PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dustin Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lebron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lebron James will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Johnson
vs
James

180 cm
18
184 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
27
185 lbs
1 - 6 - 2

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Alpha-Male Nutritional Supplements (q160)
iFight Fight Gear - Steel Penn - RFC

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dustin Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lebron James!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but James 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.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
A jab from Johnson misses.
Johnson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Dustin Johnson has been cut.

James gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Johnson keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent James's takedown attempt.

Johnson breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James blocks a low kick nicely.
Johnson misses with a looping left.
James moves out of range as Johnson throws a body kick.
James tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Dustin Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lebron James.
Johnson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed James momentarily.
Johnson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but James bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
James gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Johnson looking to score a takedown here. James is defending well but Johnson drives through and ends up in James's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.
Johnson connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
James is pulling down on Johnson's head to control his posture.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
James keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
James working a defensive guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
James moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Johnson throws a poor cross that misses
and James counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Johnson thinking.
Johnson chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from James.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.
James looks winded!
Johnson swings widly with a right hand
and James counters with a nice uppercut.
James throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Johnson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging James to the ground. Johnson is now in James's guard.
Johnson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is in close to James's body, working some short punches and elbows.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
James trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson landing with the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and James has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between James's legs - danger averted.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
Johnson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dustin Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dustin Johnson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Johnson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. James eats them both and turns towards Johnson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Dustin Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johnson defends it nicely.
James pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Johnson looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.
James blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
Johnson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
James shoots and misses
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dustin Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lebron James.
James is breathing heavily.
Johnson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Johnson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
James takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Lebron James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James fails with the takedown.
Johnson takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.

Johnson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson lands with a punch from half guard.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
James taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
James controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Johnson wants to take a breather but James is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. James defending well though.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
James regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Johnson.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.
Johnson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

James has his foot on Johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnson works his way back into a safe position though.
Johnson cracks James with a solid left hand.
James throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Johnson working some strikes from top position.
Dustin Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Johnson lands a couple of elbows.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dustin Johnson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dustin Johnson's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson drives through with a takedown into James's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Johnson works over James with some ground and pound from guard.

James 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.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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!
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson distracts James with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. James uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by James!
James won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
James trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a decent shot there.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

James stands up and waves to Johnson to follow him.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
James is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johnson lands with a punch from half guard.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
James wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James is trying to stand.
Dustin Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is nestled in close to James, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
James works his way to full guard. Good work.
James is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Johnson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Lebron James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and James has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between James's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dustin 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dustin Johnson!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Dustin Johnson waved his t-shirt featuring iFight Fight Gear - Steel Penn - RFC's logo in front of the cameras.