PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Barrett Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lalbon Turu Rapthlaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Turu Rapthlaka is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Another Round. Lalbon Turu Rapthlaka will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Johnson
vs
Turu Rapthlaka

177 cm
28
257 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
275 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Dragon

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Barrett Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lalbon Turu Rapthlaka!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson moves forwards but Turu Rapthlaka connects with a nice, crisp jab.

It looks like Barrett Johnson has been cut.
Johnson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Turu Rapthlaka fails to land the takedown.
Turu Rapthlaka listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Turu Rapthlaka connects with the punch.
Turu Rapthlaka scores with a crisp jab that stopped Johnson in his tracks.

Barrett Johnson's cut is getting worse.

Johnson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Turu Rapthlaka to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Turu Rapthlaka throws a strike but Johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Turu Rapthlaka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Turu Rapthlaka wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.

Turu Rapthlaka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Turu Rapthlaka has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Johnson is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Turu Rapthlaka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turu Rapthlaka is looking to reverse the position.
Turu Rapthlaka is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Turu Rapthlaka keeps working.
Turu Rapthlaka is looking for a sweep.
Johnson taking a breather here.
Turu Rapthlaka regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Turu Rapthlaka actively working from the bottom here.
Turu Rapthlaka wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Turu Rapthlaka with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Johnson passes to full mount!
Turu Rapthlaka takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
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!
Turu Rapthlaka keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johnson landing punches.
Turu Rapthlaka is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turu Rapthlaka is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Turu Rapthlaka really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
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 postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Turu Rapthlaka looks a forlorn figure.
Johnson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Turu Rapthlaka hang on?
Johnson looking to control but Turu Rapthlaka is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Turu Rapthlaka tries to reverse the position but Johnson maintains control.
Turu Rapthlaka takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Turu Rapthlaka is trying desperately to improve position.
The referee warns Turu Rapthlaka that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson raining down shots from the mount!
Johnson trying to control but Turu Rapthlaka is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Turu Rapthlaka can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Turu Rapthlaka working to try and regain half guard.
Turu Rapthlaka taking shots to the head.
Turu Rapthlaka is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson looking to control but Turu Rapthlaka is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Turu Rapthlaka is trying to stand.
Turu Rapthlaka is trying to escape the mount.
Johnson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lalbon Turu Rapthlaka will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Barrett Johnson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Turu Rapthlaka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Turu Rapthlaka fails to land the takedown.
Turu Rapthlaka throws a combination that misses
and Johnson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Turu Rapthlaka tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Johnson wants to control but Turu Rapthlaka is keeping him busy.
Johnson is pressing down on Turu Rapthlaka's thigh, looking to free his foot. Turu Rapthlaka is holding on for now.

Turu Rapthlaka looking for submissions off his back.
Turu Rapthlaka tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Johnson is trying to control. Turu Rapthlaka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Johnson prevents Turu Rapthlaka from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Turu Rapthlaka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Turu Rapthlaka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.
Johnson trying to control the action but Turu Rapthlaka is working from the bottom.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Turu Rapthlaka won't allow it.

Turu Rapthlaka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.

Turu Rapthlaka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.
Turu Rapthlaka won't allow Johnson to pass to mount.
Johnson wants to control but Turu Rapthlaka is keeping him busy.
Turu Rapthlaka wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Turu Rapthlaka defending well though.
Turu Rapthlaka is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turu Rapthlaka is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Johnson 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.
Turu Rapthlaka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Turu Rapthlaka is not content to let Johnson control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Turu Rapthlaka looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turu Rapthlaka tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Johnson here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Turu Rapthlaka looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Turu Rapthlaka looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Johnson pushes past his half guard into mount!
Johnson with shots to the head and body - Turu Rapthlaka looks very uncomfortable down there.
Barrett Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Turu Rapthlaka is in all sorts of trouble here.
Johnson wants to control the pace but Turu Rapthlaka is squirming around nicely.
Turu Rapthlaka tries to reverse the position but Johnson maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the head.
Johnson looking to finish Turu Rapthlaka with some ground and pound. This is bad for Turu Rapthlaka!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Turu Rapthlaka is desperately trying to improve his position but Johnson has a good base and remains in mount.
Johnson raining down hammerfists from mount.
Turu Rapthlaka is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Turu Rapthlaka is breathing heavily.
Johnson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Turu Rapthlaka is rocked!
Johnson controlling the pace for now.
Turu Rapthlaka is still in real trouble! Can Johnson finish him?
Johnson postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Turu Rapthlaka in real trouble here! The ref calls for Turu Rapthlaka to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Barrett Johnson!
Barrett Johnson took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.