PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Johnson (ranked 4207 p4p, 456 weight class) and Zac Sechler (ranked 4151 p4p, 448 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Sechler

178 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Aspire Nutrition
Fanatic Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrew Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zac Sechler!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Sechler.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sechler shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sechler shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.

Johnson pushes Sechler up against the cage in a clinch.
Sechler is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Johnson to keep the fight standing.
Andrew Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zac Sechler.

Johnson manages to pull guard.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Johnson controls Sechler momentarily but Sechler frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sechler controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Sechler defends easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnson is on top in guard.

Sechler is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sechler is looking to stand up but Johnson isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sechler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson wants to stand but Sechler has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
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.
Johnson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sechler looking to control.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sechler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson stays in close to Sechler's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Sechler gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sechler is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sechler content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sechler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Sechler from controlling successfully.
Johnson pulls Sechler in close to prevent any damage.

Sechler decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Johnson rushes Sechler and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Johnson has clasped his hands together around Sechler's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Sechler throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Sechler throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Sechler looks winded!

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Johnson is thwarting Sechler's attempts to control the position.
Johnson wants to stand but Sechler has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sechler's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Andrew Johnson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sechler is looking to clinch.
Andrew Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Johnson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sechler manages to get back to half guard.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sechler wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Johnson not doing much here.
Sechler wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sechler is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Sechler is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sechler with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sechler is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is trying to control. Sechler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sechler defends it well.
Sechler avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Johnson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Sechler is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sechler avoid being mounted?

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sechler defends it well.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Sechler is defending well.

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.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sechler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sechler controlling the position well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Johnson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Sechler throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sechler.

Johnson gets a double leg takedown into Sechler's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sechler wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sechler is proving hard to escape from.
Sechler trying to control the position.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sechler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Johnson drops back looking for a leg! Sechler is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sechler manages to kick Johnson off! Johnson jumps back into Sechler's guard.

Sechler is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnson is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Johnson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sechler keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

Sechler is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Sechler working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Johnson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
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 Andrew Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sechler misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Johnson.

Sechler gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Sechler manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Sechler fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sechler fails to land the takedown.
Sechler dives in and grabs Johnson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes down on Sechler's head and hops out.
Andrew Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zac Sechler.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to Sechler's temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Sechler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Sechler has hold of Johnson's hands but Johnson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sechler is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson is thwarting Sechler's attempts to control the position.
Johnson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Sechler controls his leg.
Johnson controlling the pace.
Johnson tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Sechler.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to Sechler's temple.
Sechler tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
It looks like Johnson is going to stand back up.
Andrew Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sechler is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.
Sechler tries to kick Johnson off but Johnson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to free his trapped foot but Sechler is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Johnson prevents Sechler from standing back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Johnson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Sechler pushes Johnson off and gets back to his feet.
Zac Sechler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Johnson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sechler manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Sechler is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Johnson presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sechler can't get the takedown.
Sechler tries to land knees in the clinch but Johnson avoids the damage to the body.
Sechler misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sechler avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Johnson takes a shot to the head.
Sechler jumps guard but Johnson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Johnson jumps guard and drags Sechler to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Andrew Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sechler wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Andrew Johnson.
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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

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