PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leonard Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Giles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Breaking Benjamin - I Will Not Bow. 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
Giles

175 cm
19
165 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Synergy Nutrition
Concrete Clothing Co.

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leonard Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johan Giles!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Joseph Jones and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Giles shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A good leg kick by Johnson.
Giles tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Giles closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Giles is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Giles trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
Johnson struggling a bit here.
Johnson defending against the ground and pound.
Johnson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Giles punching from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson thows a body kick. Giles tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Johnson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Giles's head.
Johnson throws a head kick but Giles moves out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Johnson.

Giles 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.
Giles tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson throws a strike but Giles rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Giles avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Giles working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johnson's head.

Giles avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giles trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Giles working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johnson's head.
Giles tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Giles wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Giles is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Johnson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Giles's back instead.
Giles tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Giles throwing hammer fists to the chest of Johnson. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giles manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Giles manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Giles looking to control.
Johnson trying to control but Giles is working from the bottom.
Giles is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Giles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Giles bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Giles wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Giles makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Giles works over Johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to keep Giles in close.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Giles gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Giles tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Giles lands a lovely overhand right.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Giles which made him look bad.
Giles fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Giles looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Giles pushes his legs off easily.
Giles with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
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 Leonard Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Giles has a takedown stuffed.
Giles swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Giles misses with a hook.
Giles takes a kick to the side of the head.
Giles throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Giles. Giles gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Giles moves out of range easily.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson keeps Giles at a distance using the push kick.
Giles swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Johnson.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Giles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A punch lands to the side of Johnson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Giles. Giles gets slowly back to his feet.
Leonard Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Giles.
Johnson misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giles has his takedown stuffed
and Johnson counters with a body kick.
A lazy left from Giles finds it's target.
Giles walks forward, straight into a front kick from Johnson.
Johan Giles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Giles avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Giles shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson tries to score with a low kick but Giles moves his leg out of the way.

Giles shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Giles wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Giles is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is refusing to be controlled, as Giles sits in half guard.
Giles throwing shots but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Johnson punching from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Giles there.
Giles frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johnson tries to reverse the position but Giles maintains control.
Giles with shots to the head and body - Johnson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Johnson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Giles lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Johnson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Johnson is desperately trying to improve his position but Giles has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giles landing punches.
Johnson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Giles punishing his opponent with strikes.
Giles with a couple of short strikes.
Johnson wants to control but Giles is having none of it.
Johnson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Giles. What's that going to do exactly?
Giles unloading with bombs!
Giles with good strikes from the mount here!
Johnson is working to get back to half guard.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson tries to lock up and control but Giles gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Giles is landing with some decent strikes but Johnson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Johnson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Johnson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Giles connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Giles working away from the top, dropping strikes.
A nice elbow there by Giles.
Johnson working to try and regain half guard.
Giles landing strikes from the mount.
Johan Giles has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
A nice elbow there by Giles.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Giles lands a nice shot to the head.
Giles with good strikes from the mount here!
Giles scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Johnson?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Giles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Giles looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Giles fails to land the takedown.
Giles throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Giles throws a hook but Johnson avoids it easily.
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Giles fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Leonard Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Giles.
Giles stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Johnson.
Johnson lands a head kick. Giles smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Giles just misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Giles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
No luck for Giles with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giles fails to land with a series of punches.
Giles takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Giles tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A combination from Giles does no damage.
Giles avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Johnson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Giles 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 Giles off to one side.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Giles circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson slips a jab from Giles.
Giles sizes up Johnson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Leonard Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Giles shoots and misses
and Johnson counters with a big head kick but Giles shrugs it off.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson throws a head kick but Giles moves out of range.
Giles pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Giles throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Johnson scoring well with a low kick there.
Giles tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Giles's sensitive parts.
Giles throws a leg kick that is checked
and Johnson makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Giles really felt that one!
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Giles misses with a head kick.
Johnson throws a head kick that Giles semi-blocks.
A jab from Giles misses.
Giles throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Johnson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Giles is lucky that one didn't land flush.
An inside leg kick lands from Johnson.
Giles throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Giles shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.
Giles has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Johnson.
Giles connects with a jab.
Johnson slips a jab from Giles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Johnson.
Giles tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Giles shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Giles stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Johnson.
Giles shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Johnson lands with a slapping head kick.
Giles wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Johnson throws a head kick that Giles semi-blocks.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Giles missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Giles pinned against the cage. Giles gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Giles moves out of range easily.
Giles tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily
and Johnson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Giles throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Johnson.

Giles darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Johnson trying to control but Giles postures up.
Johnson is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Giles moves nicely into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonard Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight for Johan Giles!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Johan Giles!
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight for Johan Giles!

Johan Giles wins by unanimous decision!