PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rivers Nihil (ranked 6257 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacques Johnson (ranked 6143 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nihil
vs
Johnson

190 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rivers Nihil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jacques Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, David Hoff and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nihil defends well and Johnson ends up having to push Nihil into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nihil manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nihil.
As Nihil backs off Johnson throws a huge counter combo but Nihil manages to avoid it all.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nihil paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nihil went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
No luck for Nihil with that takedown attempt.
Nihil fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rivers Nihil. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nihil fails with the takedown.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nihil drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.
Johnson is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Nihil breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nihil connects with the punch.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Nihil sprawls well.

Nihil closes the distance and clinches.

Nihil manages to break the clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Nihil changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nihil swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A quick step to the side and Nihil tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nihil avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nihil tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnson was well out of range. Poor timing from Nihil.

Nihil instigates a clinch.

Nihil breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Nihil circles away easily

and Nihil counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nihil.

Nihil's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Nihil moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nihil is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Johnson is defending well for now.
Johnson looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Nihil jumps guard and drags Johnson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nihil works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nihil trying to control the position.
Nihil knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Nihil seems keen to control Johnson's posture.
Johnson won't allow Nihil to sweep him here.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Nihil keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.
Johnson is pushing down on Nihil's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nihil is fighting to maintain full guard but Johnson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nihil tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Nihil is looking to escape.
Nihil missing with punches from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Nihil sprawls well.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
An inside leg kick from Nihil misses.
As Nihil backs off Johnson throws a huge counter combo but Nihil manages to avoid it all.
Johnson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
Nihil seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Nihil feinted with a counter takedown.
Nihil tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Nihil is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Nihil saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rivers Nihil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacques Johnson.
Nihil changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Nihil manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Nihil darts in looking for a takedown but Johnson gets double underhooks and turns Nihil into the cage.
Johnson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Nihil defends it well.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nihil went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.

Nihil clinches up against the cage.
Nihil tries to score a body lock takedown but Johnson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Nihil breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Nihil. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Rivers Nihil is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Nihil. Nihil gets slowly back to his feet.
Nihil closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Nihil pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson punishes Nihil's body with a nice straight punch.
Johnson throws a combination that misses

and Nihil counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nihil.

Nihil breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Nihil closes the distance and clinches.

Nihil has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Johnson uses from the top position.
Nihil keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Nihil gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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 looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Nihil from controlling successfully.
Nihil trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nihil stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nihil keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nihil manages to get himself to full guard.

Johnson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson postures up in Nihil's guard and throws a big left but Nihil blocks it.
Nihil working a defensive guard here.

Nihil escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nihil is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rivers Nihil dominated that second round.
That's time! 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.

Johnson goes for a double leg but Nihil avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nihil continues to drive forward.
Nihil tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nihil is defended easily by Johnson.
Nihil tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.

Nihil has managed to clinch.
Nihil tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Nihil drops back down to his feet.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nihil defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nihil misses with a double jab.
Nice takedown defense from Nihil. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Rivers Nihil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacques Johnson.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Nihil clinches up against the cage.
Johnson prevents the takedown attempt.

Nihil's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rivers Nihil is winning the standup battle so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. Nihil does a little dance to reset his feet.
Johnson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nihil defends well and Johnson ends up having to push Nihil into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nihil fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nihil is working for takedown but Johnson is calmly controlling the position for now.

Nihil has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Johnson is trying to keep an underhook but Nihil manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nihil not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Nihil is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Johnson wants to control but Nihil is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nihil tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Johnson.
Nihil missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Nihil is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johnson defends it well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nihil throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johnson's waist but Johnson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nihil off to one side.
Nihil stuffs the takedown.
Nihil fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Nihil.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in but Nihil avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Johnson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nihil defends well and Johnson ends up having to push Nihil into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nihil fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Nihil clinches up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Nihil.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nihil tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johnson smiles and moves away.
Johnson tries to clinch but Nihil is having none of it.
Jacques Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivers Nihil is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nihil closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Nihil pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson wants to counter the offense by Nihil and move into the clinch position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rivers Nihil showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nihil 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rivers Nihil!