PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between CJ Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan ORourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, 2pac & Dr.Dre - California Love. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Johnson
vs
ORourke

170 cm
34
144 lbs
29 - 13 - 0

180 cm
40
143 lbs
38 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Beaver Jooce!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, CJ Johnson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Ivan ORourke!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract ORourke.
ORourke chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Johnson connects with a body shot.
Johnson misses with a hook

and ORourke counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by ORourke.
Johnson lands a left hand.
ORourke is working Johnson over against the cage.
A short uppercut from Johnson.
Johnson blocking some punches.
ORourke misses with a body punch.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by ORourke.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, ORourke creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Johnson pushes ORourke back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
ORourke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
ORourke throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
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 has a couple of punches blocked by ORourke.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johnson lands with a right to the head.
Johnson takes a shot to the head.
Johnson digs a right hand underneath ORourke's ribcage. ORourke let out a lung full of air as it connected.
ORourke misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for ORourke.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the body.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as ORourke controls the action.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Johnson.
Johnson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
ORourke has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Johnson seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if ORourke can turn it around.
ORourke cracks Johnson with a nice body shot.
ORourke misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from ORourke fails to land.
ORourke misses with a body punch.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but ORourke avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
ORourke lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Johnson lands a left hand that snaps the head of ORourke backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson taking a breather.
We've been hearing reports that Johnson has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from ORourke.
Johnson misses with a punch to the body.
ORourke lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
ORourke misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with ORourke's elbow.
ORourke creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
ORourke lands a nice uppercut.
ORourke is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Johnson cracks ORourke with a nice body shot.
ORourke lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
ORourke prevents a body shot from Johnson.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Johnson.
ORourke misses with a punch to the body.

Johnson pulls guard successfully.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
ORourke looking to pass the guard.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

ORourke avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Johnson isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. ORourke stacks Johnson on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by ORourke!
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but ORourke keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

ORourke decides to stand back up.
Johnson cracks ORourke with a right hand to the side of the head.
ORourke cracks the inside of Johnson's front leg.
Johnson looks to land a right hand but ORourke moved out of range.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Ivan ORourke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
ORourke tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
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 CJ Johnson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Some bone on bone action there as ORourke checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Johnson lands a nice shot that snaps ORourke's head back.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but ORourke has taken the fight into the clinch.
ORourke missing with knees to the body.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for ORourke.
ORourke struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
ORourke swings wildly with an uppercut but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the fighters up against the cage, ORourke throws an elbow but misses.
ORourke misses with a hook to the ribs.
ORourke scores with a nice hook to the head.
Johnson tries to pull guard but ORourke won't allow it.
Johnson prevents a body shot from ORourke.
A short right hand to the side of the head by ORourke.
ORourke tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
ORourke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries a body shot but ORourke blocks it.
ORourke swings wildly with an uppercut but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Johnson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt ORourke or not.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Johnson.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as ORourke controls his hands.
ORourke fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
ORourke using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
ORourke misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Johnson.
Johnson trying to control the position but instead, ORourke has worked for underhooks and has pushed Johnson into the cage.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
Johnson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
ORourke putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Johnson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Johnson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
ORourke misses with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from ORourke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but ORourke avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by ORourke.

Johnson decides to pull guard.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as ORourke controls the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but ORourke can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johnson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but ORourke has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to bench press ORourke off him but ORourke keeps the position.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but ORourke is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Johnson regains half guard.
Johnson is looking to control ORourke's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnson avoid being mounted?
ORourke content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that CJ Johnson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

ORourke fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Johnson checks it well.
CJ Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
ORourke tests Johnson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Johnson misses with a straight left.
A bone on bone clash there as ORourke blocks the leg kick.
ORourke is looking to clinch.
Johnson throws an off balance right hand
and ORourke counters with a thumping low kick.
Johnson misses with a body shot
and ORourke counters with a low kick, right behind Johnson 's knee.
Johnson misses with a hook.
ORourke doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
ORourke moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. ORourke sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ORourke misses with an uppercut. Johnson saw that one coming.
A big right from ORourke misses.
ORourke takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Johnson works the jab nicely.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! ORourke crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Johnson - the referee stops the clock and ORourke gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Johnson. ORourke manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. ORourke moves away and avoids it.
A big left from Johnson misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. ORourke does a little dance to reset his feet.
ORourke does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Johnson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but ORourke is defending well.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but ORourke does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on ORourke's thigh. ORourke counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but ORourke is retaining full guard.

Johnson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but ORourke manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Johnson has ORourke in his guard.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for subs off his back but ORourke has passed one foot through into half guard.

Johnson with the active half guard here but ORourke passes nicely into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson looks to move to half guard but instead ORourke has passed into mount! Damn!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but CJ Johnson did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

ORourke tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
ORourke throws a leg kick

so Johnson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson advances to half guard.

Johnson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but ORourke sees it coming and defends easily.
Johnson is stalling here. ORourke is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Johnson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and ORourke has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Johnson is not content to let ORourke control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

ORourke stands up and beckons Johnson to his feet.
Good work by Johnson as he checks the leg kick.
ORourke takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
ORourke keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnson.
Johnson's jab looks to have found its range, popping ORourke under the eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ORourke looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Johnson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A leg kick checked by Johnson.
ORourke throws a half hearted mid kick.
A head kick misses from ORourke.
ORourke takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
ORourke steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson with a jab.
Johnson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Johnson missing with a left hand there. ORourke was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between ORourke's hands.
ORourke takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
ORourke tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming ORourke to the mat! ORourke manages to get full guard.
Johnson throws a strike but ORourke rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Johnson is looking to sweep but instead, ORourke has passed into half guard.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard but ORourke has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to reverse the position but ORourke maintains control.
ORourke wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
Johnson gets back to half guard.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but ORourke has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Johnson had his way with Ivan ORourke in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

ORourke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Johnson lands a nice looking body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. ORourke does a little dance to reset his feet.
ORourke dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson blocks a leg kick.
Johnson is looking to chop away at ORourke's legs.
ORourke takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Some bone on bone action there as ORourke checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a hook.
Johnson lands with a straight right. ORourke didn't see that one coming.
ORourke slips a straight right by Johnson.
Johnson sizes up ORourke with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
ORourke throws a front kick aimed at Johnson's knee but Johnson avoids it well.
ORourke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.
ORourke is trying to stand back up but Johnson is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but ORourke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as ORourke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
CJ Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson slips nicely into half guard.
ORourke trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Ivan ORourke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but ORourke is defending well.
Johnson stalling away here and it's allowed ORourke to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Johnson throws a strike but ORourke rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
CJ Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
ORourke has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnson is proving hard to escape from.

And that's the end of the fight!
CJ Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 50:45
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 50:45
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... CJ Johnson!
CJ Johnson is the new bantamweight champion!
A victorious CJ Johnson thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.