PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Val Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malik Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Savage
vs
Johnson

152 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

150 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Val Savage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Malik Johnson!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Russell Pearce and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Savage is trying to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling him.
Savage can't get the takedown.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick

and Savage counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Savage throws a leg kick

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Savage won't be happy with that.
Johnson is putting a hurting on Savage here, landing some big shots from side control.
A lull in the action here.

Johnson is trying to get an arm triangle but Savage is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage is trying to control Johnson's posture but Johnson avoids it.
Savage could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Johnson controlling from side mount.
Johnson wants to stand but Savage is controlling his arm.

That's two 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.
Savage is looking to regain half guard here but Johnson keeps moving and retains side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Johnson working away.
Johnson slows the pace down.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Savage is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Savage's face as Johnson controls the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Malik Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Johnson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Savage's guard.
Johnson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johnson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Savage's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Savage is trying to control but Johnson manages to pass to mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Johnson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malik Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Savage drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.

Savage decides to pull guard.
Johnson pushes down on Savage's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Malik Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Savage is rocked!
Johnson lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Savage quite badly. Savage pulls Johnson in close trying to recover. Johnson postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Savage on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Savage doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Malik Johnson!