PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jamel Booth (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.

Booth
vs
Johnson

180 cm
19
214 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jamel Booth!
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, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Booth makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Booth.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. Booth uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Booth!

Booth 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.
Booth is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Booth got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Booth has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
Booth wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to keep Booth in close.
Booth is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.
Booth could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Booth slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Johnson controls Booth momentarily but Booth frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Booth tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.

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.

Booth gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Booth drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Johnson feints a jab promting Booth to slip. Johnson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Booth slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Jamel Booth has been cut.

Booth has closed the distance and engaged Johnson in a clinch.
Booth stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Booth has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booth is trying to stall.
Booth fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Booth.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Booth to the mat! Booth manages to get full guard.
Johnson is working Booth over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Booth is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Booth wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Booth trying to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Johnson throws the kick towards the body but Booth avoids it.

Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Booth wants to control but Johnson postures up.

Johnson tries for a kimura but Booth is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jamel Booth's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Booth tries to sprawl but Johnson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Booth looks like he's trying to stand up.

Johnson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Booth doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Booth defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Booth from standing back up.
Booth has his hands clasped together around Johnson's back. He's all about the action.
Booth is trying to stand.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Johnson is looking to pass Booth's guard but actually Booth recovers to full guard.
Johnson stops Booth from standing up.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Booth. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Booth circles away from the clinch attempt.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged Booth in a clinch.
Johnson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Booth up against the cage.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into Booth's guard.

Booth is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Booth.
Johnson is trying to push Booth away but Booth has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Johnson tightens his grip and picks Booth up, before dumping him to the ground. Booth manages to land in guard.
Booth is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.

Booth scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Jamel Booth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.
Johnson trying to advance position but Booth counters by regaining guard.
Booth is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Booth gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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

Anthony Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jamel Booth's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Booth!
Booth struggling a bit here.
Booth tries to escape but Johnson is in control.
Booth throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson landing strikes.
Johnson wants to stand but Booth has his arm trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booth is trying to buck Johnson off.
Anthony Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Booth keeps working.
Booth wants to get back to his feet.

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

Johnson clinches with his opponent.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As Johnson tries to get set, Booth tries to push him back and clinch up but Johnson manages to avoid the attempt.

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 wants to clinch.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Johnson is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Booth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Booth manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.

Booth stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.

Booth gets to his feet. Johnson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Booth's guard.
Booth has a closed guard, preventing Johnson from standing up.
Booth is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booth keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Booth striking off his back but it's not causing Johnson any problems.
Johnson stops Booth from standing up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Booth is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Johnson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Booth did well to prevent Johnson getting side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

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