PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Johnson (ranked 4223 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Campobello (ranked 3546 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Icky Thump. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnson
vs
Campobello

176 cm
32
159 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

168 cm
26
150 lbs
13 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Campobello!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Joseph Jones and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. Campobello does a little dance to reset his feet.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Campobello tries to counter with a clinch but Johnson shakes him off and moves away.
Campobello tries to move into range but Johnson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Johnson scores with the left hand. Campobello knows he should have avoided that one.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Campobello has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Campobello throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.
Campobello misses with some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Campobello.
Good body shot from Johnson.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Campobello takes the fight into the clinch.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as Campobello controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Johnson lands a left hand.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Campobello is working Johnson over against the cage.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as Campobello controls his hands.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Campobello.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
Campobello tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Johnson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.
Johnson takes a shot to the head.
Johnson working hard to break the clinch.
Campobello is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Campobello lands a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson lands a shoulder strike.
Johnson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Campobello backwards.

Campobello is rocked!
Campobello tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Campobello pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Johnson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Campobello lands an uppercut.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Campobello controls the action.
Campobello lands with a light punch inside.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson with a nice cross.
Campobello fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Campobello sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Campobello takes one on the button.
Campobello doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Johnson is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Campobello is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson is looking to wear down Campobello with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Campobello thows a left - swing and a miss!
Campobello is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Campobello tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Campobello somewhat.
Johnson misses with a hook.
Kevin Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. Campobello does a little dance to reset his feet.
Campobello tries to clinch but Johnson moves away
and Johnson counters with a big head kick but Campobello shrugs it off.
Campobello is still on wobbly legs! Can Johnson finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws the left hand but Campobello avoids the punch easily.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Campobello seems to have recovered his senses.
Campobello moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Johnson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Campobello shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kevin Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Campobello.
Campobello checks a leg kick.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
Campobello keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Campobello wants to counter with a clinch but Johnson pushes him away.
Campobello avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Campobello tries to counter by closing the distance.
Campobello looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Campobello persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
A quick step to the side and Johnson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Johnson.
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 throws a body shot but no joy.
Johnson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Campobello blocks a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Campobello throws a nice outside leg kick.
Johnson throws a hook but Campobello avoids it easily.
Campobello misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson lands with a straight right. Campobello didn't see that one coming.
Johnson jabs Campobello to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Johnson misses with a body shot.

Campobello rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Campobello looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sam Campobello is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Campobello steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Campobello tries to counter by closing the distance.
Campobello takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson takes a swing at Campobello's ribcage but misses.
Campobello goes for a double leg but Johnson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Johnson continues to drive forward.
Nice defenses there by Campobello.
Campobello avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Johnson tries to score with a low kick but Campobello moves his leg out of the way.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
Campobello tries to counter with a clinch but Johnson shakes him off and moves away.
Campobello displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johnson throws out the jab.
Johnson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Campobello at a distance.

Campobello gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Campobello controls the action.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Campobello controls the action.
Campobello misses with some punches.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Johnson keeps Campobello at a distance using the push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campobello ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Johnson missing with a left hand there. Campobello was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kevin Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Campobello's shoulder, as Campobello tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson lands with a shot to the body.
Campobello uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Campobello moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
I was talking to Johnson's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Campobello landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
Campobello throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Campobello fails to land.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson lets loose with a powerful body kick. Campobello will feel that in the morning.
Campobello avoids a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campobello gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Campobello tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Johnson defends well and Campobello ends up having to push Johnson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kevin Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Campobello.
Nice straight punches there by Johnson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Johnson.
Campobello ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnson sets himself, and Campobello steps forward looking for the clinch! Johnson avoids it this time.
Campobello slips under a jab.
Johnson throws a body shot but no joy.
Campobello steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Johnson.
Campobello tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Campobello can do to turn this around?
Johnson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
No luck for Campobello with that takedown attempt.
Johnson lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johnson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Campobello looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Johnson connects with a looping right hand.
Campobello moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Campobello uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A combination from Campobello does no damage.
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Johnson cracks Campobello with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Campobello shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Johnson cracks a nice hook into Campobello's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Johnson dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Johnson misses with a body shot.

Johnson drops Campobello with a beautiful combination! Campobello stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Johnson is looking for the KO!
Campobello gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Johnson gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:15 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kevin Johnson!
Our winner, Kevin Johnson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.