PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Charles Luciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (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.

Luciano
vs
Johnson

176 cm
22
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid 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 Las Vegas, Charles Luciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Luciano slips a jab and a cross from Johnson.
Luciano fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Luciano avoids a kick to the body.
Luciano blocks the body kick.
Luciano stuffs the takedown.
Johnson shoots in but Luciano avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Charles Luciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Johnson.
Johnson misses with a combination
and Luciano counters with a left and a right that stings Johnson.
Johnson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Luciano counters with a nice uppercut.
Johnson looks gassed!
Johnson is looking to land body kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Luciano down.
Luciano scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Luciano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Luciano closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.

Luciano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson throws a combination that misses
and Luciano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Luciano throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Luciano scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Johnson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Luciano can pounce on him.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.

Luciano moves into the clinch successfully.
Luciano tries for a takedown. No joy.
Luciano wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson keeps control of Luciano as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Luciano breaks from the clinch.
Johnson clinches but Luciano breaks the clinch
and Luciano counters with a right hand to the body.

Luciano clinches up with Johnson and pushes him back against the cage.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson clinches but Luciano breaks the clinch
enabling Luciano to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
Luciano scores with a three punch combo!
Luciano avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Luciano circles away easily

and Luciano counters by moving into the clinch.
Luciano wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
Luciano wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Luciano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Luciano is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Luciano tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Luciano drops back down to his feet.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A combination from Luciano does no damage.
Johnson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Luciano counters with a left to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Luciano scores with a four punch combination!
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Luciano counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano connects with a nice looking jab.
Luciano fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A left and a right from Luciano both land. Nice combination.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Luciano to counter with a crisp jab.
Luciano avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Luciano is working the combinations to good effect here.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Luciano comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Luciano shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Luciano counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Luciano counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Luciano to acknowledge the strikes.
Johnson misses with a low kick as Luciano jumps back.
Luciano is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Luciano scores with a three punch combo!
Luciano throws a leg kick but Johnson moved away.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Luciano misses with a two punch combination.
Luciano tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Luciano is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Luciano counter with a right hand.
Luciano lands a two punch combo.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Luciano misses with a two punch combination.
Luciano misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Luciano dominated that round.
That's time! Luciano's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johnson misses with a body punch
and Luciano counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Johnson thinking.
Anthony Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick from Johnson lands but Luciano takes it in his stride.
Luciano moves away from the strike by Johnson.
Johnson misses with a double jab
and Luciano makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Luciano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Luciano's waist but Luciano gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Luciano cracks Johnson with a good jab.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Luciano lands a two punch combo.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Luciano scores with a nice right hand.
Luciano tries to score with a low kick but Johnson moves his leg out of the way.

Luciano rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano wants to break free but Johnson has control.
Luciano has had enough of the clinch but Johnson keeps him there for the moment.
Luciano is looking to break free of the clinch but Johnson has double underhooks.
Luciano can't get the takedown.
Luciano is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson can't get the takedown.
Charles Luciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Johnson.
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Luciano 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 fails with the takedown
and Luciano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Luciano throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.

Luciano fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
Johnson misses with a body punch.
Luciano prevents a body shot from Johnson.
Luciano trying to stall but Johnson improves his position.
A short body shot lands from Johnson as the two fighters clinch.
Luciano wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
Johnson scores with a shot to the side of Luciano's head.
A left hand lands to the body for Johnson.
Still in the clinch, Johnson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nice body punch from Johnson - that landed with a thud.
Johnson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Luciano backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Charles Luciano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Luciano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Luciano counters with a left to the body.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Johnson shoots and misses
and Luciano counters with a two punch combo.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Luciano moves into the clinch.
Johnson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson misses with a takedown
and Luciano counters with a one-two to the body.
Johnson shoots and misses
and Luciano counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Luciano misses.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson clinches but Luciano breaks the clinch
and Luciano counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Luciano shoots in.
Johnson misses with a takedown
and Luciano counters with a straight right hand.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Luciano swivels and escapes.
Johnson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Luciano counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Luciano checks a leg kick nicely.

Luciano clinches up with Johnson and pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson lands a body punch.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Luciano scores with a one two! Johnson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Luciano fails with a takedown attempt.
Charles Luciano is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Luciano checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Johnson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Luciano counters with a stiff right hand.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Luciano, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Luciano against the cage but Luciano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson misses with a combination
and Luciano counters with a one-two to the body.

Luciano rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Luciano lands a nice shot that snaps Johnson's head back.
Luciano moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Luciano dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Johnson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Luciano counters with a stiff right hand.
Johnson misses with a double jab
and Luciano counters with a left to the body.

Luciano clinches up with Johnson and pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Luciano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Luciano wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
Luciano trying to control the position but instead, Johnson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Luciano into the cage.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Luciano rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Luciano is looking to break free of the clinch but Johnson has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Luciano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Luciano is trying to break free.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson has Luciano pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Luciano manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Luciano is working for takedown but Johnson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Luciano avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Charles Luciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Johnson.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Luciano circles away.
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Luciano tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnson throws a combination that misses

and Luciano counters by clinching up.
Luciano wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Luciano wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Luciano avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Luciano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Johnson.
A jab from Johnson misses.
Johnson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Luciano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Luciano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Luciano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Luciano counters with a left to the body.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Luciano's waist but Luciano gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Johnson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Luciano forces Johnson back against the cage and clinches.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Luciano circles away easily
and Luciano counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano misses with a double jab.
Luciano throws out a leg kick but Johnson moves out of range and Luciano only half commits.
Johnson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Luciano counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Luciano to acknowledge the strikes.
Johnson tries to score with a low kick but Luciano moves his leg out of the way.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Luciano counters with a right hand to the body.
Luciano lands with a shot to the body.
Luciano moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Luciano stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a double jab
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Luciano lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Luciano circles away.
Luciano misses with a few strikes there.
Luciano connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Luciano throws a series of strikes that have Johnson backpedaling.
Luciano looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Johnson fails with the takedown

and Luciano counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Luciano prevents Johnson from standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Luciano postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Johnson to stand up.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Luciano to counter with a crisp jab.
Anthony Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Charles Luciano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson throws a leg kick

and Luciano counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johnson!

And that's the end of the fight!
Charles Luciano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Luciano has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charles Luciano!