PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerrell Woods (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Woods
vs
Johnson

152 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

225 cm
24
300 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jerrell Woods!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson feints and as Woods raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Woods might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Woods keeps moving.

Woods throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Woods could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Johnson wants to get up but he can't break Woods's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Woods is retaining full guard.
Johnson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Woods.
Woods shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but Woods keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Johnson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Woods darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Woods smiles and moves away.

Woods pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Woods wants to break free but Johnson has control.
Woods can't break the clinch.
Woods's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A nice left hand lands by Johnson.
Woods wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Woods looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Woods persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Johnson rushes Woods and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Johnson drags the fight down to the ground.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Woods closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Woods wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A control attempt from Johnson but he's now mounted!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson wants to control but Woods is having none of it.
Woods dominating with strikes here.
Woods is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Johnson is in real trouble.
Woods trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Johnson is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woods lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Johnson hold on?!
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is trying to stand back up.
Johnson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johnson keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Woods wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to kick Woods off but Woods keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Woods is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Woods, pushing him back against the cage.
Johnson has Woods pressed against the cage, preventing Woods from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Woods tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.

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.
Johnson lands a knee to the body.
Woods tries to pull guard but Johnson won't allow it.
Woods tries to circle away but Johnson has him pinned against the cage.
Woods is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Woods wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson being controlled against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson tries to pull guard but Woods holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnson drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerrell Woods dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Johnson rushes Woods and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

It looks like Jerrell Woods has been cut.
Stalling in the clinch from Woods.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson leaves Woods with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Woods doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Johnson counters with a crisp one two that drops Woods! Johnson thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Woods to his feet! Woods is in big trouble!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Woods drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Woods taking a break here but Johnson is having none of it and regains half guard.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Woods.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Woods is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woods prevents Johnson from improving his position.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Woods.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Woods is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Woods jumps into side control!
Woods trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
Woods controlling from side mount.
Johnson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Woods wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woods grinds an elbow into Johnson's temple.
Johnson defending against the ground and pound.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Johnson struggling a bit here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Woods keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown attempt by Woods or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnson, which made it look bad.
Johnson unleashes a big counter combination but Woods bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerrell Woods. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into Woods's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Woods 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 decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Woods, up you get!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Johnson misses with a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

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