PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tarik Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duey Doubleg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Johnson
vs
Doubleg

184 cm
22
165 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

175 cm
23
164 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

The Dark Side
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tarik Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Duey Doubleg!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Doubleg closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Doubleg is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Doubleg lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Doubleg looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Johnson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Doubleg has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Red Light MMA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Johnson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Doubleg not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Doubleg must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Doubleg postures up.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Doubleg gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doubleg is working to get back to half guard.
Doubleg keeps trying to improve his position.

Johnson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Doubleg has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Doubleg is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Johnson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Doubleg tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
Doubleg sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Doubleg avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Doubleg is trying to stand.

Doubleg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doubleg is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Johnson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Doubleg is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Doubleg gets back to full guard.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Doubleg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tarik Johnson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Doubleg takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Doubleg closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Doubleg's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Doubleg's back!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Doubleg wants to get back to his feet.

Doubleg defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Doubleg can't escape the position.
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 Tarik Johnson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A combination from Johnson does no damage.

Doubleg shoots in and bounces Johnson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Doubleg trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson controlling Doubleg's posture.
Doubleg trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Duey Doubleg has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson controls Doubleg momentarily but Doubleg frees himself.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Doubleg trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Duey Doubleg hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Doubleg shows good takedown defense.

Doubleg throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Johnson was covering up waiting for the punch and Doubleg finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Johnson trying to strike off his back.
Doubleg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Doubleg wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doubleg throws a strike but Johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Johnson content to stall in guard here.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johnson stands and throws Doubleg's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control but Doubleg is keeping him busy.

Johnson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Johnson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Johnson moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Johnson trying to control the position but Doubleg is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Doubleg's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnson just content to control the position.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Doubleg has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Doubleg rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Johnson's guard! Nice work there by Doubleg!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Duey Doubleg will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Doubleg throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Johnson was covering up waiting for the punch and Doubleg finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Doubleg missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Doubleg from controlling successfully.
Johnson wants to stand but Doubleg is controlling the position.
Johnson is controlling Doubleg's posture.
Johnson looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Doubleg wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.

Tarik Johnson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Doubleg keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Doubleg is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Johnson controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Johnson is looking to stall here but Doubleg recovers full guard.
Johnson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Doubleg keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Doubleg tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Tarik Johnson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
An inside leg kick lands from Johnson.

Doubleg feints and as Johnson raises his hands in defense, Doubleg changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnson working a defensive guard but Doubleg passes into half guard.
Doubleg wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson won't allow Doubleg to pass to mount.

Doubleg is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Johnson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Doubleg trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Doubleg wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Doubleg trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tarik Johnson.
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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Duey Doubleg!
An out of breath Duey Doubleg thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.