PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between nate towles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and tyrone johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). nate towles could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to tyrone johnson's chin.

towles
vs
johnson

180 cm
21
172 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

195 cm
21
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, nate towles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, tyrone johnson!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

towles closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - towles lands in his opponent's guard.
towles trying to control the position from guard on top but johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
johnson can't keep his opponent in guard - towles advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
johnson trying to control from the bottom.

towles is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
johnson is trying to stand up here but towles is controlling him well.
It looks like towles is going to stand back up.
johnson is looking for a sweep. towles is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
towles is looking to stall here but johnson recovers full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
towles wants to pass the guard but johnson is keeping the position.
towles is breathing heavily.
johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Both fighters circling a little - johnson finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
towles shoots in but johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
towles looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? johnson is fending him off so far but towles persists. Nope, johnson circles away and we're back to standing.

johnson drives through and clinches with towles against the cage.
johnson has towles pressed against the cage.

johnson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. johnson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
johnson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
towles won't allow johnson to sweep him here.
johnson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. towles manages to get himself to full guard.
johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with towles. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
johnson wants to get up but he can't break towles's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
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.

johnson stands up from guard. Let's bang!

johnson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than johnson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
towles 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 with the ground and pound from mount.
johnson landing punches.
towles is looking to get to half guard.
towles is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
johnson prevents towles from getting the reversal.
johnson blocks towles's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
towles is trying desperately to improve position.
johnson tries to control but towles wriggling away.
johnson with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
towles working to try and regain half guard.
johnson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. towles looks a forlorn figure.
johnson wants to control the pace but towles is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
towles tries to hold on but johnson pushes him away.
towles regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

tyrone johnson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

johnson shoots in and bounces towles off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
towles is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
towles is working hard here to advance position.
johnson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
johnson throwing strikes from guard but towles blocks nicely.
johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. towles swivels though and keeps the full guard.
johnson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
towles is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

towles 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.

johnson gets to his feet. towles looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
towles shoots and misses

and johnson counters with a single leg into guard. towles didn't expect that.
towles bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in johnson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
tyrone johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
towles pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. johnson is keeping the position for now.
towles trying to control but johnson is working from the bottom.
johnson keeping full guard, as towles tries to pass.
johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
towles trying to control but johnson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
johnson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on towles. That did some damage!
towles tries for a takedown but johnson circles away easily
and johnson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
towles tries for a takedown but johnson circles away easily

and johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for towles!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for nate towles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
towles gets back to half guard.
johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
towles blocking the ground and pound attempt from johnson.
johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but towles is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
towles tries to roll over but johnson keeps him under control.
johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
towles gets full guard.

johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

towles looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
johnson wants to control from the top but towles keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but towles is retaining full guard.

towles is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

tyrone johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

towles shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than towles was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
johnson wants to hold on but towles pushes him away.

towles is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but johnson is surviving well by controlling towles's body position as best he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
johnson wants to get back to his feet.
towles looking to control but johnson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
towles misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

towles swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). nate towles!