PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jaime Freitas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Murphy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco Murphy Johnson struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Franco Murphy Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Freitas
vs
Murphy Johnson

180 cm
22
130 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jaime Freitas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Franco Murphy Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Freitas looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Freitas misses with a takedown
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
Johnson throws a right hand that Freitas ducks under and follows up with a left that Freitas also avoids with ease.
Freitas is looking to counter punch.
Freitas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into Freitas's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Freitas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Freitas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Freitas keeps moving.
Johnson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Johnson stands up and beckons Freitas to his feet.

Johnson rushes Freitas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Freitas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Freitas looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Jaime Freitas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franco Murphy Johnson.
Freitas jumps guard but Johnson stands there with Freitas around his waist. Freitas gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Johnson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Johnson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Freitas throws a strike but Johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Johnson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Freitas is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Johnson with the ground and pound but Freitas regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Freitas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Johnson in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freitas trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Freitas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Freitas 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 but Freitas is keeping him busy.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Johnson wants to pass to mount but Freitas is defending the position.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
Freitas trying to control but Johnson postures up.

That's four 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.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Freitas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Johnson has Freitas up against the cage in a clinch.

Johnson gets control of Freitas's arms and successfully pulls guard. Johnson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Freitas manages to get himself to full guard.

Johnson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Freitas's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Freitas trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franco Murphy Johnson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Johnson tries to clinch up.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Freitas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Johnson moves into the clinch.

Johnson has clasped his hands together around Freitas's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Freitas struggling a bit here.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Freitas has escaped the position, nice work there.

Johnson decides to stand back up. Johnson steps back and let's Freitas get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freitas tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Freitas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Johnson can pounce on him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Freitas blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Johnson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Freitas looking for a takedown.
A short body shot lands from Johnson as the two fighters clinch.
Johnson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Freitas tries to clinch up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Freitas.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Freitas dives in and scores a takedown into Johnson's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Freitas postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson is pulling down on Freitas's head to control his posture.

Johnson has his foot on Freitas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Freitas works his way back into a safe position though.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Freitas throws a big elbow that misses.
Johnson is trying to keep Freitas in close.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Freitas is keeping the position for now.
Freitas wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.

Johnson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Freitas on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Freitas tries to get out of the position.
Johnson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Freitas manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Freitas from controlling successfully.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Freitas's guard.

Franco Murphy Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Freitas is keeping the position for now.
Freitas working a defensive guard here.
Freitas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson trying to control but Freitas is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franco Murphy Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson misses with a low kick as Freitas jumps back.
Freitas tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Freitas misses with a takedown

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Johnson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Freitas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
You can see the frustration on Freitas's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Freitas is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Johnson wants to stand but Freitas has his arm trapped.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freitas is looking for a sweep.
Johnson tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Johnson wants to take a breather but Freitas manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Johnson.
Freitas is looking to sweep but instead, Johnson has passed into half guard.
Johnson wants to control but Freitas is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson is taking a breather. Freitas says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johnson lands with a punch from half guard.
Freitas wants to get back to his feet.
Freitas wants to control the action here but instead Johnson manages to pass to full mount!
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Freitas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Johnson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Freitas can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freitas is wriggling around trying to escape.
Johnson controlling his opponent.

Johnson stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Johnson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Freitas defends well and Johnson ends up having to push Freitas into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Freitas circles away and keeps his distance.

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Freitas looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Johnson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Freitas regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freitas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Freitas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Freitas trying to control the position.
Johnson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

Johnson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Freitas sprawls well.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jaime Freitas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franco Murphy Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Franco Murphy Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Johnson moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Franco Murphy Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

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