PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Vukovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Lil Wayne-Moment. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Vukovic

187 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

192 cm
18
261 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Alpha Nutrition HIGHEST QUALITY ON THE ISLAND

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Anthony Johnson !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Josh Vukovic!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Dirk Anderson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vukovic goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Vukovic throws a hook to the side of Johnson 's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johnson is looking for a counter combo.
Vukovic looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Vukovic throws the left hand but Johnson avoids the punch easily.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vukovic.
Vukovic cracks Johnson with a good jab.
Vukovic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vukovic stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson . Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Vukovic connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Vukovic sprawls well.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Vukovic! But no joy.
Vukovic scores with a jab.
Vukovic takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into guard.

Johnson gets to his feet - Vukovic follows without any prompting.
Johnson blocks a jab.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson misses with an elbow strike.
Vukovic is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johnson is defending well.

Johnson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Vukovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vukovic stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson .
Vukovic is looking to advance position but Johnson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vukovic tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Vukovic is looking to escape.
Vukovic trying desperately to get to his feet.
Vukovic wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Vukovic should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Johnson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Vukovic manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Johnson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vukovic is looking for a sweep.
Vukovic is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Vukovic takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Vukovic stops Johnson from passing to mount.
Vukovic is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Vukovic trying to remain calm as Johnson controls from the top position.
Johnson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Vukovic is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Johnson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Vukovic knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Johnson . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vukovic stalks Johnson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Johnson 's face. Johnson staggers backwards, shaken.

Vukovic closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Vukovic drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anthony Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vukovic misses with a double jab
and Johnson counters with a three punch combo that has Vukovic backing up. Vukovic nods at Johnson to acknowledge the strikes.
Vukovic shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Josh Vukovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Vukovic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vukovic is defended easily by Johnson .
An attempted straight right counter from Johnson misses the target.
Vukovic misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a shot to the body.
Vukovic stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson . Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
A slow jab from Vukovic misses its intended target.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vukovic, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vukovic is fighting off a takedown attempt but Johnson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Vukovic to the mat. Vukovic regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vukovic can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vukovic is breathing heavily.
Johnson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Vukovic has wrist control.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vukovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vukovic loads up on a big right hand but Johnson slips the punch.
Anthony Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson moves out of range as Vukovic strikes.
A swing and a miss from Vukovic.
Johnson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vukovic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johnson somewhat.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vukovic can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vukovic misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson blocks a jab.
Jab from Vukovic.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Vukovic.

Johnson looking to score a takedown here. Vukovic is defending well but Johnson drives through and ends up in Vukovic's guard.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Vukovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Johnson lands a couple of elbows.

Johnson drops back looking for a leg! Vukovic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vukovic manages to kick Johnson off! Johnson jumps back into Vukovic's guard.
Johnson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Johnson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson 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!

Vukovic gets a double leg takedown into Johnson 's guard.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vukovic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vukovic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Vukovic tries to pass.
Johnson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vukovic postures up.
Johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vukovic manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Johnson drops back looking for a leg! Vukovic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vukovic manages to kick Johnson off! Johnson jumps back into Vukovic's guard.
Johnson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Vukovic wants to get back to his feet but Johnson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. Vukovic uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson 's guard. Nice move by Vukovic!

Anthony Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vukovic controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Vukovic from controlling successfully.
Vukovic 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vukovic wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Vukovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Johnson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Vukovic, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Vukovic against the cage but Vukovic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Vukovic misses with the combination.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vukovic gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Vukovic turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Vukovic manages to end up in side control.
Johnson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Vukovic slows the pace down in half guard.
Vukovic looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Josh Vukovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anthony Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson controlling the position well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Vukovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johnson 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Anthony Johnson !
Our winner, Anthony Johnson , made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.