PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Miesha Tate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dwayne Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Tate
vs
Johnson

165 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

167 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Miesha Tate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dwayne Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tate sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Johnson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Tate is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tate defending well though.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Tate is defending well.
Tate wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate is trying to stand up here but Johnson is controlling him well.
Tate is trying to get back to full guard.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Johnson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Tate from improving his position.
Johnson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Johnson trying to control the action but Tate is working from the bottom.

Tate is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tate has managed to free his arm - good work.

Johnson decides to return to a standing position.
Johnson throws a body kick that misses.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tate fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Tate shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Tate fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson clinches.

Johnson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tate uses from the top position.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tate has managed to free his arm - good work.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tate's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnson dives in and grabs Tate's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tate pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
Tate misses with a right hand
and Johnson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nice takedown defense from Johnson. No joy for Tate on that attempt.
Tate shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tate shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miesha Tate. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson dives in and grabs Tate's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tate pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
Johnson throws a push kick but Tate slaps the foot to one side.
Tate 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 Tate off to one side.
Tate fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Tate sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson goes for a double leg but Tate avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tate continues to drive forward.
Tate fails to pull guard.

Tate breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tate swivels and escapes.
Tate misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tate fails to land the takedown.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Tate pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Johnson.
Tate keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Tate gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Tate blocks a body shot from Johnson.
Tate is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Johnson is keeping busy.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tate is looking to clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Tate circles away and keeps his distance.
Miesha Tate is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tate.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tate is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Tate circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with Tate.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Johnson being controlled against the cage.
Johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tate's efforts to push away.
Johnson is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson pulls guard successfully.
Tate wants to get up but he can't break Johnson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Johnson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Tate postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Tate controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Tate is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson tries for a takedown but Tate sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Tate shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson wants to clinch.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Miesha Tate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dwayne Johnson.
Tate shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Tate misses with a takedown
and Johnson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tate.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tate but Tate pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tate pinned against the cage. Tate gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tate blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Johnson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tate avoids it really well and circles away.
Tate tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a body kick.
Tate shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Tate breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tate 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 pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Johnson walks into a straight right hand from Tate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate fails with the takedown.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tate pinned against the cage. Tate gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Tate fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
Johnson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tate is defending well.
Tate tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Tate drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tate tries for a takedown but Johnson manages to get underhooks.
Johnson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tate has had enough of the clinch but Johnson keeps him there for the moment.
Tate jumps guard but Johnson stands there with Tate around his waist. Tate gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Johnson slows down the pace here.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dwayne Johnson.
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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

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