PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jeremy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Sandoval (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
Sandoval

172 cm
37
144 lbs
43 - 11 - 1

170 cm
25
135 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 43 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeremy Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Joseph Sandoval!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sandoval does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sandoval stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Sandoval digs a right hand underneath Johnson's ribcage. Johnson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Johnson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sandoval prevents it.
Sandoval lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sandoval misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson wants to take the fight to the mat but Sandoval manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremy Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sandoval tries to land a knee to the head but Johnson blocks with his arms.
Sandoval tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sandoval lands a knee to the head.
Sandoval gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.

Johnson is trying to trip Sandoval. He has hold of a leg but Sandoval is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Johnson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Johnson is fighting to break Sandoval's control of his arms but Sandoval is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Sandoval wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sandoval is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sandoval looking for a sweep. Not yet Sandoval, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sandoval tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sandoval to the ground. Sandoval escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Johnson gets a double leg takedown into Sandoval's guard.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson working some strikes from top position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sandoval can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Johnson is now in half guard.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sandoval manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Johnson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson is fighting to break Sandoval's control of his arms but Sandoval is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Johnson trying to control but Sandoval is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sandoval is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Johnson postures up in Sandoval's guard and throws a big left but Sandoval blocks it.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. Sandoval uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Sandoval!
Sandoval must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Johnson pushes Sandoval off and scrambles back to his feet.

Sandoval rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval lands a nice elbow.
Sandoval tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sandoval lands an elbow inside that Johnson shrugs off.
Johnson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sandoval lands a good knee to the midsection. Johnson won't want to take too many of those.
Sandoval connects with a nasty looking knee right to Johnson's face.
Sandoval gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Sandoval lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sandoval is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sandoval down to the mat. Sandoval avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sandoval jabs Johnson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sandoval looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sandoval throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Sandoval tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joseph Sandoval will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sandoval throws a quick inside leg kick.

Johnson scores with a takedown into Sandoval's guard.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Sandoval blocks nicely.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sandoval's head.
Johnson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sandoval seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Sandoval is working from the bottom.
Johnson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sandoval is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sandoval has his hands on Johnson's head, controlling the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sandoval leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Sandoval which made him look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremy Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sandoval closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sandoval lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Johnson or not.
Sandoval tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sandoval with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sandoval with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short uppercut from Sandoval.
Johnson wants a takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sandoval creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Johnson's defenses.
Sandoval with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Johnson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sandoval with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval lands a nice elbow.
Sandoval throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.
Joseph Sandoval seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sandoval gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Sandoval tries to land knees in the clinch but Johnson avoids the damage to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sandoval.
Sandoval lands an elbow that stopped Johnson in his tracks for a moment.
Johnson has Sandoval pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sandoval manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sandoval stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sandoval utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sandoval misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson tries to score a body lock takedown but Sandoval shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sandoval with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sandoval creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Johnson's defenses.

Johnson is rocked!

It looks like Jeremy Johnson has been cut.
Johnson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sandoval is defending well.
A left hand lands to the body for Sandoval.
Sandoval lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sandoval landing knees to the head.
Oh Johnson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sandoval comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A short right from Sandoval on the inside.
Knees to the body from Sandoval.
A knee to the head by Sandoval.
Sandoval lands a big knee to the head and Johnson goes down! Sandoval pounces and finishes the fight with strikes! He jumps to his feet and celebrates with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:17 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joseph Sandoval!
During a confident post fight interview, Joseph Sandoval thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.