PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damion Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Henderson's choice of entrance music: Monster. Damion Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnson
vs
Henderson

197 cm
23
236 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
230 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the 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, Damion Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimmy Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Alyssa Summers and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Henderson down.
Henderson fails with a takedown attempt.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Henderson, pushing him back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Johnson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Henderson can't fight it off and eventually Johnson manages to take the fight to the floor. Henderson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johnson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Johnson postures up in Henderson's guard and throws a big left but Henderson blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson working a defensive guard here.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Henderson is keeping the position.
Henderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Henderson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Henderson avoids the attempt from Johnson to control.
Henderson wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to get to half guard.
Henderson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Johnson tries to lock up and control but Henderson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Henderson has hold of Johnson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Johnson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Henderson on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control but Henderson is having none of it.
Johnson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Johnson wants to control but Henderson is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson looking to control but Johnson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Henderson isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson breaks from Johnson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damion Johnson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson throws a head kick but Henderson moves out of range.
Jimmy Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Henderson has managed to clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Henderson.

Henderson jumps into guard, dragging Johnson to the mat.
Johnson trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Henderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Henderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Henderson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.

Henderson is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Johnson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnson lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Henderson has wrist control.
Johnson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.
Johnson landing some decent shots from guard.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. Henderson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Henderson!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position.
Johnson pulls Henderson in close to prevent any damage.

Damion Johnson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Johnson throws a head kick that half lands.
Henderson scores with a one two! Johnson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Henderson with a poor takedown

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Johnson.

Henderson pulls Johnson into guard.
Damion Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Henderson can't keep his opponent in guard - Johnson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Henderson actively working from the bottom here.
Henderson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnson working over Henderson with some ground and pound. Henderson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Henderson has hold of Johnson's hands but Johnson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to stand but Henderson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
Henderson has hold of Johnson's hands but Johnson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Johnson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henderson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Henderson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Henderson has a closed guard, preventing Johnson from standing up.
Henderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Henderson is looking to stand up but Johnson isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damion Johnson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnson throwing shots but Henderson is blocking nicely.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Henderson taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
Henderson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Henderson.
Henderson gets full guard.
Johnson trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get up but he can't break Henderson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Henderson blocks nicely.
Henderson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Henderson has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.

Henderson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Henderson is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Henderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Henderson is controlling Johnson's posture.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henderson is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Johnson stands up over Henderson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.

Johnson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Henderson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Henderson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson tries to clinch but Henderson is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Henderson.
Henderson slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Henderson shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Damion Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Henderson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Henderson sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Henderson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Henderson is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jimmy Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Damion Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damion Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damion Johnson!
Damion Johnson decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.