PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Odom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Johnson is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Odom
vs
Johnson

157 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

195 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricky Odom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Odom counter with a right hand.
Odom keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Johnson gets a double leg takedown into Odom's guard.
Odom could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Odom keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Odom is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson is looking to pass into half guard but Odom pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Odom is in guard.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Odom gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Odom circles away.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Odom is avoiding it.

Johnson instigates a clinch.
Johnson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Odom in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Odom breaks from the clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch but Odom moves out of range.
Anthony Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson tries to clinch but Odom moves out of range.
It looked like Odom wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Odom tries to sprawl but Johnson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Johnson winds up and cracks Odom with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Odom blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odom is trying to stand.
Odom lands with a few short shots to the body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Odom is looking to escape.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Odom defending well though.
Odom tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Odom's head.
Odom striking from half guard on the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to Odom's temple.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Odom is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnson looks winded!

Odom has one foot on Johnson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Odom gets caught napping as Johnson dives in and scores a takedown. Odom manages to retain guard.
Odom utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Odom 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.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Odom has his feet on Johnson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Johnson cracks Odom with a right hand to the side of the head.
Odom keeps the fight on the outside.

Johnson clinches with his opponent.
Come on Johnson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Odom breaks from the clinch.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Odom is looking to counter punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Odom pushes a forearm under Johnson's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Johnson is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ricky Odom!
Anthony Johnson was interviewed post fight and said 'he was a better fighter today but i will win next time'.