PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wilbert Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnston
vs
Stephens

164 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 Amsterdam, Wilbert Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jimmy Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Albert Achterberg and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston throws a nice outside leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stephens looks to land a combination but Johnston avoids it well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnston plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Johnston throws a head kick that misses

and Stephens moves into the clinch.
Johnston is pressed up against the cage. Stephens has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnston down to the mat. Johnston avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Johnston really is a fat lump.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnston.
Stephens will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Johnston is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stephens sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnston tries for a takedown but Stephens sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Johnston rushes Stephens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stephens slows down the pace here.
Johnston stalling.
The referee calls for Stephens to work.
Stephens is trying to pull guard but Johnston has him pressed against the cage.
Wilbert Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Stephens.

Johnston breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnston pinned against the cage. Johnston gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stephens dives in and grabs Johnston's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnston pushes down on Stephens's head and hops out.
Stephens doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Johnston moves into the clinch.
Stephens is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Johnston gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stephens looks winded!
Johnston unloads a knee to the mid-section. Stephens lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stephens gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnston.

Stephens breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stephens throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Johnston was covering up waiting for the punch and Stephens finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Johnston looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Stephens has picked Johnston up and slammed him! Johnston can't keep hold of the triangle and Stephens manages to pass to side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephens throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Johnston has one of Stephens's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Johnston is trying to control Stephens's posture but Stephens avoids it.
Johnston is trying to buck Stephens off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Johnston will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Johnston tries to bench press Stephens off him but Stephens keeps the position.
Johnston bucks up and tries to throw Stephens off but instead Stephens has got his back!
Johnston's corner are yelling at him, telling him to just focus on controlling Stephens's hands.
Stephens is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Johnston up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephens keeps control of the position easily here as Johnston tries to buck him off.
Johnston wants to control his opponent's hands but Stephens gets his hands free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Stephens dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnston throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stephens lands a right hook to the body.
Johnston is looking to land body kicks.
Stephens doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnston counters with a straight right hand.
Stephens fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Johnston moves in looking to clinch but Stephens pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnston throws the kick towards the body but Stephens avoids it.
Johnston throws a head kick that misses
and Stephens counters with a series of strikes. Johnston will be more careful next time no doubt.
Stephens fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stephens has Johnston up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnston is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Stephens to keep the fight standing.
Stephens pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnston leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Stephens breaks the clinch.
Jimmy Stephens seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Stephens drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Johnston sneaks out the side door and pushes Stephens away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Jimmy Stephens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stephens moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnston wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Johnston tries to pull guard but Stephens forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Johnston breaks the clinch.

Stephens moves into range and clinches up with Johnston.
Stephens is trying to pull guard but Johnston has him pressed against the cage.
Wilbert Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Stephens.

Stephens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Johnston. No joy for Stephens on that attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stephens.

Johnston sneaks out the side door and pushes Stephens away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
A head kick misses from Johnston.
Stephens takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnston will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Stephens moves into the clinch.
Stephens tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnston just stands there and leans against the cage.
Johnston wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stephens has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Johnston fights it off and pushes away nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnston scores with a head kick. Stephens tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Stephens has Johnston up against the cage in a clinch.
Stephens jumps guard but Johnston stands there with Stephens around his waist. Stephens gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stephens is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johnston pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Wilbert Johnston will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Johnston throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Stephens's head.
Stephens throws a combination that misses
and Johnston counters with a one-two to the body.
Johnston misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Stephens gets caught napping as Johnston dives in and scores a takedown. Stephens manages to retain guard.
Johnston throws a strike but Stephens rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Johnston managing to control the position.
Stephens has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnston is proving hard to escape from.
Stephens controls from within his opponent's guard.
Stephens is working Johnston over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnston might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johnston's head.
Stephens lands a couple of digs.
Jimmy Stephens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stephens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnston swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stephens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stephens trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnston throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Johnston looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Johnston throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Stephens escapes and throws Johnston's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Stephens decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stephens drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnston will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Johnston trying to control the position.

Johnston has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stephens can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stephens is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stephens stays in close to Johnston's body and controls the position.
Stephens is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johnston is trying to control the position but Stephens postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stephens controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Johnston trying to keep a closed guard but Stephens is proving a slippery customer.
Johnston wants to control the position but Stephens says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Stephens content to control rather than advance.
Stephens has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johnston bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens has Johnston pulled in close to control his posture.
Stephens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Stephens has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Johnston should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Stephens has tightened it up now! Johnston should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Jimmy Stephens!