PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Johnston (ranked 5429 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francois LaCroix (ranked 6215 p4p, 0 weight class). LaCroix has chosen "Won't Let Go" by CFO$ as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Johnston
vs
LaCroix

185 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Francois LaCroix!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston connects with a right hand. LaCroix shakes it off.
LaCroix shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnston pinned against the cage. Johnston gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
LaCroix is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Johnston throws a combination that misses

and LaCroix counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnston tries to break the clinch but LaCroix is controlling the position.

LaCroix breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnston misses with a few strikes there.
Johnston misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by LaCroix or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnston, which made it look bad.
Johnston connects with a body shot that sends LaCroix's belly button to the back.
Johnston connects with a body shot that sends LaCroix's belly button to the back.
Johnston throws a one two combo.
Johnston looks to land a combination. LaCroix sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
LaCroix tries for a takedown but Johnston circles away easily
and Johnston counters with a three punch combo that has LaCroix backing up. LaCroix nods at Johnston to acknowledge the strikes.
John Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francois LaCroix.
Johnston displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from LaCroix.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnston misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

LaCroix moves into range and clinches up with Johnston.
Johnston can't break the clinch.

LaCroix manages to pull guard.
Johnston wants to stand and escape but instead LaCroix has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Johnston keeping moving, preventing LaCroix from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
LaCroix throws an elbow that misses. Johnston uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in LaCroix's guard. Nice move by Johnston!

LaCroix has a closed guard, preventing Johnston from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston stopping the sweep attempt from LaCroix.

Johnston decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on LaCroix, up you get!
John Johnston is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnston stuffs the takedown attempt from LaCroix. LaCroix gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnston lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as LaCroix backs up against the cage.
Johnston goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Johnston scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Johnston misses with the combination.
LaCroix tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

LaCroix has closed the distance and engaged Johnston in a clinch.
LaCroix is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Johnston to keep the fight standing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
LaCroix keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnston's efforts to push away.
Johnston tries to break the clinch but LaCroix is controlling the position.
Johnston prevents the takedown attempt.
Johnston prevents the takedown attempt.
LaCroix looks winded!
Johnston is trying to break the clinch but LaCroix is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Johnston dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnston stuffs the takedown.
Johnston lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Johnston seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Johnston is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that LaCroix can do to turn this around?
Johnston scores with the left hand. LaCroix knows he should have avoided that one.
Johnston swinging wildly here.
A nice combination there by Johnston.
Nice jab there from Johnston.
LaCroix takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Johnston throws a series of punches but LaCroix avoids them all with ease.
Johnston goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnston swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Johnston misses with a two punch combination.
LaCroix shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnston pinned against the cage. Johnston gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
LaCroix takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
John Johnston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
LaCroix gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnston.
John Johnston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
LaCroix slips a jab and a cross from Johnston.
Johnston lands with a good body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston throws a combination but it was largely blocked by LaCroix.
LaCroix tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Johnston defends well and LaCroix ends up having to push Johnston into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
John Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francois LaCroix.
LaCroix slips a jab and a cross from Johnston.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
LaCroix shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Johnston sprawls well. Johnston wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. LaCroix gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnston half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
LaCroix is breathing heavily.
Johnston moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Johnston scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
LaCroix shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnston as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And LaCroix tries to counter it with a takedown but Johnston pushes his down on his head and steps out.
LaCroix with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johnston counters with a nice body shot.
Johnston stuns LaCroix with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Johnston throws a right and a left that both miss.
Some wild striking there from Johnston.
LaCroix walks into a left hand.
Johnston throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
LaCroix avoids a punch combination nicely.
LaCroix is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston throws a right hand that LaCroix ducks under and follows up with a left that LaCroix also avoids with ease.
LaCroix doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnston counters with a one-two to the body.
Johnston lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
LaCroix showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnston.
Johnston connects with a body shot that sends LaCroix's belly button to the back.
Johnston is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A combination from Johnston does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Johnston dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

LaCroix misses with a takedown attempt
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
letting Johnston counter with a right hand.
Johnston lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but LaCroix circles away quickly and effectively.
LaCroix will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Johnston scores with a three punch combo!
Johnston misses with a jab, cross combination.

LaCroix takes the fight into the clinch.

LaCroix decides to pull guard.
LaCroix takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
LaCroix is controlling Johnston's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaCroix trying to control the position.
Johnston has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of LaCroix is proving hard to escape from.

Johnston stands and steps away. LaCroix gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
LaCroix on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Johnston throws a series of punches but LaCroix avoids them all with ease.
Johnston throws a series of strikes that have LaCroix backpedaling.
Johnston will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
LaCroix fails with the takedown.
John Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francois LaCroix.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston looks to land a combination but LaCroix avoids it well.
LaCroix tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Johnston misses with a combination

and LaCroix holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
LaCroix taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Johnston blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Johnston wants to break the clinch but can't.
LaCroix misses with a punch to the body.
LaCroix is working for takedown but Johnston is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaCroix is trying to pull guard but Johnston turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Johnston wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnston is trying to break the clinch but LaCroix is controlling him.
LaCroix is looking to take this one to the mat.
With the fighters up against the cage, LaCroix throws an elbow but misses.
LaCroix drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnston pulls his leg out and moves away.
Johnston rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but LaCroix moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnston looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
LaCroix changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaCroix shoots in for a double leg but Johnston sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnston misses with a few strikes there.
Johnston moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Johnston lands a slapping body shot.
Johnston swinging wildly here.
Johnston feints a jab promting LaCroix to slip. Johnston then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. LaCroix slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Francois LaCroix has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnston lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but LaCroix circles away quickly and effectively.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
LaCroix misses with a takedown attempt
and Johnston counters with a lovely shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Johnston showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnston, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:26
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:26

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