PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rinto Hartanto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnson
vs
Hartanto

170 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

185 cm
26
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Charlie Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rinto Hartanto!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Donatello Bradman and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hartanto.
Johnson looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Hartanto swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hartanto scores with a jab. Johnson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Johnson forces Hartanto back against the cage and clinches.
Hartanto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Johnson lands a shoulder strike.
Johnson tries to land knees in the clinch but Hartanto avoids the damage to the body.
Johnson lands an uppercut.
Johnson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Hartanto gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Johnson has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Hartanto is on him like a limpet, forcing Johnson back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Hartanto has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnson down to the mat. Johnson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hartanto manages to avoid it.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hartanto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hartanto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And Hartanto tries to counter it with a takedown but Johnson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hartanto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hartanto bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hartanto just content to control the position.
Johnson is pushing Hartanto's head away, looking to escape. Hartanto manages to hold on to the position though.
Johnson is not content to let Hartanto control the position.
Johnson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartanto working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hartanto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Hartanto scoring with punches and elbows.
Johnson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hartanto has just dragged him back down to the mat.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Hartanto working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson sneaks out the side door and pushes Hartanto away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Hartanto shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Johnson napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Johnson throws Hartanto to one side and escapes!
Johnson looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Hartanto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hartanto swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johnson lands a damaging elbow.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Johnson throws an elbow but misses.
Hartanto is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hartanto tightens his grip and picks Johnson up, before dumping him to the ground. Johnson manages to land in guard.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hartanto is controlling him.
Hartanto 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.
Hartanto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Hartanto won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.
Hartanto sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Hartanto isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hartanto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And Hartanto tries to counter it with a takedown but Johnson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hartanto throws a body shot but no joy.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Hartanto keeps it at a distance.
Johnson scores with a jab to the head.
Johnson tries to clinch but Hartanto moves out of range.
Hartanto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hartanto lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Johnson swings for the body but Hartanto moves out of range.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Hartanto circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hartanto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hartanto throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnson.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hartanto swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Hartanto finds it's way through Johnson's defenses.
Johnson tries to clinch but Hartanto moves out of range.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Hartanto is just out of range.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
Hartanto swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rinto Hartanto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Hartanto circles away.
Hartanto smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Johnson slips a straight right by Hartanto.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hartanto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Hartanto misses.
Johnson tries to clinch but Hartanto moves out of range.
Hartanto raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Johnson throws a leg kick

and Hartanto counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.
Hartanto lands a nice forearm strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartanto is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson is trying to buck Hartanto off.
Hartanto controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hartanto goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Johnson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hartanto but great work by Johnson.
Hartanto struggling a bit here.
Johnson tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Hartanto tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.
Hartanto struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands up.
Hartanto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hartanto is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Johnson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hartanto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hartanto misses the shot to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Johnson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hartanto's brow.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hartanto is keeping busy.
Johnson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hartanto tightens his grip and picks Johnson up, before dumping him to the ground. Johnson manages to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson wants to stand but Hartanto is controlling the position.
Hartanto is standing up over Johnson. Johnson looks to escape but Hartanto dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rinto Hartanto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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 tries to clinch

and Hartanto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Hartanto looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hartanto wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
Hartanto trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hartanto wants to improve his position but instead Johnson has moved into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson wants to stand up but Hartanto has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Charlie Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hartanto trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Hartanto to get to his feet.

Johnson has managed to clinch.
Hartanto is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Johnson breaks the clinch.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson misses with the head strike.

Hartanto has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Johnson is trying to keep an underhook but Hartanto manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hartanto trying to control the pace.
Johnson is staying active underneath Hartanto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartanto is controlling the pace.
Let's hope that Hartanto has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Hartanto is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Johnson darts in trying to clinch
and Hartanto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A left lands for Johnson.
Johnson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hartanto was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnson.
A punch combination from Hartanto misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks to clinch
and Hartanto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Hartanto is avoiding it.
Hartanto tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hartanto defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Charlie Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Hartanto throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johnson wants to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hartanto throws a hook but Johnson avoids it easily.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rinto Hartanto.
I think Hartanto 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rinto Hartanto!
After winning the bout, Rinto Hartanto thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
The defeated Charlie Johnson had this to say: 'He was the better man tonight '.