PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michal Barlow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyson Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tyson Johnson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Michal Barlow's chin.

Barlow
vs
Johnson

223 cm
21
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

189 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michal Barlow!
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, Tyson Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barlow defends well and Johnson ends up having to push Barlow into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Barlow pulls guard.

Barlow has his foot on Johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnson works his way back into a safe position though.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barlow has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between Barlow's legs - danger averted.

Johnson gets to his feet - Barlow follows without any prompting.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Barlow keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Johnson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tyson Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barlow is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Barlow circles away and we're back to standing.
Michal Barlow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyson Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Barlow rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson has Barlow pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Barlow manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson stops a takedown attempt from Barlow.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Barlow pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Johnson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Barlow's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barlow is on top in guard.

Barlow stands up and waves to Johnson to follow him.
Barlow throws a combination that misses

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Johnson.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Barlow shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Johnson eats them both and turns towards Barlow to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barlow tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Johnson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Barlow fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Michal Barlow is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Barlow really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Barlow tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barlow manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tyson Johnson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Barlow tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Barlow manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No joy there for Barlow, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson tries to land a front kick but Barlow steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but Barlow has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barlow drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Barlow tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Barlow. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Michal Barlow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyson Johnson.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barlow pinned against the cage. Barlow gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

Barlow has closed the distance and engaged Johnson in a clinch.
Barlow fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Barlow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michal Barlow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barlow as he avoids it easily.
Barlow is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Barlow tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barlow pinned against the cage. Barlow gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barlow moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Barlow throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barlow tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson wants to clinch
and Barlow counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Johnson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Barlow slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barlow tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Barlow dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson with a poor takedown
and Barlow counters with a head kick. That will keep Johnson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Johnson lands with a right hand.
Barlow keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice takedown defense from Barlow. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Michal Barlow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyson Johnson.
Barlow fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson feints and as Barlow raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barlow trying to strike off his back.
Barlow knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.

Barlow looking for subs off his back but Johnson has passed one foot through into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barlow flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Barlow is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Barlow is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Barlow is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Barlow stuffs the takedown.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barlow's waist but Barlow gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Barlow scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Barlow saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barlow tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barlow manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barlow tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Barlow.
Johnson throws a head kick but Barlow moves out of range.
Barlow moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Michal Barlow is winning the standup battle so far.
Barlow misses with a series of wild punches.
Barlow doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Johnson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Johnson is defending well against a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michal Barlow.
I think Barlow 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michal Barlow!