PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Adrian Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Son (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Johnson
vs
Son

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Adrian Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Son!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Son uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Johnson has time to react.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Son is defended easily by Johnson.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Son saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Son tries to clinch up.

Johnson gets caught flat footed, as Son shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Son won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.
Son trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Son trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson trying to control the position.
Son preventing the sweep.
Son throws an elbow that misses. Johnson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Son's guard. Nice move by Johnson!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Son works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Son keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson prevents Son from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Son kicks Johnson off and gets to his feet.
Son shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but Son keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Johnson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Joe Son seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Son is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Son breaks from the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Son fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Johnson to the ground. Son is now in Johnson's guard.
Johnson wants to stand but Son is controlling the position.
Son distracts Johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Son from controlling successfully.
Son trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Son postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Johnson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Son, into his guard.
Son utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Son is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Son tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Son has his hands on Johnson's head, controlling the position.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

Joe Son has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Adrian Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Son.
Son looks winded!
Johnson leaves Son with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Johnson moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Son tries for a takedown but Johnson manages to get underhooks.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Son sprawls well. Son wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Son misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Son sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Son doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Johnson instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Son dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Son.

Johnson has Son up against the cage in a clinch.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Son sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Son trying to control but Johnson postures up.
Son is looking to improve his position.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnson is thwarting Son's attempts to control the position.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Son is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
Johnson tries to stand and escape but Son actually recovers to full guard.
Son looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Son wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.

Johnson stands up and waves to Son to follow him.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Son defends it nicely.

Son gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Son is adopting a defensive guard.

Johnson gets to his feet - Son follows without any prompting.
Nice uppercut lands for Son. That snapped Johnson's head back.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Son shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Son is breathing heavily.
Son catches Johnson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Son will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Adrian Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Son.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Son sprawls well. Son wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Son shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Son's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Johnson decides to stand up.
Son will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Son sprawls well. Son wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Adrian Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Son shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Joe Son seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Son throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Johnson missing with knees to the body.
Son is trying to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson wants to stall.
Johnson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Son drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Johnson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Son fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Son slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Son throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adrian Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Son clinches.
Johnson lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Son has picked Johnson up - he's going for a ride! Son dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Son is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Son not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Son is nestled in close to Johnson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Johnson is looking to escape.

Son looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Johnson is defending against the submission attempts here by Son.
Son takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Son is working away from the top position though.
Son throwing shots but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Son is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.
Johnson is trying to stand back up but Son is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe Son has got the better of the ground game so far.

Son is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Son tries to pass to full mount but Johnson defends it.
Son thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.
Son looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Son trying to advance position but Johnson counters by regaining guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has Son pulled in close to control his posture.
Son working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Son distracts Johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Johnson pushes Son off and scrambles back to his feet.
Son looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Son, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Son sprawls well. Son wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Son shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Adrian Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Son.

Johnson has Son up against the cage in a clinch.
Son is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johnson is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Son pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Son tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Son comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Son has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Son!