PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dimitri Emelianenko (ranked 6715 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Johnson (ranked 6753 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.

Emelianenko
vs
Johnson

178 cm
24
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dimitri Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Franklyn Lucas and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromEmelianenko.
Emelianenko 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.
Emelianenko tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Emelianenko avoids them all with ease.
Emelianenko is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Emelianenko half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Emelianenko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Emelianenko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Emelianenko feinted with a counter takedown.
A left and a right from Johnson both land. Nice combination.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Emelianenko backs up against the cage.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Emelianenko as he avoids it easily.
Emelianenko tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dimitri Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson throws a low kick, looking for Emelianenko's leg but Emelianenko calmly moves out of range.
Joey Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Emelianenko somewhat.
Johnson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Emelianenko counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.
Emelianenko preventing the sweep.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Emelianenko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Emelianenko trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Emelianenko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is pulling down on Emelianenko's head. It's preventing any offense from Emelianenko, at least for the moment.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Emelianenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Johnson pulls Emelianenko in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Emelianenko closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Johnson quickly recovers to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Johnson is controlling Emelianenko's trapped leg to prevent Emelianenko from advancing to side control.
Johnson trying to control from the bottom.

Johnson has one foot on Emelianenko's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Johnson has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Emelianenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Emelianenko avoids them all with ease.
Johnson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson lands with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Emelianenko checks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Johnson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Emelianenko leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Emelianenko changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Emelianenko has a takedown stuffed.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Emelianenko tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko darts in looking for a takedown but Johnson gets double underhooks and turns Emelianenko into the cage.
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Johnson.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Emelianenko half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Dimitri Emelianenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Emelianenko clinches up with Johnson and pushes him back against the cage.
Emelianenko tries for a takedown but Johnson manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dimitri Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Emelianenko gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Emelianenko drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a three punch combo!

Johnson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Emelianenko dives into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.
The referee asks Emelianenko politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Emelianenko prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control Emelianenko's posture but Emelianenko avoids it.
Emelianenko wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson tries to escape but Emelianenko is in control.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Emelianenko moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Emelianenko has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Emelianenko in the domination position with Johnson hanging on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson throws a right hand that Emelianenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Emelianenko also avoids with ease.
Emelianenko tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Emelianenko shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.
Emelianenko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And Johnson tries to counter it with a takedown but Emelianenko pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Emelianenko dives in for a single leg takedown but Johnson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dimitri Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson leaves Emelianenko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Johnson unleashes a big counter combination but Emelianenko bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko with a poor takedown
and Johnson counters with a left to the body.
Johnson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Emelianenko.
Danga de danga de dang - Johnson scores with a four punch combination!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Emelianenko checks a leg kick.
Emelianenko fails to land the takedown.
Johnson tries to bum rush Emelianenko with a series of wild strikes but Emelianenko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Emelianenko could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Emelianenko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Emelianenko attempts a counter takedown but Johnson avoids it well and moves away.
Johnson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Emelianenko gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnson.
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 misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Emelianenko attempts a counter takedown but Johnson avoids it well and moves away.
Emelianenko shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but Emelianenko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Johnson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson is looking for the big counter here.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Emelianenko avoids it well.
Emelianenko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Emelianenko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Emelianenko has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Joey Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Emelianenko shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.
Johnson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Dimitri Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joey Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Emelianenko fails with the takedown
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 26:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Johnson!
An out of breath Joey Johnson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.