PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tarik Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Crash Holly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnson
vs
Holly

184 cm
20
165 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

174 cm
26
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tarik Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Crash Holly!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Holly shows good takedown defense.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Holly swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Holly displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarik Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson slips a jab from Holly.
Holly takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.

Johnson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Holly's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Holly keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Holly utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Holly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tarik Johnson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Holly misses with a looping right.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Holly misses the jab.
Holly thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Holly.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Holly, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Holly against the cage but Holly circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnson was well out of range. Poor timing from Holly.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Holly avoids it well.
Holly swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Johnson has his takedown stuffed
and Holly counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Holly gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Johnson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson won't allow Holly to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Holly keeps moving.
Holly wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
Holly working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson trying to control but Holly is working from the bottom.
Johnson stops Holly from standing up.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Holly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Holly gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Johnson is looking to sweep but instead, Holly has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holly prevents Johnson from standing back up.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Holly has control of the leg.
Johnson gets back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holly tries to stand but Johnson is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarik Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Holly.
Nice defenses there by Johnson.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Holly connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Holly swivels and escapes.
Holly looks to throw the jab but Johnson is out of range.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tarik Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Holly counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarik Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holly misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Holly counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Holly ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Holly misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Holly displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Holly counters with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Holly throws out the jab.
Holly misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Holly is avoiding it.
An inside leg kick from Johnson misses.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson cracks the inside of Holly's front leg.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
Holly misses with a straight right.
Johnson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Holly misses with a body shot.
Holly misses with a straight left.
Holly misses with a looping left.
Tarik Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Holly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holly throws the left hand but Johnson avoids the punch easily.
Holly takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Johnson misses with a takedown
and Holly connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Holly misses with a hook. Johnson ducked under it nicely.
Holly checks a low kick from Johnson.
A combination from Holly does no damage.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Holly sprawls well. Holly wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Holly.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Holly backs up against the cage.

It looks like Crash Holly has been cut.
Crash Holly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Holly.
Holly throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a right hand that Holly ducks under and follows up with a left that Holly also avoids with ease.
Holly misses with a hook.
Holly throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Holly lands a nice looking body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Holly as Johnson shoots in.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Nice defenses there by Johnson.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Holly as he jumps to the side.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Holly swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Holly misses with a looping left.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Holly but Holly pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Holly misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Johnson.
Holly swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Holly defends it nicely.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson cracks Holly with a good jab.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
Johnson throws a low kick but Holly moves out of range easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holly ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Johnson throws a leg kick that misses.
Holly just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tarik Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Crash Holly's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Johnson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Johnson clinches up with Holly and pushes him back against the cage.
Holly content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
Johnson has Holly pressed against the cage, preventing Holly from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Holly lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Holly struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Holly can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Johnson trying to control the position but instead, Holly has worked for underhooks and has pushed Johnson into the cage.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Holly is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Holly tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Holly forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Holly wants to break the clinch but can't.
Holly has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holly throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Still in the clinch, Holly scores with a nice short uppercut.
Holly is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson missing with knees to the body.
Holly doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Holly lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Johnson trying to stall but Holly improves his position.

Johnson jumps guard and drags Holly to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson is trying to keep Holly in close.
Holly wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Holly decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Johnson, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Holly's waist but Holly gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarik Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Holly's head backwards.
Holly misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Holly swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson moves forwards but Holly connects with a nice, crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holly ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Holly misses with a looping left.
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Crash Holly seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Holly tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Holly to the ground. Holly escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Holly throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson clinches with his opponent.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Holly tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Johnson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Holly must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing Holly from standing up.
Johnson trying to control the position.
Holly wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tarik Johnson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Holly checks the leg kick nicely there.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Holly pinned against the cage. Holly gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Holly manages to avoid it.
Tarik Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holly missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holly throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnson with a poor takedown
and Holly counters with a straight right hand.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Crash Holly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Crash Holly.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Crash Holly!