PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Korbett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Korbett is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 2pac - Fight Music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Johnson
vs
Korbett

190 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
204 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Can Moonwalk

RVCA

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anthony Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Korbett!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Korbett shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the body.

Johnson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Korbett manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Korbett wants to get back to his feet but Johnson passes into half guard.
Johnson is taking a breather. Korbett says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Korbett is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Johnson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Korbett saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
Korbett dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Korbett.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Korbett.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Korbett!

Johnson decides to stand back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Korbett.
Korbett throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnson.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Korbett saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.

Korbett rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johnson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Korbett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Korbett stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korbett is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Korbett is one step ahead there.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Korbett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson controlling Korbett's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Korbett's guard.

Johnson stands up from Korbett's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Korbett swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Korbett looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Korbett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson tries to clinch but Korbett is having none of it.

Johnson scores with a takedown into Korbett's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Korbett gets tackled into the cage by Johnson. Johnson maintains the clinch.
Korbett wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Johnson leaning his opponent against the cage.
Johnson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Korbett gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Korbett's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Johnson has Korbett pressed against the cage, preventing Korbett from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Johnson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Korbett regains guard.

Johnson stands up and waves to Korbett to follow him.
Anthony Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Korbett.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Korbett shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.
Anthony Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Korbett, pushing him back against the cage.
Korbett is looking to break free of the clinch but Johnson has double underhooks.
Nice elbow from Korbett.
Korbett misses with a body punch.
Johnson jumps guard but Korbett stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Korbett missing with knees to the body.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Korbett defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Korbett misses with a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Korbett takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Johnson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Korbett throws out the jab.
Johnson scores with a one two! Korbett had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Korbett tries to clinch up

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Korbett tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korbett is trying to break free.
Korbett looking to slow down the pace here.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Korbett avoids it.
Korbett is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Korbett manages to break the clinch.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Korbett.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Korbett.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Johnson misses
and Korbett counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Johnson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Korbett tries to clinch but Johnson moves away
and Johnson counters with a three punch combo that has Korbett backing up. Korbett nods at Johnson to acknowledge the strikes.
Korbett pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Korbett stuffs the takedown.
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Korbett sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Korbett misses with a wild combination.
Korbett throws a right and a left that both miss.
Anthony Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Korbett gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Korbett tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Korbett manages to break the clinch.
Korbett keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Korbett throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Johnson avoids the head kick by Korbett.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Korbett throws a shot from downtown. Johnson moves away and avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A bone on bone clash there as Korbett blocks the leg kick.
Korbett swinging wildly here.
Korbett throws a left and a right that both miss
and Johnson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Korbett both land. Nice combination.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Korbett as he jumps to the side.
Korbett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Korbett pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Korbett.
Korbett goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Korbett throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Korbett which made him look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korbett dives in and grabs Johnson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes down on Korbett's head and hops out.

Johnson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnson lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Johnson gets to his feet - Korbett follows without any prompting.
Korbett wants to clinch.
Korbett closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Korbett pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a head kick but Korbett moves out of range.

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Korbett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Korbett throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Korbett is trying to push Johnson away but Johnson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Korbett is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Good body shot from Korbett.
Korbett lands a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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 keeping moving, preventing Korbett from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Korbett trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Johnson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Johnson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Korbett shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James Korbett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anthony Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnson, 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Johnson!