PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between William Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Ludwig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larry Ludwig has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with William Johnson's chin.

Johnson
vs
Ludwig

186 cm
26
202 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
189 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, William Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Larry Ludwig!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ludwig tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ludwig sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Johnson tries to stand and escape but Ludwig is controlling the position.
Johnson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Johnson is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Ludwig manages to get to full guard.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but instead Ludwig has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Ludwig trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ludwig 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 keeping full guard, as Ludwig tries to pass.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ludwig to the mat! Ludwig manages to get full guard.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Ludwig is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johnson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Ludwig being controlled here, momentarily.

William Johnson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ludwig 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.
William Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ludwig gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Johnson has picked Ludwig up - he's going for a ride! Johnson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
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!
It looks like Johnson is going to stand back up.

Johnson stands up from half guard.
Ludwig has a takedown stuffed.
Ludwig has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Johnson trying to control from Ludwig's half guard. Ludwig has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Johnson wanted to stand there but Ludwig had control of the position.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ludwig gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Ludwig gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Ludwig trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Johnson is not content to let Ludwig control the position.
Ludwig perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Johnson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johnson tries to get out of the position.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Ludwig is controlling him well.
Ludwig slows the pace down in half guard.

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

Ludwig feints and as Johnson raises his hands in defense, Ludwig changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
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 stand up but Ludwig is controlling him.
Johnson looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ludwig is controlling him.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ludwig controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Larry Ludwig.
Ludwig shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ludwig tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Johnson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson is looking to stand up but Ludwig isn't so interested in that idea.
Ludwig 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 round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ludwig shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Ludwig tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ludwig on the ground.

Johnson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Johnson stands up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into Ludwig's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Ludwig.
Ludwig being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of William Johnson.

Johnson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ludwig did well to prevent Johnson getting side control.
Ludwig tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Johnson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Johnson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Johnson stands up from mount. Strange move.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
William Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ludwig is looking to reverse the position.
Ludwig manages to get back to half guard.
Ludwig tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.

Johnson stands up out of the half guard.

Johnson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ludwig's guard.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Ludwig gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Ludwig isn't so interested in that idea.
Ludwig sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ludwig stops Johnson from standing up.
Ludwig wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Ludwig slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Johnson wants to stand but Ludwig is controlling the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Larry Ludwig.

Ludwig gets a takedown into half guard.
Ludwig controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is staying active underneath Ludwig, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ludwig keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Johnson is looking to escape.
Ludwig is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Johnson!
Johnson tries to buck Ludwig off but he can't manage it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ludwig controlling the pace for now.
Johnson trying desperately to get to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ludwig trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Ludwig controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ludwig is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.

Johnson stands up and beckons Ludwig to his feet.

Ludwig gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Johnson to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Ludwig is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnson is aware though and is defending well.

Johnson gets to his feet. Ludwig looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Ludwig.
Ludwig shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.

Ludwig shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ludwig stops Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Ludwig is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ludwig prevents Johnson from standing back up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Johnson is looking to escape.
Ludwig trying to pass the guard but Johnson defending well.
Ludwig is trying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Larry Ludwig was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ludwig misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Johnson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ludwig to the ground. Johnson is now in Ludwig's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Ludwig is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson pushing down on Ludwig's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
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 performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ludwig tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Larry Ludwig has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of William Johnson.
Ludwig tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Ludwig won't let him.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Ludwig gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Johnson wants to stand up but Ludwig is controlling him.
Ludwig's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ludwig in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Ludwig is having none of it.
Ludwig throws a big elbow that misses.
Ludwig passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ludwig is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Ludwig content to control rather than advance.
Ludwig wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Ludwig stops Johnson from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Larry Ludwig.
Ludwig throws a leg kick but Johnson checks it.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ludwig has a takedown stuffed.
William Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Larry Ludwig.

Ludwig closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ludwig has clasped his hands together around Johnson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Johnson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Johnson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

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 William Johnson.
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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

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