PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gerry Riggs (ranked 7451 p4p, 0 weight class) and CJ Johnson (ranked 5667 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Riggs
vs
Johnson

209 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 Sydney, Gerry Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, CJ Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Ben Hemmingworth and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Riggs swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Johnson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Riggs's calf.
Riggs looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.

Johnson pushes Riggs up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs circles away from the clinch attempt.
Riggs really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Riggs blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Riggs circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Riggs throws a quick counter head kick but Johnson was just out of range.
Riggs shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerry Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Riggs, pushing him back against the cage.

Johnson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Riggs will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Riggs working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Johnson slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Riggs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riggs throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Riggs slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Riggs has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Riggs working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Riggs has control of Johnson's left arm, preventing Johnson from doing any damage.
Riggs looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Riggs works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Riggs lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Riggs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riggs is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Riggs trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
CJ Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Riggs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Riggs 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 Riggs off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Riggs's calf.

Johnson instigates a clinch.

Riggs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Riggs keeps it at a distance.
A counter left hand to the body from Riggs misses its target.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riggs was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Riggs shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Riggs showed some decent athleticism there.

Johnson kicks Riggs off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Riggs circles away.

Johnson forces Riggs back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Riggs shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Riggs shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Riggs against the cage.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but Riggs blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Gerry Riggs has been cut.

Riggs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Riggs appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
CJ Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short right from Johnson.

Johnson has hold of one of Riggs's legs. Riggs is fighting the takedown attempt but Johnson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Riggs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Riggs keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Riggs won't let him.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Riggs keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Riggs throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Riggs keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riggs keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to clinch

and Riggs counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Riggs will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Riggs scoring with some ground and pound.
Riggs controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Riggs has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Riggs's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Johnson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Riggs checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Riggs fails with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerry Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riggs circles away from the clinch attempt.
That kick from Johnson tenderised Riggs's leg. Riggs is trying to keep his angry face on.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Riggs pushes him off.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses
and Riggs cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Riggs is defended easily by Johnson.
Riggs dives in and grabs Johnson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes down on Riggs's head and hops out.

Johnson forces Riggs back against the cage and clinches.
Johnson lands a nice elbow.
Riggs is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Johnson lands a nice knee to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Riggs takes an elbow to the temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson looking to throw knees to the head but Riggs is blocking nicely.
CJ Johnson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Johnson missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gerry Riggs's cut.
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!

Riggs shoots in but no luck this time.
CJ Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Riggs 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 Riggs off to one side.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Riggs swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Riggs looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but Riggs blocks with his arms.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Riggs takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Riggs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson wants to clinch.
Riggs lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs 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.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerry Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Riggs wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Johnson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Johnson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Johnson.
Johnson cracks Riggs with a nice body shot.
Riggs misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Riggs is avoiding it.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Riggs moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Riggs blocks a head kick by Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Riggs is avoiding it.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Riggs shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Riggs moves out of range of the strikes.
Riggs moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Riggs feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Riggs scores with a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Riggs looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Riggs is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Riggs lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Riggs controls the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
CJ Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30

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