PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Denzel Knives (ranked 3818 p4p, 409 weight class) and Dwayne Johnson (ranked 4118 p4p, 432 weight class). Knives comes into the arena with Remember The Name blaring out of the sound system. Johnson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: My Time Is Now. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Knives
vs
Johnson

180 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

164 cm
25
163 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Denzel Knives!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dwayne Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Knives throwing a counter right hand but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Knives throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Knives steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson takes a swing at Knives's ribcage but misses.
Johnson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Knives throws a looping overhand right but Johnson ducks down to avoid it.
And Johnson tries to counter it with a takedown but Knives pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Johnson looks to throw the jab but Knives is out of range.
Knives thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnson missing with a left hand there. Knives was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnson takes a swing at Knives's ribcage but misses.
Knives has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Yaw-Yan MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Knives rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Knives.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Knives.
Knives moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Knives looks to land a right hand but Johnson moved out of range.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knives misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Knives's elbow.
Knives gets through Johnson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Knives lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Knives controls the action.
Knives can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Johnson working aggressively here.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by Knives.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Knives avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Knives misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knives tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Knives back against the cage.
Knives swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Knives tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Knives avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Knives struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Johnson working aggressively here.
Johnson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Knives wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Knives controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Knives fails to land.
Johnson prevents Knives from breaking the clinch.
Knives misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knives stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Knives avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Knives prevents a body shot from Johnson.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Knives avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Johnson takes a shot to the head.
Johnson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Knives avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Johnson keeps control of Knives as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knives misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries a body shot but Knives blocks it.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by Knives.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johnson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.

Knives breaks the clinch.

Johnson darts in and clinches Knives up against the cage.
Johnson misses with some punches.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as Knives controls his hands.
Knives tries to break free but Johnson pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Knives controls the action.
Johnson swings wildly with an uppercut but Knives uses good head movement to avoid it.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dwayne Johnson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Knives misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson misses with a takedown
and Knives counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Knives lands a nice hook to Johnson's body. Johnson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Knives is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Knives looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.

Johnson darts in and clinches Knives up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Knives.
Knives pushes Johnson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knives blocks a body shot from Johnson.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Knives avoids the body shot from Johnson.
A right-left combo lands from Knives.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knives scores with a shot to the body.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Johnson drives through with a takedown into Knives's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Knives looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Knives seems keen to control Johnson's posture.
Knives working a defensive guard here.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Knives has control of Johnson's left arm, preventing Johnson from doing any damage.
Johnson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Johnson works over Knives with some ground and pound from guard.
Knives is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.
Knives looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson connects with a couple of short punches.
Knives controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Knives on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Knives tries to get out of the position.
Knives bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.

Knives postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Knives engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knives not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knives postures up.
Knives trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Knives controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Knives will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Knives trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Knives works his way to full guard. Good work.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Knives is retaining full guard.
Knives not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knives looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Knives is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Knives blocks nicely.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Knives keeps moving.
Knives has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Knives is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.
Johnson lands a couple of digs.
Knives is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Knives is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dwayne Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Knives.
Knives misses with a two punch combination.
Knives avoids the body shot from Johnson.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knives wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Knives misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a short punch on the inside.

Johnson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Knives is trying to keep an underhook but Johnson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Johnson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Dwayne Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Knives keeping hold of Johnson's head, controlling as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is controlling the pace.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Knives dodges it nicely.
Knives trying to control here.
Johnson throwing shots but Knives is blocking nicely.
Knives is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Knives avoid being mounted?
Johnson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Johnson wants to take a breather but Knives is having none of it.

That's two 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 seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Knives has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Johnson drops an elbow to the side of Knives's head.
Knives has hold of Johnson's hands but Johnson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Knives regains full guard. Nicely done.
Knives looking for a sweep. Not yet Knives, not yet.
Johnson landing some decent shots from guard.
Johnson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Johnson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Knives looking to control.
Knives is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Johnson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Knives.
Knives trying to control the position.
Denzel Knives has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Knives tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Knives throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Dwayne Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Knives bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Knives rather than just go for the knockout.

Johnson looking to score a takedown here. Knives is defending well but Johnson drives through and ends up in Knives's guard.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Knives trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson trying to control but Knives is working from the bottom.
Johnson with a nice head shot there.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Knives looking to control.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Knives.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Knives's head.
Knives tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson trying to control but Knives is working from the bottom.
Johnson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwayne 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwayne Johnson!
Our winner, Dwayne Johnson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.