PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jhalil Johnson (ranked 5114 p4p, 581 weight class) and Adrian Stoneheart (ranked 5683 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Johnson
vs
Stoneheart

186 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
218 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 Los Angeles, Jhalil Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Adrian Stoneheart!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stoneheart instigates a clinch.

Johnson jumps guard.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Stoneheart is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stoneheart controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stoneheart wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Stoneheart is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Johnson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Stoneheart as Johnson shoots in.
Stoneheart is looking to land body kicks.

Stoneheart has managed to clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Stoneheart.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Stoneheart is controlling him.

Stoneheart breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stoneheart leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stoneheart throws a fast counter high kick but Johnson manages to duck under it in time.
Stoneheart connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Johnson momentarily.
Stoneheart pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson is looking for a counter combo.
Johnson misses with a leg kick
and Stoneheart counters with a two punch combo.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Stoneheart.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoids a kick to the body.
Johnson goes for a double leg but Stoneheart avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Stoneheart continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhalil Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stoneheart lands a jab to Johnson's midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Johnson rushes Stoneheart and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stoneheart drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Stoneheart shoots in.
Stoneheart shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Stoneheart's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stoneheart swivels and escapes.

Stoneheart moves into the clinch successfully.
Johnson tries to work over Stoneheart's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stoneheart lands a two punch combo.

Stoneheart darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Johnson shoots and misses
letting Stoneheart counter with a right hand.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson has his takedown stuffed
and Stoneheart counters with a one-two to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.

Stoneheart closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stoneheart pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stoneheart is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Johnson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stoneheart prevents it.

Stoneheart jumps into guard, dragging Johnson to the mat.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Stoneheart blocks nicely.
Johnson won't allow Stoneheart to sweep him here.
Stoneheart controlling Johnson's posture.
Stoneheart trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adrian Stoneheart dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Adrian Stoneheart's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnson tries to clinch there but Stoneheart circles away.
Stoneheart lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stoneheart tries a head kick but it misses.

Stoneheart pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stoneheart gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stoneheart prevents the takedown attempt.

Stoneheart ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stoneheart no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've been informed that Stoneheart has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson prevents Stoneheart from getting back to his feet.
Stoneheart controlling Johnson's posture.
Stoneheart trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stoneheart keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson won't allow Stoneheart to sweep him here.
Johnson landing with the ground and pound.
Stoneheart will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stoneheart holds on and takes a little breather.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.

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

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.

Stoneheart moves into the clinch.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhalil Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stoneheart has a takedown stuffed.
Stoneheart shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Stoneheart sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A head kick misses from Stoneheart.
A solid leg kick lands there for Johnson.
We've been told by Johnson's head coaches at Croque Mitaine Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Stoneheart gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stoneheart tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stoneheart misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Johnson.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Stoneheart throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Johnson dives in for a single leg takedown but Stoneheart sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Stoneheart has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Stoneheart pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Stoneheart defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Johnson.
Stoneheart shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Stoneheart sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jhalil Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stoneheart is defended easily by Johnson.

Stoneheart rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.

Stoneheart decides to pull guard.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stoneheart looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stoneheart bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adrian Stoneheart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Adrian Stoneheart's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stoneheart tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Johnson is in Stoneheart's guard.

Stoneheart is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Stoneheart manages to break the clinch.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson with a poor takedown

and Stoneheart counters by moving into the clinch.

Stoneheart breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stoneheart counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stoneheart has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike.

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

Stoneheart forces Johnson back against the cage and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stoneheart has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Johnson after a bit of a struggle.
Stoneheart taking a breather.

Stoneheart pulls guard.
Adrian Stoneheart has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stoneheart utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stoneheart looking for a sweep. Not yet Stoneheart, not yet.
Johnson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Stoneheart's guard.
Johnson is keen to just control but Stoneheart is a slippery customer.
Stoneheart trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Johnson is nestled in close to Stoneheart, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stoneheart tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johnson is nestled in close to Stoneheart, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Johnson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Stoneheart moves into full guard.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Stoneheart.
Stoneheart has Johnson pulled in close to control his posture.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Stoneheart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Stoneheart shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnson tries to clinch but Stoneheart is having none of it.
Johnson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhalil Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Stoneheart sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stoneheart shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Johnson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stoneheart enables Johnson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stoneheart manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Stoneheart kicks Johnson off and gets to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stoneheart shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jhalil Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Adrian Stoneheart is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stoneheart fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adrian Stoneheart comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stoneheart has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adrian Stoneheart!