PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Duke Johnson (ranked 3150 p4p, 338 weight class) and Jimmy Salmon (ranked 5376 p4p, 461 weight class). Jimmy Salmon has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Johnson
vs
Salmon

188 cm
21
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
20
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Duke Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jimmy Salmon!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Salmon to the mat! Salmon manages to get full guard.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johnson trying to control but Salmon is working from the bottom.
Salmon trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Salmon is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Salmon keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Johnson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Salmon to the ground. Johnson is now in Salmon's guard.
Salmon trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Salmon is retaining full guard.
Johnson wanted to stand there but Salmon had control of the position.
Salmon has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Johnson has passed into side control.

Johnson stands up.
Salmon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Salmon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Salmon looks winded!

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Salmon 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.
Johnson is working Salmon over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Salmon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnson sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands up from Salmon's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Johnson.
Salmon throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Johnson sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Johnson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Salmon.

Johnson clinches.

Johnson is trying to trip Salmon. He has hold of a leg but Salmon is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Johnson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Johnson gets to his feet - Salmon follows without any prompting.
Salmon shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.

Johnson clinches up with Salmon and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson tightens his grip and picks Salmon up, before dumping him to the ground. Salmon manages to land in guard.

Salmon has his feet on Johnson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salmon tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Salmon tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Johnson counters with a nice kick to the body.
Salmon is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Johnson throws a nice head kick!
Salmon tries to clinch up.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee asks Johnson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Johnson prefers to stall for the moment though.
Johnson lands some shots froms side control.
Salmon gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Johnson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Johnson trying to control but Salmon is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson has control of Salmon's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Salmon regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Salmon really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salmon can't escape the position.
Johnson scoring with strikes but Salmon is staying in there.
Salmon manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Salmon defends it.
Salmon is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Salmon keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is pressing down on Salmon's thigh, looking to free his foot. Salmon is holding on for now.
Salmon tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Salmon on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Johnson trying to control the action but Salmon is working from the bottom.
Salmon trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke 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!

Johnson throws a head kick that misses.

Johnson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Salmon was covering up waiting for the punch and Johnson finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Salmon scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Salmon leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Salmon lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
No luck for Salmon with that takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Salmon shoots in.
Salmon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salmon shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Salmon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Duke Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Salmon.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Salmon shoots in.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Salmon defends it.
Johnson is nestled in close to Salmon, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Johnson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Johnson is pressing down on Salmon's thigh, looking to free his foot. Salmon is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salmon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Salmon wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Salmon is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Johnson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salmon wants to control but Johnson passes into side.
Salmon wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Salmon seems a little lost for a moment, as Johnson dominates the positioning.
Salmon struggling a bit here.

Johnson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Johnson working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson trying to control the position but Salmon is working away.

Johnson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Salmon as he avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salmon shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Jimmy Salmon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Duke Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Salmon wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Duke Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

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