PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erich Johnson (ranked 6933 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorge Masvidal (ranked 6689 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Johnson
vs
Masvidal

203 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Erich Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Jorge Masvidal !
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Masvidal takes the fight into the clinch.

Johnson drags the fight down to the ground.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Masvidal doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Masvidal manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Masvidal defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Masvidal is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson has his foot on Masvidal 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Masvidal works his way back into a safe position though.
Masvidal scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johnson controlling the position.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Masvidal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson seems keen to control Masvidal 's posture.

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 is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Masvidal postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Masvidal lands a couple of elbows.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Masvidal defends it easily.

Johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Masvidal is aware though and is defending well.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Masvidal looking to pass the guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but Masvidal 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 appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Masvidal as he jumps to the side.
Masvidal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Masvidal misses with a body kick.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Masvidal .
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Masvidal sprawls and moves away.
Masvidal looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Masvidal is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Masvidal misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Masvidal gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnson landing with the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson wants to control from the top but Masvidal keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Erich Johnson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

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

Masvidal is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Johnson sees it coming and defends easily.
Johnson trying to hold on to Masvidal 's head to control him but Masvidal postures up.
Johnson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Masvidal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Masvidal trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson is trying to keep Masvidal in close.
Masvidal throws an elbow that misses. Johnson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Masvidal 's guard. Nice move by Johnson!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Johnson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Masvidal looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Masvidal looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Masvidal !

Masvidal goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Johnson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Masvidal 's guard! Nice work there by Johnson!
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Masvidal is breathing heavily.
Johnson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Johnson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Masvidal 's brow.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Masvidal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Johnson is in close to Masvidal 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Masvidal keeps moving.
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Masvidal 's brow.

Johnson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but Masvidal has taken the fight into the clinch.

Masvidal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Masvidal . No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
No luck for Masvidal with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
Johnson is putting a hurting on Masvidal here, landing some big shots from side control.
Masvidal taking punishment in the form of punches.
Masvidal manages to get back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.

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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Masvidal is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erich Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Masvidal misses with the body kick

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Masvidal !
Masvidal takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Johnson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Masvidal , who protects the arm well.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Masvidal has escaped the position, nice work there.
Johnson laying and praying for a moment but Masvidal takes advantage and regains half guard.
Masvidal tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Masvidal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Johnson lands a nice short elbow.
Johnson is nestled in close to Masvidal , controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is pressing down on Masvidal 's thigh, looking to free his foot. Masvidal is holding on for now.
Johnson prevents Masvidal from standing back up.
Johnson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Johnson winds up and cracks Masvidal with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Masvidal wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson drops an elbow to the side of Masvidal 's head.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Masvidal is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Johnson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Johnson slips a nice elbow through Masvidal 's hands, connecting with Masvidal 's forehead.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Masvidal defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Johnson is nestled in close to Masvidal , controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Johnson is thwarting Masvidal 's attempts to control the position.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.
Masvidal is looking to improve his position.
Masvidal is trying to control but can't.
Johnson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to Masvidal 's temple.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but Masvidal is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Johnson to get the leverage.
Masvidal manages to get to full guard.
Johnson trying to control but Masvidal is working from the bottom.
Johnson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Masvidal is retaining full guard.
Johnson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Masvidal controlling Johnson's posture.
Johnson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Masvidal 's head.
Johnson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Johnson sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands up from Masvidal 's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Masvidal avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Masvidal shoots in.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Masvidal napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Masvidal is trying to get back to half guard.

Johnson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Masvidal , who protects the arm well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Johnson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Jorge Masvidal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Erich Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson lands a decent elbow from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erich Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

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