PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Dagger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's entrance music is It's A Fight. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Johnson
vs
Dagger

180 cm
32
169 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

180 cm
26
180 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andy Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jim Dagger!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Topper Green and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Dagger.
Johnson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Dagger attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Johnson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Dagger is looking to clinch.
Dagger moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Dagger fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A head kick from Johnson lands but Dagger takes it in his stride.
Johnson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dagger throws a leg kick which misses Johnson's front leg but catches the back leg as Johnson tries to avoid it.
Dagger keeps Johnson at a distance using the push kick.
Dagger throws a wild body kick that Johnson sees coming a mile off.
Johnson tries a low kick but Dagger avoids it.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dagger keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson is in close to Dagger's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dagger told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Dagger looking to control.
Dagger might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Johnson haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. Dagger uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Dagger!
Dagger trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dagger is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
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.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Dagger controlling him for the moment.
Johnson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Johnson has Dagger pulled in close to control his posture.
Dagger wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dagger tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dagger has a takedown stuffed.
Dagger misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dagger.
Dagger misses with a low kick.
Dagger stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Dagger enables Johnson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Dagger manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dagger avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dagger wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dagger has momentary wrist control but Johnson slips an elbow through the middle.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dagger dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Dagger throwing strikes from guard but Johnson blocks nicely.
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 wants to control but Dagger passes easily into half guard.
Dagger is keen to just control but Johnson is a slippery customer.
Johnson regains full guard. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dagger trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dagger tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Andy Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Dagger throws a head kick that Johnson semi-blocks.
Dagger takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Dagger closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.
Jim Dagger seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jim Dagger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Johnson, right into the meat.
Johnson lands a lovely overhand right.
Johnson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Dagger can pounce on him.
Dagger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Dagger shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A low kick from Dagger misses
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson clobbers Dagger with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Dagger throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnson.
Dagger lands with a good body shot.
Dagger wants to land a leg kick but Johnson is out of range.
Dagger tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dagger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Dagger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Dagger takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Dagger closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Dagger pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dagger scores with a kick to the midsection.
Dagger throws a sloppy body shot
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.
Dagger tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dagger misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dagger.
Dagger throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson connects with a solid leg kick.
Dagger is breathing heavily.
Dagger fails with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Andy Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Dagger.
Dagger takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Dagger wants to land a leg kick but Johnson is out of range.
Dagger takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Dagger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Dagger lands an uppercut.
Johnson lands an uppercut.
Dagger slows down the pace here.
Dagger receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Dagger misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dagger is keeping busy.
Dagger scores with a hook to the body.
Dagger misses with a punch to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as Dagger controls his hands.
A right handed body shot lands from Dagger.
Dagger wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a body punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dagger backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
Johnson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Come on Dagger - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Johnson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short uppercut from Johnson.
Johnson digs a right hand underneath Dagger's ribcage. Dagger let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A nice left hand lands by Johnson.
Dagger is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dagger manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Dagger lands with a light punch inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Johnson dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Johnson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Johnson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Dagger misses with a hook
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Johnson has managed to clinch.
Johnson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Johnson lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Johnson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Andy Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dagger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Dagger is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.
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!
Dagger is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dagger is trying to get back to full guard.
Dagger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Dagger dodges it nicely.
Johnson looks to land a strike but Dagger avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Dagger looking for a sweep. Not yet Dagger, not yet.
Johnson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Dagger blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dagger wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Dagger avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. Dagger uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Dagger!
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Dagger from controlling successfully.
Johnson controls Dagger momentarily but Dagger frees himself.
Dagger throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jim Dagger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dagger in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Andy Johnson.
Johnson thows a body shot but no joy.
Johnson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Johnson throws a low kick but Dagger avoids it.
Dagger closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Dagger pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Dagger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dagger moves away.
Johnson checks a leg kick.
Dagger throws a lazy head kick
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dagger misses with a low kick.
Dagger misses with a hook
and Johnson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Dagger on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Dagger throws a leg kick
and Johnson counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Johnson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson working Dagger over with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Dagger looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Johnson!
After winning the bout, Andy Johnson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.