PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buford Lane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otavio Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Buford Lane has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Buford Lane seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Lane
vs
Johnson

156 cm
20
278 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

220 cm
18
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Buford Lane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Otavio Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lane is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lane might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lane trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lane tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Lane wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lane knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Johnson wants to control but Lane is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
Johnson is keen to just control but Lane is a slippery customer.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Lane is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lane looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Lane throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lane is in Johnson's guard.
Lane landing some decent shots from guard.
Lane preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lane won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
Lane stands up over Johnson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lane landing with the ground and pound.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lane postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Lane postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson's brow.
Lane landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Buford Lane will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Buford Lane's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lane shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lane changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Lane manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Lane gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lane controlling Johnson's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lane can't keep his opponent in guard - Johnson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lane is trying to control but Johnson manages to pass to mount!
Johnson controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Lane is having none of it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Lane holds on for dear life, controlling Johnson's posture momentarily.
Johnson wants to control the pace but Lane is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lane throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Lane is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Lane to control.
Lane could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lane holds on for dear life, controlling Johnson's posture momentarily.
Otavio Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson tries to control but Lane wriggling away.

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.
Lane tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Johnson lands a couple of good shots and Lane has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Johnson wants to control but Lane manages to buck him off and is now in Johnson's guard! Nice work there by Lane!
Lane scoring with punches to the head and body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lane's guard.

Johnson wants to pass the guard but Lane is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otavio Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Buford Lane's cut.
That's time! Lane's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lane dives in for a single leg takedown but Johnson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Johnson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.

Johnson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lane knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Johnson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Lane's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Lane has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Johnson but great work by Lane.
Lane working the ground and pound.
Johnson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lane looks to land a strike but Johnson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Lane is having none of it.
Lane chips away with some ground and pound.

It looks like Otavio Johnson has been cut.
Lane postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson's brow.
Lane is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lane's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Johnson is rocked!
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lane works over Johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
Johnson is still in real trouble! Can Lane finish him?
Lane lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnson is on top in guard.

Johnson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lane seems keen to control Johnson's posture.
Johnson seems to have recovered his senses.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Lane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lane wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Lane has his hands on Johnson's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Johnson advances to half guard.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Lane dodges it nicely.
Lane wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lane defends it well.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Buford Lane.
I think Lane 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Otavio Johnson!