PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Merlin Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greg Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Greg Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Church
vs
Johnson

187 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Merlin Church!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Greg Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Church tries to sprawl but Johnson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Johnson prevents Church from standing back up.
Church is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Church to regain full guard.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

Church working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Church is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Church gets a clinch.

Church pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Johnson closes the distance and pushes Church back into the cage.
Church is trying to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling him.

Church manages to break the clinch.
Johnson tried to score with a low kick but Church checks it.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Church. Church gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Johnson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Church quickly recovers to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Church wants to get back to full guard.
Church is breathing heavily.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Greg Johnson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Church shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merlin Church. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Johnson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.
Church wants to stand but Johnson is controlling his posture from full guard.

Johnson manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Church quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Church defends it.
Well, if Johnson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Church wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson is controlling the pace.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Greg Johnson.

Johnson closes the distance and pushes Church back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Church throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Church dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
Church will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Greg Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left and a right from Johnson both land. Nice combination.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Johnson checks a leg kick.
Church is looking to clinch.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Church against the cage.

Johnson pulls guard effortlessly.
Church throws a strike but Johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Johnson works over Church with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Church is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Church has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between Church's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Church looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Greg Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
Church is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Church throws a wild body kick that Johnson sees coming a mile off.
Church changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Church manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Church's guard.
Johnson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Church wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Greg Johnson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
A nice combination there by Johnson.

Johnson has Church up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Johnson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Johnson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Church clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Johnson controlling the positon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Greg Johnson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Church counters with a nice leg kick.

Johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Johnson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Johnson trying to control but Church is working from the bottom.

Church looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson trying to move into half guard but instead Church has managed to sweep!

Johnson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson jumps guard.

Johnson uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Church lands with a slapping head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Johnson rushes Church and presses him up against the cage.
Church looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Johnson just leaning against Church, taking a breather.
A right handed body shot lands from Johnson.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Church is controlling him.
Church tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Church wants to break free but Johnson has control.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson drags the fight down to the ground.
Johnson pulls Church in to control the position.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Church is keeping the position for now.
Church being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Greg Johnson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Johnson swinging wildly here.
Church throws a head kick that misses.
Church shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Johnson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Church is looking for a sweep.
Johnson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Church will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Let's hope that Johnson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Greg Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Church's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnson controlling from side mount.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Greg Johnson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Church actively working from the bottom here.
Merlin Church has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Church flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Greg Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

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