PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Micheal Maynard (ranked 24366 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Johnson (ranked 5324 p4p, 0 weight class). David Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maynard
vs
Johnson

169 cm
19
140 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

225 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Micheal Maynard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, David Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maynard.
Johnson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Maynard!
Johnson is trying to move to mount but Maynard reverses beautifully and ends up in Johnson's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maynard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson kicks Maynard off and gets to his feet.
Johnson shoots in but Maynard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Maynard attempts a counter takedown but Johnson avoids it well and moves away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Maynard gets caught napping as Johnson dives in and scores a takedown. Maynard manages to retain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson wanted to stand there but Maynard had control of the position.

Maynard looking for subs off his back but Johnson has passed one foot through into half guard.
Johnson is keen to just control but Maynard is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maynard's head.
Maynard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johnson is keen to just control but Maynard is a slippery customer.
Maynard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Johnson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Maynard defends it.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Johnson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Maynard controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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 throws a strike but Maynard avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Johnson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Johnson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maynard is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Johnson punching from mount but Maynard doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard avoids a series of strikes thrown by Johnson.
Johnson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Johnson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Johnson wants to take his opponent's back but Maynard doesn't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson tries to control but Maynard wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Maynard is looking to get back to is feet but Johnson passes into side control.
Johnson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maynard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Maynard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Maynard haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Johnson misses with the body kick

and Maynard counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maynard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Maynard scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Maynard throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard throws a strike but Johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maynard is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.
Johnson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Maynard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Maynard is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson moves into full guard.
Johnson looking to control.
Maynard postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Maynard with a nice head shot there.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maynard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maynard throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson trying to control the position here.
Maynard lands a couple of elbows.
Maynard looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Maynard looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Maynard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maynard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Micheal Maynard will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Maynard sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Johnson stands up from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Maynard is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
It looks like Johnson is going to stand back up.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Maynard is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Maynard is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Johnson in particular looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.
Johnson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Maynard prevents it.

Johnson gets control of Maynard's arms and successfully pulls guard. Johnson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Maynard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maynard throws a big right hand that misses.
Maynard is in close to Johnson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Johnson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Maynard postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maynard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
Johnson is trying to keep Maynard in close.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maynard wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Maynard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Maynard stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to David Johnson.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

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