PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Justin Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Johnson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Romero
vs
Johnson

202 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Romero shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Romero half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Romero shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Romero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Romero is looking to counter the offense by Johnson and move into the clinch.

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

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Michael Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Romero scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Johnson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Romero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Johnson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Johnson trying to control from the bottom.
Romero wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Romero is going to stand back up.
Johnson is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Johnson is not content to let Romero control the position.

Romero looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Romero is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Romero fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Romero dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Romero sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Romero plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Johnson tries to sprawl but Romero drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Johnson has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Romero is on him like a limpet, forcing Johnson back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Johnson.
Romero trying to stall but Johnson improves his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a body shot.
Romero is breathing heavily.

Romero breaks the clinch.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Romero sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Romero tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Justin Romero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Johnson.
Johnson scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Justin Romero has been cut.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Romero circles away.
Johnson dives in and grabs Romero's left leg, looking for a takedown. Romero pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
Romero really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Romero blocks the body kick.
Romero misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Romero decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to control.

Romero stands up and waves to Johnson to follow him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romero throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Johnson on the side of the head.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Romero as Johnson shoots in.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.
Johnson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Romero cracks Johnson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Romero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Justin Romero's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Romero dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
Horrible takedown attempt by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Romero, which made it look bad.
Romero displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Romero throws a counter high kick but Johnson was just alert enough to avoid it.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Romero counters with a big head kick but Johnson shrugs it off.
Justin Romero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a lazy head kick

and Romero decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Romero 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.
Romero wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero content to stall in guard here.
Romero has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Romero trying to stand up but can't free himself from Johnson's guard.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Romero will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Romero preventing the sweep.
Romero throws a strike but Johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Johnson passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Romero trying to control here.
Romero is doing well to control the position and prevent Johnson from advancing to side control.
Romero wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Romero is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?

Johnson moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Romero.
Romero tries to control but Johnson manages to take his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Romero's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Romero rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Romero blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.

Johnson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Good exchange - Johnson coming out on top.
Johnson throws a lazy head kick
and Romero counters with a stiff right hand.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Romero is trying to maintain a safe position but Johnson gets an underhook and turns Romero into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson goes for a double leg but Romero avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Romero continues to drive forward.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson shoots in but Romero avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Romero fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Romero is looking to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Romero is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Romero circles away and we're back to standing.
Justin Romero is winning the standup battle so far.
Romero misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Justin Romero's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson throws a series of punches but Romero avoids them all with ease.
Romero shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Romero throws out a leg kick but Johnson moves out of range and Romero only half commits.
Romero avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Johnson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Romero, as that shot connected.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Romero circles away.
Romero tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Johnson manages to circle out of the way.
Romero closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Romero pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
As Romero backs off Johnson throws a huge counter combo but Romero manages to avoid it all.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Romero's waist but Romero gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
A lazy left from Romero finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson moves into the clinch.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Romero circles away easily
and Romero counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Justin Romero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Johnson.
Romero lands an overhand right.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Romero saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck for Romero with that takedown attempt.
Romero shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Romero, which made it look bad.
Romero tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Romero.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Romero.
A little jabbing left from Johnson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Romero attempts a counter takedown but Johnson avoids it well and moves away.
Jab from Romero.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Romero circles away.
Romero shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Romero's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson scores with a three punch combo!
Romero sizes up Johnson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Romero appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Romero, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Romero tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Romero manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Romero is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Romero wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Romero tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson swinging wildly here.
Nice jab there from Romero.
Romero is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Romero closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A right-left combo lands from Johnson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson goes for a double leg but Romero avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Romero continues to drive forward.

Johnson has managed to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!