PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentino Zamora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rumble Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Zamora
vs
Johnson

189 cm
21
212 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
210 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Valentino Zamora!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rumble Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson looks to land a combination but Zamora avoids it well.
Johnson throws a body punch but Zamora moves out of range.
Zamora tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Zamora keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnson.
Zamora half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zamora manages to avoid it.
Johnson tries to bum rush Zamora with a series of wild strikes but Zamora uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zamora feinted with a counter takedown.
Johnson has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Zamora avoids nicely.
Zamora half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Zamora avoids them all with ease.
Zamora tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Zamora appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Zamora feinted with a counter takedown.
Rumble Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Zamora half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnson tests Zamora's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zamora changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Zamora slips a straight right by Johnson.
Zamora avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zamora changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a straight right.
Johnson lands a head kick!
Johnson scores with the left hand. Zamora knows he should have avoided that one.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Zamora drops down looking for a counter takedown but Johnson sprawls and moves away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Zamora avoids them all with ease.
Zamora half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnson misses with a double jab

and Zamora counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Johnson is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johnson can do anything to dispel that myth.

Zamora stands up and beckons Johnson to join him on the feet.
Johnson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zamora is out of range and Johnson settles back down.
Zamora attempts a counter takedown but Johnson avoids it well and moves away.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson throws an off balance right hand

and Zamora counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Johnson!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Zamora stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Zamora counters with a takedown into side control.
Johnson tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Zamora slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zamora uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnson.
Zamora attempts a counter takedown but Johnson avoids it well and moves away.
Rumble Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson throws a body punch but Zamora moves out of range.
Zamora appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zamora.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Zamora moves away and avoids it.
Zamora drops down looking for a counter takedown but Johnson sprawls and moves away.
Johnson misses with a lunging right hand

and Zamora counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Johnson is looking to get back to is feet but Zamora passes into side control.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zamora decides to stand back up.
Johnson throws a hook but Zamora blocks it.
Zamora feinted with a counter takedown.
Rumble Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Zamora changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to land a front kick but Zamora steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Johnson misses with an uppercut. Zamora saw that one coming.
Zamora drops down looking for a counter takedown but Johnson sprawls and moves away.
Johnson swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Zamora counters with a takedown into side control.

Zamora stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Johnson throws a hook but Zamora avoids it easily.
Zamora appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zamora counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Johnson pushes Zamora off but Zamora dives into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Johnson throws Zamora to one side and escapes!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Zamora decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Johnson is wriggling around but Zamora manages to pass to half guard.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

Zamora decides to stand up.
Zamora avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Zamora changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Johnson throws a push kick but Zamora slaps the foot to one side.
Zamora changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Johnson misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zamora circles away quickly and effectively.
Zamora appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Johnson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zamora uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnson.
Zamora feinted with a counter takedown.
Johnson throws a front kick aimed at Zamora's knee but Zamora avoids it well.
Zamora feinted with a counter takedown.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Zamora counters with a takedown into side control.
Johnson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zamora is controlling him well.

Zamora has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Zamora is just out of range.
Nice defenses there by Zamora.
Zamora changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand

and Zamora counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Johnson!
Johnson tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zamora controls the action.
Johnson is trying to stand back up.
I would not like to be Johnson right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rumble Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zamora moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zamora drops down looking for a counter takedown but Johnson sprawls and moves away.
Johnson looks to land a combination. Zamora sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Johnson throws a series of strikes that have Zamora backpedaling.
Zamora blocks the body kick.
Johnson loads up on a big right hand but Zamora slips the punch.
Johnson loads up on a big right hand but Zamora slips the punch.
Zamora tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Zamora down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zamora moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Zamora tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Some bone on bone action there as Zamora checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Zamora feinted with a counter takedown.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Zamora is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zamora checks it well.
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A nice leg kick lands there from Johnson.
Johnson lands a nice looking body shot.
Zamora slips a jab from Johnson.
Zamora half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnson looks to land a left hand but Zamora moved out of range nicely.
Zamora tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zamora changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zamora moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a body punch but Zamora moves out of range.
Johnson throws a hook but Zamora blocks it.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zamora counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Johnson!

Zamora decides to take the fight back to the feet.
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!
Zamora avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zamora changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zamora drops down looking for a counter takedown but Johnson sprawls and moves away.
Zamora ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Zamora changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Johnson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Johnson misses with a left hand

and Zamora counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Johnson scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Zamora manages to mount him!
Johnson tries to buck Zamora off but Zamora takes his back!

What's going on here? Zamora has decided to give up on the ground game despite having his opponent's back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zamora slips under a jab from Johnson.
Rumble Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson missing with a left hand there. Zamora was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnson throws a body shot but no joy.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Zamora tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zamora feinted with a counter takedown.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Zamora counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Zamora stands up and beckons Johnson to join him on the feet.
Johnson throws a predictable looking body shot

and Zamora counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Zamora stands up from Johnson's guard - Zamora perhaps looking for a knockout.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
Zamora changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rumble Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rumble Johnson!
A less than humble Rumble Johnson misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.