PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Willy Anderson (ranked 25624 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Johnston (ranked 9562 p4p, 0 weight class). Willy Anderson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Anderson
vs
Johnston

197 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
130 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Willy Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phil Johnston!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston fails with the takedown.
A quick step to the side and Anderson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice sprawl there from Anderson as Johnston shoots in.
Anderson misses with a wild body shot.
Anderson wants to clinch up but Johnston keeps it at a distance.
Anderson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Johnston moves into the clinch.
Anderson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johnston is defending well.
Johnston throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Andersons head.
Johnston works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Johnston unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Johnston manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnston looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnston, not yet.
Johnston working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Anderson.
Anderson wants to control from the top but Johnston keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston is trying to control the position but Anderson postures up.
Anderson is fighting to break Johnston's control of his arms but Johnston is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Johnston is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

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

Anderson has closed the distance and engaged Johnston in a clinch.
Anderson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Willy Anderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Anderson manages to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnston gets to his feet. Anderson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Anderson dodges the punch combination from Johnston.
Anderson appears to be looking for a big counter.

Johnston closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Anderson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Anderson pulls guard.
Johnston seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Anderson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Johnston passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson trying to remain calm as Johnston controls from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnston trying to control the action but Anderson is working from the bottom.
Anderson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Johnston is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Anderson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Johnston stands up.

That's four 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.
Anderson tries for a takedown but Johnston circles away easily

and Johnston counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Johnston stops a takedown attempt from Anderson.
Anderson is breathing heavily.

Johnston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Phil Johnston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnston closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnston taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Anderson being controlled against the cage.

Johnston manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnston wants to sweep here but Anderson controlling him for the moment.
Johnston looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Anderson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Johnston dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Johnston is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Anderson to keep the fight standing.

Johnston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Anderson stuffs the takedown.
Anderson has his takedown stuffed

and Johnston counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Johnston.
Johnston pressing his opponent against the cage.

Johnston jumps into guard, dragging Anderson to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnston keeping moving, preventing Anderson from controlling successfully.
Johnston seems keen to control Anderson's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnston working for a triangle but Anderson defends it easily.
Anderson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnston works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnston seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Johnston working for submissions but it's allowed Anderson to get to half guard.

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.

Anderson is trying to work for a kimura but Johnston is defending well.
Anderson slows the pace down in half guard.
Johnston is looking for a sweep. Anderson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston wants to get back to full guard but Anderson has passed into side control.
Johnston looking for a sweep but Anderson has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Johnston has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnston tries to hold on but Anderson pushes him away.
Johnston is squirming around, avoiding Anderson's attempts to control the action.
Anderson controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston tries to lock up and control but Anderson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Johnston tries to control Anderson's body but Anderson pushes him off. Johnston squirms to his side and now Anderson has his back!
Anderson lands strikes to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Johnston defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Willy Anderson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Johnston moves into range and clinches up with Anderson.
Anderson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Johnston tries for a takedown. No joy.
Anderson tries to pull guard but Johnston won't allow it.

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

Johnston moves into the clinch.
Anderson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johnston smiles and moves away.
Anderson tries for a takedown but Johnston sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Willy Anderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnston shoots in looking for a takedown but Anderson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnston's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Johnston moves into the clinch.
Anderson tries to pull guard but Johnston forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Johnston is pressed up against the cage. Anderson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnston down to the mat. Johnston avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnston closes the distance and pushes Anderson back into the cage.
Anderson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Anderson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Johnston has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Johnston fails to pull guard.
Anderson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Johnston works on Anderson's body with a couple of short punches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Johnston leaning his opponent against the cage.
Anderson is looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Anderson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Johnston is keeping busy.
Anderson fails to pull guard.
Anderson is trying to maintain a safe position but Johnston gets an underhook and turns Anderson into the cage.
Anderson misses with a punch to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Anderson throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnston pulls guard successfully.
Johnston working a defensive guard here.
Johnston thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Anderson postures up in Johnston's guard and throws a big left but Johnston blocks it.
Anderson won't allow Johnston to sweep him here.

Johnston scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Johnston connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Johnston circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Anderson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnston.
Anderson tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Johnston manages to circle out of the way.
Anderson misses with an uppercut
and Johnston connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Anderson tries to clinch there but Johnston circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Anderson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Anderson misses with a takedown attempt - Johnston sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Johnston rushes Anderson and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson tries to pull guard but Johnston forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Johnston is trying to pull guard but Anderson has him pressed against the cage.

Johnston manages to break the clinch.

Johnston gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Johnston is pressed up against the cage. Anderson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnston down to the mat. Johnston avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Anderson misses with a body shot.
Johnston shoots in and drives through. Anderson sprawls well.
Johnston fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anderson tries to clinch but Johnston is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil Johnston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnston has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Johnston!