PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wilbert Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahmed El Baghdadi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ahmed El Baghdadi has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Wilbert Johnston's chin.

Johnston
vs
El Baghdadi

164 cm
20
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 1

170 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 4 - 1, 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, Ahmed El Baghdadi!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Patrick Alders and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

El Baghdadi has Johnston up against the cage in a clinch.
El Baghdadi wants a takedown but no success here.
El Baghdadi missing with knees to the body.
Johnston wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Johnston manages to break the clinch.
Johnston feints and then cracks El Baghdadi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow El Baghdadi down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Johnston.

Johnston pushes El Baghdadi up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
El Baghdadi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johnston smiles and moves away.

Johnston closes the distance and pushes El Baghdadi back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

El Baghdadi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Crunch! Johnston slams his shin into El Baghdadi's torso.
El Baghdadi fails with the takedown
and Johnston connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wilbert Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahmed El Baghdadi.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Johnston is looking for a takedown up against the cage. El Baghdadi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
El Baghdadi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Johnston after a bit of a struggle.
Johnston wants to break the clinch but can't.
El Baghdadi wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnston manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Johnston has had enough of the clinch but El Baghdadi keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

El Baghdadi breaks from the clinch.
Johnston could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
El Baghdadi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Johnston rushes El Baghdadi and presses him up against the cage.
El Baghdadi wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnston won't allow it.
El Baghdadi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Johnston prevents it.
El Baghdadi misses with a punch to the body.
Come on El Baghdadi - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Johnston blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnston drops down looking for an ankle pick but El Baghdadi pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Johnston there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Johnston has El Baghdadi up against the cage in a clinch.
El Baghdadi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnston just stands there and leans against the cage.

Johnston's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnston feints and then cracks El Baghdadi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow El Baghdadi down.

El Baghdadi instigates a clinch.

Johnston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
That kick from Johnston tenderised El Baghdadi's leg. El Baghdadi is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

El Baghdadi gets tackled into the cage by Johnston. Johnston maintains the clinch.
El Baghdadi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnston just stands there and leans against the cage.
Johnston has El Baghdadi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. El Baghdadi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

El Baghdadi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
El Baghdadi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Johnston counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Johnston breaks the clinch.
Johnston tries to clinch but El Baghdadi is having none of it.

El Baghdadi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johnston's guard.

Johnston wriggles free and stands up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
El Baghdadi swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnston.
El Baghdadi is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnston throws a leg kick which misses El Baghdadi's front leg but catches the back leg as El Baghdadi tries to avoid it.

El Baghdadi moves into the clinch.
Johnston is pressed up against the cage. El Baghdadi 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 forces El Baghdadi back against the cage and clinches.
El Baghdadi trying to control the position but instead, Johnston has worked for underhooks and has pushed El Baghdadi into the cage.
El Baghdadi fails to pull guard.
Wilbert Johnston has scored more points in the clinch so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
El Baghdadi 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 Ahmed El Baghdadi.

Johnston jumps into guard, dragging El Baghdadi to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
El Baghdadi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Johnston is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that El Baghdadi can do to turn this around?

Johnston has an active guard here but El Baghdadi has managed to pass into half guard.
El Baghdadi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

El Baghdadi is looking for a kimura but Johnston is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for El Baghdadi to get the leverage.
El Baghdadi is nestled in close to Johnston, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Johnston actively working from the bottom here.
Johnston punching from the bottom.
El Baghdadi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Johnston is trying to maintain the position but El Baghdadi is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston looks like he's trying to stand up.
Johnston trying to control but El Baghdadi postures up.

El Baghdadi is looking for a kimura here.
El Baghdadi controlling the action here.

Johnston looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Johnston looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Baghdadi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Johnston with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

El Baghdadi seems to be looking for submissions.
Johnston is trying to control but can't.

Johnston has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but El Baghdadi is on him like a limpet, forcing Johnston back against the cage.
Come on Johnston - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

El Baghdadi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
El Baghdadi throws a shot from downtown. Johnston moves away and avoids it.
El Baghdadi shoots in for a takedown but Johnston shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
El Baghdadi closes the distance and clinches up with Johnston, looking for a takedown. El Baghdadi pushes Johnston against the cage but Johnston circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnston lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

El Baghdadi instigates a clinch.
El Baghdadi has Johnston pressed against the cage.
El Baghdadi tries to pull guard but Johnston won't allow it.
El Baghdadi leaning his opponent against the cage.

Johnston breaks the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnston keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

El Baghdadi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johnston counters with a one-two to the body.
El Baghdadi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

El Baghdadi takes the fight into the clinch.

El Baghdadi jumps guard and drags Johnston to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnston postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnston loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnston working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
El Baghdadi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnston.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Baghdadi trying to keep a closed guard but Johnston is proving a slippery customer.
Johnston throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnston with a flurry of punches that miss.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now El Baghdadi is on top in guard.

Johnston has his foot on El Baghdadi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. El Baghdadi works his way back into a safe position though.

Johnston is looking for a triangle but El Baghdadi pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
El Baghdadi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Johnston wants to control but El Baghdadi postures up.
Johnston is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because El Baghdadi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Baghdadi gets to mount! Johnston was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
El Baghdadi controlling the position easily from mount.
El Baghdadi scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Johnston?
Johnston is desperately trying to improve his position but El Baghdadi has a good base and remains in mount.
El Baghdadi raining down shots from the mount!
El Baghdadi looking to finish Johnston with some ground and pound. This is bad for Johnston!
El Baghdadi controlling from the full mount.
El Baghdadi dominating with strikes here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnston wants to control but El Baghdadi is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

El Baghdadi working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
El Baghdadi controlling the position easily from mount.
Johnston tries to hold on but El Baghdadi pushes him away.
El Baghdadi lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Johnston wants to get back to his feet.
Johnston is desperately trying to improve his position but El Baghdadi has a good base and remains in mount.
El Baghdadi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnston regains half guard.
Johnston is refusing to be controlled, as El Baghdadi sits in half guard.
El Baghdadi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is looking to control El Baghdadi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnston avoid being mounted?

Johnston actively working from the bottom here.
El Baghdadi is thwarting Johnston's attempts to control the position.
El Baghdadi controlling the action here.
El Baghdadi is continuing to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnston controlling the position well.
Ahmed El Baghdadi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wilbert Johnston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
El Baghdadi working Johnston over with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ahmed El Baghdadi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johnston has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Wilbert Johnston!