PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thurman Baxter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Baxter
vs
Johnson

189 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

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, Thurman Baxter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Baxter scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Johnson kicks off Baxter and gets to his feet.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baxter wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Baxter defends it.
Baxter trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnson wants to work for an arm triangle but Baxter is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter tries to kick Johnson off but Johnson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Baxter missing with punches from the bottom.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Baxter scores with a few weak punches.
Baxter trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Johnson stops Baxter from getting back to his feet.

Baxter manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Johnson throws a head kick that misses

and Baxter counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Baxter.
Baxter makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baxter works over Johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
Baxter wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Baxter 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.
Baxter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Baxter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Baxter scoring with punches to the head and body.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Baxter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Baxter keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.

Baxter stands and steps away. Johnson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.
Johnson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Baxter fails to pull guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Baxter on his heels. He'll look to pass Baxter's guard now, I'm sure.
Baxter is breathing heavily.
Johnson trying to control but Baxter is working from the bottom.
Baxter is trying to hold Johnson in close to prevent damage but Johnson has managed to pass into half guard.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Baxter won't allow it.
Baxter regains full guard. Nicely done.

Baxter manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Baxter blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Johnson.

Baxter manages to break the clinch.
Johnson lands with a nice combination. Baxter backs away looking to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson pushes Baxter up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson lands a head shot.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Johnson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Baxter throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Baxter is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Baxter landing a few short strikes.
Baxter avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Baxter wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson throws a right and a left that Baxter avoids nicely.
Baxter seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged Baxter in a clinch.
Baxter stalling against the cage.
Johnson lands with a right to the head.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Baxter goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Baxter has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Baxter backs up against the cage.
Michael Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson feints and as Baxter raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Baxter has his feet on Johnson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws the left hand but Baxter avoids the punch easily.
Baxter blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Baxter is looking to escape.
Baxter is controlling Johnson's trapped leg to prevent Johnson from advancing to side control.
Thurman Baxter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Baxter is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baxter throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Baxter is trying to stand.
Johnson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Baxter because Johnson loaded up on that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baxter wants to try and get back to his feet.

Johnson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Baxter is surviving well by controlling Johnson's body position as best he can.
Johnson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Johnson thowing shots but they're missing.
Baxter is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Baxter because Johnson loaded up on that one.
Johnson looking to finish with strikes here!
Johnson misses with a head shot.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baxter. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Johnson punching from mount but Baxter doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Baxter is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Baxter wants to try and get back to his feet.
Baxter throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Baxter tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter really wants to buck Johnson off and get back to his feet.
Baxter tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
Baxter is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Baxter is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Johnson has hold of Baxter's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Baxter manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Johnson looking to ground and pound but Baxter is blocking nicely.
Baxter is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.
Johnson controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Baxter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

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

Baxter uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Baxter gets caught napping as Johnson dives in and scores a takedown. Baxter manages to retain guard.
Baxter is looking to stand back up but Johnson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Baxter.

The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Baxter tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Johnson manages to move to mount!
Baxter tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson with shots to the head and body - Baxter looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter regains half guard.
Baxter is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson is keen to just control but Baxter is a slippery customer.
Johnson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Baxter haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Baxter manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Baxter is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Johnson.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baxter lands a takedown into guard.

Johnson pushes Baxter off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Baxter manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Johnson keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Baxter tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Johnson avoids it.
The referee calls for Johnson to work.
Baxter wants a takedown.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson misses with a double jab.

Johnson darts in and clinches Baxter up against the cage.
Baxter drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Johnson gets the underhooks and prevents it.

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

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Baxter is looking to get back to is feet but Johnson passes into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Baxter to his feet.

Johnson takes the fight into the clinch.
Baxter doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Johnson gets a clinch.

Baxter pulls guard.
Johnson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Baxter wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

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