got it by AC/DC as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Smith
vs
Johnson

190 cm
21
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
185 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lionel Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rebel Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Lou da Vinci and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.

Smith is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smith to get the leverage.
Smith is just content to waste time from the top position. Johnson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Johnson wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Johnson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Johnson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Johnson!
Johnson tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Johnson advances to full mount.

Johnson has hold of Smith's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Smith manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Smith to control.

Johnson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Johnson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Smith looks a forlorn figure.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Johnson connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Johnson has control of Smith's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Smith regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Smith is trying desperately to improve position.
Johnson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Johnson landing shots from mount.

Johnson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Smith is surviving well by controlling Johnson's body position as best he can.

Johnson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson blocks Smith's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Smith throwing hammer fists to the chest of Johnson. What's that going to do exactly?
Johnson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Smith throwing hammer fists to the chest of Johnson. What's that going to do exactly?

Johnson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Johnson dominating with strikes here.

Johnson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson raining down shots from the mount!

Smith is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Smith to control.
Johnson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Oh Smith is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.
Smith is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Smith can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Johnson moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Smith has worked his arm free - good work by Smith!
Smith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Johnson is working Smith over with some ground and pound from side control.
Smith is not content to let Johnson control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith is looking to reverse the position.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.

Johnson has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Smith is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Johnson yanks on the arm and Smith is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Johnson.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rebel Johnson!
Rebel Johnson took some time post fight to say the following; 'I'll make you famous. Come be with a real man.'.