PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Banjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnson
vs
Banjo

194 cm
25
228 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

215 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steven Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimmy Banjo!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Kavanagh and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged Banjo in a clinch.
Banjo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Banjo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Banjo tries to stall but Johnson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
Banjo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Banjo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Johnson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Banjo just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Banjo swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Banjo pinned against the cage. Banjo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Johnson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Banjo is defending well for now.
Banjo is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Banjo is trying to drag Johnson to the mat but Johnson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A body shot lands from Banjo.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Banjo won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has Banjo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Banjo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Banjo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Banjo's elbow.
A nice left hand lands by Johnson.
Banjo slowing the pace effectively.
Johnson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but Banjo has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

Banjo drags the fight down to the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Banjo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson won't allow Banjo to sweep him here.
Banjo working a defensive guard but Johnson passes into half guard.
Banjo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Banjo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Banjo wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Banjo is retaining full guard.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Banjo keeps moving.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Banjo working for submissions but it's allowed Johnson to get to half guard.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Banjo won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Johnson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Johnson lands a nice shot that snaps Banjo's head back.
Banjo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Johnson fails with the takedown

and Banjo counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson managing to block the knees to the body from Banjo.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Banjo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Johnson jumps guard but Banjo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Banjo is breathing heavily.
Banjo wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Banjo from controlling successfully.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Banjo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Banjo from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jimmy Banjo.
Banjo stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Banjo takes the fight into the clinch.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Banjo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Banjo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Banjo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Banjo tries to tie him up.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Banjo smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banjo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Banjo lands in his opponent's guard.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Banjo from controlling successfully.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Banjo tries to pass.
Johnson wants to hit a switch here but Banjo passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Johnson there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying desperately to improve position.
Banjo landing strikes, looking to finish!
Johnson wants to hold on but Banjo pushes him away.
Banjo controlling his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banjo with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Banjo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Banjo misses with a double jab
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Banjo sprawls well. Banjo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Banjo circles away quickly and effectively.
Steven Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Banjo shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Banjo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Banjo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Banjo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
Banjo tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.

Banjo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.

Johnson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Banjo is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Johnson to the mat. Johnson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Banjo is having none of it.
Banjo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Johnson has his foot on Banjo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Banjo works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to stand up but Banjo is controlling him.
Banjo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Johnson looking for subs off his back but Banjo has passed one foot through into half guard.
Johnson wants to control but Banjo passes into side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.

Banjo decides to take the fight back to the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Banjo is trying to push Johnson away but Johnson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Banjo breaks the clinch.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Banjo breaks from the clinch.

Johnson clinches up with Banjo and pushes him back against the cage.
Banjo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Johnson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Banjo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Banjo gets a double leg takedown into Johnson's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Banjo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Banjo 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy Banjo!