PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ben Johnson (ranked 6443 p4p, 299 weight class) and Rob Tash (ranked 9469 p4p, 354 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by The Clash - This Is England. Rob Tash will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Johnson
vs
Tash

150 cm
24
136 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

175 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ben Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rob Tash!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Sano and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tash misses with the combination.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tash sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tash moves away from the strike by Johnson.
Tash misses with the combination.
Tash blocks a jab.
Johnson throws a body shot but no joy.
Tash throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Tash misses with a looping left.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Johnson.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Johnson. That snapped Tash's head back.
Johnson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Johnson really is a fat lump.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Johnson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tash's efforts to push away.
Johnson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Johnson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A short body shot lands from Johnson as the two fighters clinch.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A cross from Johnson lands.
Tash uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Johnson has time to react.
A big left from Johnson misses.
Tash avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Tash throws a counter combo.
Johnson throws an off balance right hand
and Tash counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Tash.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson throws the left hand but Tash avoids the punch easily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Tash enables Johnson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Tash manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Johnson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tash wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.

Johnson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Tash bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Tash connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tash misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tash uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tash.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson jabs Tash right on the nose. Tash blinks but takes it well.
Tash throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
A quick step to the side and Johnson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson misses the jab.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand
and Tash counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ben Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tash slips under a jab from Johnson.
Tash looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A combination from Tash does no damage.
Johnson misses with a right hand
and Tash counters with a two punch combo.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Tash moves away and avoids it.
It seemed like Tash was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Johnson pushes Tash up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Johnson breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Johnson misses with a straight right.
Tash ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Tash unleashes a big counter combination but Johnson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Johnson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tash, up you get!
Tash moves out of range of the strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson looking to score a takedown here. Tash is defending well but Johnson drives through and ends up in Tash's guard.
Johnson controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tash is looking for the big counter here.
Johnson scoring well with a low kick there.
Johnson connects with a looping right hand.
Johnson misses with an uppercut. Tash saw that one coming.
Johnson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tash lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Johnson thuds his right hand into Tash's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Johnson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tash counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tash throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Johnson gets through Tash's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Johnson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
A big right from Johnson misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson takes one on the button.
Tash moves out of range of the strikes.
Tash moves away from the strike by Johnson.
Tash lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Tash blocks a head kick by Johnson.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Tash! But no joy.
Johnson misses with a left hand
and Tash cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tash connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Johnson's hands.
A head kick by Johnson misses
and Tash counters with a nice body shot.
Johnson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Tash throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tash scores with a three punch combo!
Ben Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tash misses with the combination.
Johnson misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tash takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tash ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.

Johnson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tash was covering up waiting for the punch and Johnson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tash can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Johnson controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ben Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnson is stalling in the full guard.

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

Johnson forces Tash back against the cage and clinches.
Tash struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Tash sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tash scores with the left hand. Johnson knows he should have avoided that one.
Tash falls off balance throwing a combination
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tash moves forwards but Johnson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Johnson connects with a looping right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Johnson 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!

Nice shot lands for Johnson.

Johnson darts in and clinches Tash up against the cage.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tash unleashes a big counter combination but Johnson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tash.
Tash moves away from the strike by Johnson.
Johnson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tash slips a jab from Johnson.
Tash defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.
Tash throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Tash throws a series of strikes that have Johnson backpedaling.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tash.
A big left from Johnson misses.
Johnson ducks right into an uppercut from Tash.
Tash has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tash.
Johnson misses with a hook
and Tash counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tash wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Tash against the cage.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson throws a right hand that misses
and Tash cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johnson misses with a straight right.
Johnson throws a head kick that half lands.

Johnson rushes Tash and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A frustrated look appears on Tash's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tash tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson taking a breather.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tash can do to turn this around?
Johnson misses with a left hand
and Tash counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Tash to acknowledge the strikes.
Tash scores with a jab.
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tash.
Tash throws out a counter right but Johnson avoids it with no problem.
Johnson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Tash throws out a counter right but Johnson avoids it with no problem.
Ben Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tash wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Good standup being displayed there by Johnson as he connects with a hook.
Tash is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A little jabbing left from Tash on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tash misses the shot to the body.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Johnson throws a lazy uppercut
and Tash counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tash misses with a double jab
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnson lands the left hand.
Johnson scores with a punch to the head.
Tash throws a hook to the side of Johnson's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johnson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Tash's shoulder, as Tash tries to avoid the shot.
Tash stalks Johnson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Johnson's face. Johnson staggers backwards, shaken.
Johnson scores with a jab. Tash acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Johnson misses with a hook.
Johnson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Tash under the eye.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.
Tash takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tash, pushing him back against the cage.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Johnson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Johnson.
Rob Tash has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson lands a body punch.
Johnson presses Tash against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tash has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
It seemed like Tash was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

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