PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iron Sheik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sheik
vs
Johnson

176 cm
22
196 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Iron Sheik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheik fails to land the takedown.

Sheik gets the takedown into side control.
Johnson is not content to let Sheik control the position.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Sheik drags him back down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Sheik is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Johnson stops Sheik from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Sheik looking to control and managing it successfully.
Johnson is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Johnson manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Sheik is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnson won't allow Sheik to pass to mount.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Sheik is controlling him well.

Sheik postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Johnson to stand up.
Sheik closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.
Iron Sheik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sheik shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sheik showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson pushes Sheik off looking to stand but Sheik dives back in and keeps control.
Sheik trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Sheik is breathing heavily.
Sheik wants to free his trapped foot but Johnson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sheik wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sheik prevents Johnson from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sheik stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Johnson to get to his feet.
Sheik wants to clinch.
Johnson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Sheik circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice takedown defense from Johnson. No joy for Sheik on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iron Sheik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sheik looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Sheik circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheik takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Johnson lands a jab-cross combination.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Sheik blocks a leg kick.
Johnson throws a combination. Sheik tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Sheik fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sheik shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
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 Iron Sheik will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sheik takes a jab right on the kisser.

Sheik shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sheik tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

Johnson kicks Sheik off and gets to his feet.
Sheik fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sheik misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson connects with a jab.
Johnson throws a series of strikes that have Sheik backpedaling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheik shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iron Sheik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Johnson duly obliges.
Johnson tries to clinch but Sheik is having none of it.
Johnson tries a low kick but Sheik avoids it.
Johnson scores with a jab. Sheik acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Johnson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Iron Sheik is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson cracks Sheik with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Johnson tries to bum rush Sheik with a series of wild strikes but Sheik uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Sheik keeps it at a distance.
Johnson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Johnson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Johnson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Sheik shoots in.
Johnson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Johnson is working the combinations to good effect here.
Johnson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Sheik moves forwards but Johnson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sheik shoots and misses
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheik changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Sheik 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 tries to clinch there but Sheik circles away.
Johnson throws a one two combo.

Johnson shoots in and bounces Sheik off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Johnson wants to stand but Sheik is controlling his posture from full guard.

Sheik has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands up from Sheik's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Johnson lands a two punch combo.
Johnson lands a nice shot that snaps Sheik's head back.
Johnson throws a combination. Sheik tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Sheik misses with a takedown
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Johnson 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!

Johnson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Sheik doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
No luck for Sheik with that takedown attempt.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Johnson working away.
Sheik sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sheik wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheik wants to get back to full guard.

Johnson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Sheik to get to his feet.
Sheik takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sheik takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Johnson throws a head kick but Sheik moves out of range.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sheik moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sheik shoots and misses
and Johnson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Johnson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Johnson scores with a hook.
A left and a right from Johnson both land. Nice combination.
Nice takedown defense from Johnson. No joy for Sheik on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iron Sheik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sheik fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sheik looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Johnson with a jab.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Sheik circles away.
Sheik takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sheik gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Johnson.
Johnson throws a one two combo.
Nice sprawl there from Sheik as Johnson shoots in.
Sheik tries to move into range but Johnson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nice takedown defense from Sheik. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.

Sheik drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Sheik decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Sheik bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sheik has time to react.
Sheik doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sheik as he avoids it easily.
Johnson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sheik gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

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