PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleveland Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Cox
vs
Johnson

177 cm
18
215 lbs
2 - 16 - 0

186 cm
25
202 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

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 2 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cleveland Cox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, William Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Cox could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Johnson in particular looking to stall.

Johnson decides to stand up.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Cox defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Johnson.
Cox pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Johnson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Cox sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cleveland Cox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Cox sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cox throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
Cox tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Johnson defends well and Cox ends up having to push Johnson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cox's efforts to push away.

Cox gets control of Johnson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cox will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cox, up you get!
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnson controls from within his opponent's guard.

Johnson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cox is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cox's half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by William Johnson.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cox tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cox to the ground. Cox escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cox throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson dives in for a single leg takedown but Cox sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cox has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cox pulls his leg out and moves away.

Johnson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Johnson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cox to his feet.
Johnson goes for a double leg but Cox avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cox continues to drive forward.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cox has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson is trying to drag Cox to the mat but Cox just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Johnson has Cox pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cox manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cox wants to clinch.
Cox shoots in but no luck this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cox fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cox tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Johnson stays in close to Cox's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cox wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Johnson moves nicely into side control.

Johnson stands up.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cox circles away.
Cox shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Cox's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cox stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
William Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Cox sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cleveland Cox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Johnson.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Cox which made him look bad.
Cox fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cox 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 Cox off to one side.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Cox shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cox's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cox enables Johnson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cox manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Cox is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Johnson goes for a double leg but Cox avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cox continues to drive forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cox's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Johnson shoots in and bounces Cox off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson advances to half guard.

Johnson decides to return to a standing position.

Cox tries to sprawl but Johnson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
Let's hope that Johnson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by William Johnson.
Johnson dives in and grabs Cox's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cox pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
Johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cox avoids it really well and circles away.
Cox fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Cox gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson content to stall in guard here.

Johnson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cox sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Cox sprawls well.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cox defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
William Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cox is looking to clinch.
Cox stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into Cox's guard.
Johnson slips nicely into half guard.
Johnson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson moves into full mount! Cox won't be happy about that!
Johnson looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Cox.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
Johnson controls the position.
William Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cox manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson kicks Cox off and gets back to his feet.

Cox gets caught napping as Johnson dives in and scores a takedown. Cox manages to retain guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Johnson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson pushes down on Cox's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Johnson decides to stand up.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cox tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cox to the ground. Cox escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cox sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Johnson stands up out of the half guard.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
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 gets to his feet - Cox follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cox looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Johnson advances to mount.

Johnson gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.
Johnson is controlling the pace.
Johnson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johnson moves to take his opponent's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is riding his opponent, not letting Cox buck him off.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. William Johnson wasn't active enough on the ground.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cox!
Cox gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Johnson get's back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Johnson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cox did well to prevent Johnson getting side control.

Johnson escapes and gets back to his feet.
Cox defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Johnson.

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

Cox is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Cox tries to sprawl but Johnson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Cleveland Cox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
William Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 26:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:30

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