PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Flare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's entrance music is It's A Fight. A fine choice. Flare has chosen Also Sprach Zarathustra as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Flare

180 cm
32
169 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

173 cm
37
180 lbs
28 - 17 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 21 - 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 28 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Rick Flare!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Skip Squint and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johnson scores with a nice hook to the head.

Johnson is trying to trip Flare. He has hold of a leg but Flare is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Johnson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Flare looking for a sweep. Not yet Flare, not yet.

Flare working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.
Flare keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Flare looking to control.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Flare has wrist control.
Flare trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rick Flare hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Flare misses with a takedown attempt

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson lands a shot to the body.
Flare is trying to maintain a safe position but Johnson gets an underhook and turns Flare into the cage.
Johnson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Johnson scores with a shot to the side of Flare's head.
Johnson pushes Flare back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Flare misses with a hook from the clinch.

Johnson has picked Flare up - he's going for a ride! Johnson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Flare blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Johnson is trying to control. Flare wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Flare wants to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to pass to mount but Flare is defending the position.
Johnson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Flare is defending well.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Johnson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Flare is looking to improve his position.
Flare has hold of Johnson's hands but Johnson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Flare is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Flare actively working from the bottom here.

Flare is defending against the submission attempts here by Johnson.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Flare defending well though.
Flare wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Flare looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Flare looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Flare is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Flare moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Johnson landing with the ground and pound.
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 is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Flare is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson trying to control but Flare is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Johnson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Flare walks into a stiff left hand from Johnson.
Flare fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Flare.
Flare shoots in but no luck this time.
Andy Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Flare.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson connects with a nice looking jab.
Johnson connects with a nice looking jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands a lovely overhand right.

Johnson clinches.
Johnson lands a hook that snaps the head of Flare backwards.
Johnson lands a nice uppercut.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.
Flare scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Flare is keeping busy.
Flare scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right hand to the body from Johnson.
Flare is looking for a takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Flare tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johnson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Flare backwards.
Johnson scores with a shoulder strike.
Flare tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johnson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flare tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Johnson scores with a nice short uppercut.

Johnson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Johnson manages to end up in side control.
Flare is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Andy Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson landing a few strikes.
Johnson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Johnson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Flare some visible discomfort.
Johnson is chipping away with strikes.
Johnson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Flare is avoiding damage well.
Flare defending against the ground and pound.
Johnson cracks Flare with a big right hand but Flare just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Johnson working the ground and pound from side control.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Flare can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Johnson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Johnson scoring with punches from side control.
Flare defending against the ground and pound.
Johnson looking to control but instead Flare has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Johnson wants to take a breather but Flare is having none of it.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Flare looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johnson stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Flare keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flare taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
Flare is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Flare is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Flare keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Johnson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Flare avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnson tries to land a front kick but Flare steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Flare swivels and escapes.
Johnson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Flare. That did some damage!
Johnson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as Flare controls his hands.
Johnson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Flare wants a takedown but no success here.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Flare swings wildly with an uppercut but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Flare's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flare tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Johnson misses with a body punch.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Flare avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by Flare.
Flare throws a head punch that misses.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.
Johnson stalling in the clinch but Flare improves position.
Flare misses with a hook from the clinch.
Flare is trying to stall.
Johnson taking a breather.
A right hook to the body lands for Johnson.

Johnson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Johnson is trying to control. Flare wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Flare wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson with the ground and pound but Flare uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.

Flare is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Flare is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rick Flare has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson distracts Flare with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is working Flare over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Flare has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.
Flare takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Flare takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Flare is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Johnson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Flare is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scoring with punches from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson trying to control the action but Flare is working from the bottom.
Johnson lands a nice forearm strike.
Johnson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Flare down.
Flare is trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson cracks Flare with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson blocks the strikes from Flare.
Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Flare to see if he's OK.

Flare is rocked!
Flare is looking to reverse the position.

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 Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Johnson!
Andy Johnson decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.