PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dwanye Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ashley Vargas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ashley Vargas acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Johnson
vs
Vargas

190 cm
18
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dwanye Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ashley Vargas!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Bruno Hogan and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Vargas looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Vargas tightens his grip and picks Johnson up, before dumping him to the ground. Johnson manages to land in guard.

Johnson kicks Vargas off and gets to his feet.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Vargas knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Well, if Johnson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Vargas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johnson is really struggling to control Vargas but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Johnson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vargas has managed to free his arm - good work.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vargas's head.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Vargas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Vargas tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vargas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vargas tries to counter with a clinch but Johnson shakes him off and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwanye Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson scores with a head kick. Vargas tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Vargas looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Vargas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson throws a head kick but Vargas moves out of range.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Vargas shows good takedown defense.
Vargas is looking to land body kicks.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vargas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vargas looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Vargas darts in looking for a takedown but Johnson gets double underhooks and turns Vargas into the cage.
Vargas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vargas wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson dives in for a single leg takedown but Vargas sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vargas shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vargas leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And Vargas responds with a good body kick, but Johnson manages to step out the way in time.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Vargas.
Vargas leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Vargas sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
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 Dwanye Johnson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vargas clinches.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vargas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vargas takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Vargas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Johnson takes the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Vargas is breathing heavily.
Johnson goes for a double leg but Vargas avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vargas continues to drive forward.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Vargas, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwanye Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Vargas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Vargas tries to tie him up.
Johnson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.

Vargas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Johnson pushes Vargas off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thumps Vargas with a low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Vargas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Vargas gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Vargas shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Johnson eats them both and turns towards Vargas to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Vargas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Johnson darts in and clinches Vargas up against the cage.
Johnson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vargas just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Vargas won't allow it.
Vargas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Johnson prevents Vargas from breaking the clinch.
Nice elbow from Johnson.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but Vargas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vargas smiles and moves away.
Dwanye Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vargas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Vargas holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnson drops back down to his feet.
Johnson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vargas's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vargas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Johnson instigates a clinch.
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vargas's elbow.
Vargas wants a takedown but no success here.

Johnson pulls guard.
Vargas wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vargas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwanye Johnson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Vargas misses with a takedown

and Johnson counters by clinching up.
Johnson jumps guard but Vargas turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vargas can do to turn this around?
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vargas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson is working Vargas over against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hand to the body from Johnson.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Vargas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Vargas is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwanye Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vargas is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Vargas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Vargas is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Vargas blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Vargas steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Johnson.

Vargas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is not content to let Vargas control the position.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Vargas has control of the leg.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vargas on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control but Vargas manages to pass to mount!
Vargas in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Vargas content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Johnson tries to escape but Vargas has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Johnson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Vargas.
Ashley Vargas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Will Vargas go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Johnson is really stuck here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vargas tightening his grip on Johnson, looking for the choke.
A lull in the action here.

Johnson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Vargas.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vargas misses with punches from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ashley Vargas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johnson 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwanye Johnson!