PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Graig Prince (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek 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.

Prince
vs
Johnson

177 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Graig Prince!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Derek Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Summer Carpenter and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson scores with a shot to the body.
Prince defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson fails with the takedown

and Prince counters by moving into the clinch.
Prince trying to stall but Johnson improves his position.

Prince gets control of Johnson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Prince will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
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.
Prince being controlled here, momentarily.
Johnson trying to control but Prince is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson wants to stand but Prince has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Johnson darts in and clinches Prince up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The referee calls for Johnson to work.
Prince avoiding damage as Johnson throws knees to the body.
Prince displaying some good clinch control by pressing Johnson up against the cage.
Prince stalls.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Prince is controlling him.
Prince could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Prince holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnson drops back down to his feet.
Graig Prince has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek Johnson.
Prince misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Prince lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Prince escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Prince.
Prince swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Prince shows good takedown defense.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Derek Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Prince as he jumps to the side.
Prince was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Prince counters with a right hand to the body.
Prince takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Prince.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Prince.
Johnson looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Prince avoids the head kick by Johnson.
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 Graig Prince will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Prince circles away.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Prince counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Prince with a flurry of punches that miss.
Prince postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Prince is working Johnson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnson tries to strike from the bottom.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Prince defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Prince missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prince loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Prince throws a big elbow that misses.
Prince has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Prince accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Prince throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Prince with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Prince. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Prince postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Prince postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Prince defends easily.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson working a defensive guard here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Prince's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Prince accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Prince is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Prince won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Johnson closes the distance and pushes Prince back into the cage.

Prince breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Johnson rushes Prince and presses him up against the cage.
Johnson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Prince walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Prince moves out of range easily.

Johnson clinches.
Prince tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johnson smiles and moves away.
Prince throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Prince misses with a takedown
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
Prince showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Prince displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
A counter left hand to the body from Prince misses its target.
Graig Prince has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prince looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
Johnson flicks out a counter leg kick but Prince steps away.
Prince is looking to wear down Johnson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Prince.
Johnson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Prince sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johnson somewhat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Prince circles away.
A slow jab from Prince misses its intended target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graig Prince dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Prince throws a shot to the body.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Prince's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Prince throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Prince as he jumps to the side.
Prince leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Prince.
Prince swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Graig Prince has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Johnson closes the distance and pushes Prince back into the cage.

Prince lands a takedown into guard.
Prince works over Johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
Prince is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Johnson trying to control the position here.
Prince lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Prince has passed into side control.
Johnson looks to move to half guard but instead Prince has passed into mount! Damn!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Prince wants to finish this one by submission but Johnson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Prince.
You get the feeling that Johnson really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Prince isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Prince cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Johnson defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Prince.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Prince with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Prince lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Johnson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Prince wants to finish this one by submission but Johnson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Prince.

Prince jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Johnson is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Johnson and Prince has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

And that's the end of the fight!
Graig Prince showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Prince, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Graig Prince!