PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gavin Blackwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Blackwood might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Catch Your Breath by CFO$. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Blackwood
vs
Johnson

191 cm
22
212 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

192 cm
22
215 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

MMA Hype Apparel
Sun-Tzu

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gavin Blackwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steven Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paulsen Ambrosius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Johnson misses with an uppercut
and Blackwood counters with a nice uppercut.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Blackwood sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Blackwood slips under a jab.
Blackwood tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Johnson throws a leg kick

and Blackwood counters with a takedown into side control.
Johnson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Blackwood off and has taken his back!
I really don't envy Blackwood right now.

Johnson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Blackwood tries to escape but Johnson has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Johnson looking to break Blackwood's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Blackwood remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Johnson will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blackwood trying to control but not successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Johnson struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Blackwood manages to reverse the position and now he's in Johnson's guard. Nice work there by Blackwood.
Johnson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Blackwood drops back looking for a leg! Johnson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Johnson manages to kick Blackwood off! Blackwood jumps back into Johnson's guard.

Johnson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Blackwood has passed into half guard!

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.
Blackwood sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson works his way to full guard. Good work.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blackwood doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blackwood manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Blackwood chips away with some ground and pound.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blackwood working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johnson's head.
Blackwood with a nice head shot there.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blackwood's guard.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Blackwood is retaining full guard.
Johnson is pushing down on Blackwood's leg trying to pass to half guard. Blackwood is fighting to maintain full guard but Johnson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Johnson wants to control but Blackwood is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.

Johnson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Blackwood sees it coming and defends easily.
Blackwood trying to control from the bottom.
Blackwood wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Blackwood holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Blackwood trying to control from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Johnson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Blackwood doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Johnson.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Donk. Johnson catches Blackwood right on the button with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Johnson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Blackwood is out of range and Johnson settles back down.
Blackwood dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
Johnson throws a right hand that Blackwood ducks under and follows up with a left that Blackwood also avoids with ease.
Steven Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blackwood fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steven Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Johnson swings for the body but Blackwood moves out of range.
Blackwood changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Blackwood keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Blackwood doesn't seem bothered though.
Blackwood fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johnson now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Blackwood sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Blackwood avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackwood misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Johnson misses with a body punch
and Blackwood counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Blackwood misses with an uppercut. Johnson saw that one coming.
Johnson keeps Blackwood at a distance using the push kick.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blackwood.
Johnson connects with a high kick.

Blackwood gets a takedown into half guard.
Johnson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Blackwood content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Blackwood postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson's brow.
Our spies down at at Elite build inform us that Johnson has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Blackwood is aware though and is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blackwood lands a couple of digs.

Johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Blackwood is aware though and is defending well.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Johnson has his foot on Blackwood's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Blackwood works his way back into a safe position though.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Blackwood is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Blackwood keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Blackwood keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Blackwood chips away with some ground and pound.
Blackwood is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Blackwood is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Blackwood postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson's brow.
Blackwood is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've been hearing good reports from Blackwood's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Blackwood is working Johnson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blackwood working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johnson's head.

Johnson working for a triangle but Blackwood defends it easily.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blackwood is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood landing with the ground and pound.
Blackwood won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
Blackwood lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Johnson looking to control.
Blackwood with a nice head shot there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blackwood working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Johnson has his foot on Blackwood's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Blackwood works his way back into a safe position though.
Blackwood cracks Johnson with a solid left hand.

Johnson is rocked!
Blackwood stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
Gavin Blackwood overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blackwood is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin Blackwood dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Blackwood, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Blackwood throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Blackwood shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Blackwood throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnson throws out a counter right but Blackwood avoids it with no problem.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Blackwood half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blackwood. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson connects with the punch.
Blackwood uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnson.
Blackwood scores with a nice right hand.
Blackwood checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson throws a hook to the side of Blackwood's head but Blackwood sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Blackwood misses with a straight left.
Blackwood uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnson.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Blackwood avoids them all with ease.
Blackwood fails with the takedown
and Blackwood takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Blackwood. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Blackwood as he connects with a hook.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Johnson misses with a looping left.
Blackwood appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Blackwood ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a swing at Blackwood's ribcage but misses.
Blackwood attempts a counter takedown but Johnson avoids it well and moves away.
Steven Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson misses with a low kick as Blackwood jumps back.
Johnson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Blackwood blocks a low kick nicely.

Blackwood decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blackwood working over Johnson with some ground and pound. Johnson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Blackwood lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.
Blackwood working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Johnson gets back to half guard.
Johnson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Blackwood postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson's brow.
Blackwood working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Blackwood landing some decent shots from guard.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Blackwood pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Blackwood defends easily.
Blackwood scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blackwood's guard.
Blackwood pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.
Blackwood tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Steven Johnson.
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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Steven Johnson!
Steven Johnson managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Worldwide Nutrition (160q), into his post fight interview.