PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gomez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Samba De Janeiro kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Andre Gomez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Johnson
vs
Gomez

186 cm
21
177 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
175 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rick Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Andre Gomez!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson looks to land a combination but Gomez avoids it well.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Johnson working Gomez over with strikes here.
Poor strikes thrown by Johnson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Gomez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Gomez slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Gomez looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson wants to stand up but Gomez has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Gomez works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Gomez looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Johnson is pushing down on Gomez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gomez is fighting to maintain full guard but Johnson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gomez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Johnson wants to free his trapped foot but Gomez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gomez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gomez gets full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gomez is on top in guard.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gomez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gomez won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.
Gomez passes Johnson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Johnson is staying active underneath Gomez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gomez wants to free his trapped foot but Johnson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gomez looks gassed!
Johnson is staying active underneath Gomez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gomez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gomez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Gomez.
Gomez throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.

Johnson takes the fight into the clinch.
Gomez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johnson smiles and moves away.
Gomez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnson swinging wilding here.
Gomez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to land a leg kick but Gomez is out of range.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gomez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gomez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gomez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Johnson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Johnson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gomez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson tries to clinch but Gomez moves out of range.
Andre Gomez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Gomez circles away.
Johnson misses with the combination.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson lands a two punch combo.
Gomez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gomez gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.

Johnson drops back looking for a leg! Gomez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gomez manages to kick Johnson off! Johnson jumps back into Gomez's guard.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gomez is keeping the position for now.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Johnson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gomez, up you get!
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gomez tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Gomez.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Johnson works over Gomez with some ground and pound from guard.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gomez trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Gomez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Johnson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Johnson wants to stand but Gomez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Johnson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Gomez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Gomez is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gomez is out of range.
Johnson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Gomez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Gomez isn't so interested in that idea.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gomez wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Johnson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Gomez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gomez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnson is on top in guard.
Gomez controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Johnson connects with a couple of short punches.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Johnson working some strikes from top position.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gomez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Johnson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Johnson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gomez working a defensive guard here.
Johnson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gomez's head.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into guard.

Johnson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gomez misses with a takedown
and Johnson counters with a one-two to the body.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Gomez.
Johnson misses with the combination.
Gomez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Johnson lands a head shot.
Johnson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Johnson!
Johnson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gomez. Gomez circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gomez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gomez throws a sloppy body shot
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gomez throws a body kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gomez gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gomez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gomez's head.

Gomez had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Johnson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gomez Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Johnson's back instead.
Gomez keeps control of the position as Johnson tries to break free.
Will Gomez go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Johnson controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Gomez has the hooks in. Johnson is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gomez lands a head kick!
Johnson throws a series of punches but Gomez moves out of range.
Gomez wants to land a leg kick but Johnson is out of range.

Johnson shoots in and bounces Gomez off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson slips nicely into half guard.
Gomez tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gomez is defending against the submission attempts here by Johnson.
Gomez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Johnson throws a strike but Gomez avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Gomez keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson postures up.
Johnson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gomez misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Gomez avoids it well.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gomez counters with a thumping low kick.
Johnson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Gomez misses with a combination
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Gomez has his takedown stuffed

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomez tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Rick Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Johnson decides to stand and escape the position.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1-2. Johnson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A shot to the body from Gomez misses
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Johnson pushes Gomez up against the ropes in a clinch.
Gomez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gomez jumps guard but Johnson stands there with Gomez around his waist. Gomez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Gomez pulls Johnson into guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Gomez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Gomez's brow.
Johnson cracks Gomez with a solid left hand.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Gomez keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gomez trying to control the position.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Gomez blocks nicely.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gomez swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gomez tries to clinch
and Johnson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gomez wants to clinch
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnson blocks a jab.
Gomez gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nice shot by Johnson.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gomez tries a head kick but it misses.
A left and a right from Johnson both land. Nice combination.
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gomez.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to clinch but Gomez is having none of it.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Gomez pushes him off.
A leg kick checked by Gomez.
Johnson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Gomez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
Rick Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Gomez.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gomez backs up against the ropes.
Gomez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Gomez didn't expect that.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Gomez's brow.

Gomez is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Gomez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Johnson has gone for a leg lock! Gomez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Johnson's guard.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Gomez from controlling successfully.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gomez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gomez trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gomez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Andre Gomez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gomez advances position into side control!

Gomez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johnson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gomez is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Rick Johnson!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Rick Johnson!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Rick Johnson!

Rick Johnson wins by unanimous decision!