PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Donovan Knox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rico Johnson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Donovan Knox's chin.

Knox
vs
Johnson

199 cm
19
177 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

175 cm
20
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Donovan Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rico Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Knox sprawls well.
Knox closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.
Johnson throws a body kick that misses.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knox manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Knox.
Johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Knox avoids it really well and circles away.

Knox bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Johnson manages to get back to half guard.
Knox trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Knox knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Knox is going to stand back up.
Knox trying to pass the guard but Johnson defending well.
Johnson manages to get to full guard.
Johnson looks winded!
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Knox pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Knox grinds an elbow into Johnson's temple.
Knox taking a breather here.
Knox scoring with punches and elbows.

Knox is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Johnson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Knox connects with a decent elbow.
Knox working away.
Knox gets to mount! Johnson was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Knox lands a big elbow.
Knox controlling the position easily from mount.

Knox goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Johnson is on top in guard.
Knox on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Knox tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Knox is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnson is aware though and is defending well.
Knox looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson wants to stand but Knox is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Knox has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between Knox's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donovan Knox dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Knox tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Knox wants to clinch.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Knox circles away.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Knox's waist but Knox gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.

Knox drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Knox in side control lands a decent elbow.

Knox is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johnson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Knox scores with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox working the ground and pound from side control.
Johnson is trying to escape the position but Knox is controlling the position.
Johnson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Knox wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Knox lands a nice forearm strike.
Knox is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Johnson is not content to let Knox control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Knox controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knox is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Johnson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Johnson shrugs it off.
Johnson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Knox looking to finish Johnson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Johnson!
Knox looking to control and managing it successfully.
Johnson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Knox avoids the attempt from Johnson to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knox punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donovan Knox dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Knox throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Knox moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A nice combination there by Johnson.

Knox instigates a clinch.
Johnson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Knox gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Knox pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Knox circles away from the clinch attempt

and Knox counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Knox.
Donovan Knox overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Knox trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knox wants to stand but Johnson is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Knox controls the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Donovan Knox just wasn't active enough.
Knox throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johnson's waist but Johnson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Knox off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knox drives through with a takedown into guard.
Knox wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

Johnson has his foot on Knox's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knox works his way back into a safe position though.
Knox controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Knox trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson is striking from the bottom but Knox uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Knox really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Knox is keen to just control but Johnson is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox controlling the action here.
Knox trying to advance position but Johnson counters by regaining guard.
Knox trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Donovan Knox.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Knox is defended easily by Johnson.
Johnson is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson fails with the takedown

so Knox counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Knox slips nicely into half guard.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Knox has control of the leg.
Rico Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Donovan Knox is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knox tries to stand but can't do so whilst Johnson controls his leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donovan Knox showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Knox, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donovan Knox!