PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Luke Johnson (ranked 3385 p4p, 174 weight class) and Tony Sap (ranked 2005 p4p, 108 weight class). Sap comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Empire State of Mind kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Sap

179 cm
25
136 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

172 cm
26
145 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luke Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tony Sap!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sap misses with a few strikes there.
An attempted straight right counter from Johnson misses the target.
Sap is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Johnson.
Sap throws an off balance right hand
and Johnson counters with a one-two to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sap.
Johnson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Sap has his takedown stuffed
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sap swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nice jab there from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sap doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Luke Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Sap.
Sap wants to clinch
and Johnson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sap misses with a takedown
and Johnson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johnson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Saps jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Johnson misses with a straight right.
Sap throws a poor cross that misses
and Sap takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sap takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Sap avoids nicely.
Luke Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sap will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sap misses with a looping left.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sap with a poor takedown
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sap doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Johnson scores with a nice strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sap doesn't seem bothered though.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sap shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
An attempted straight right counter from Johnson misses the target.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sap feints the counter takedown.
Sap closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Some wild striking there from Johnson.
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Johnson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sap in his tracks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sap tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sap changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Sap manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sap throws a looping overhand right but Johnson ducks down to avoid it.
Sap with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johnson counters with a one-two to the body.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sap shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johnson defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Sap shoots in.
Sap misses with a left hand
and Johnson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sap fails with the takedown.
Luke Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Johnson is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A right-left combo lands from Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Johnson finds it's way through Sap's defenses.
Sap shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Luke Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Sap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Johnson misses.
Johnson thuds a left hand into Sap's body.
Sap throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johnson's waist but Johnson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sap off to one side.
Sap takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sap keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnson catches Sap with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sap misses with a takedown attempt
and Johnson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Johnson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sap is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Johnson misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sap blocks a jab.
Sap closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side
and Johnson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Johnson throws a hook to the side of Sap's head but Sap sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sap unleashes a big counter combination but Johnson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
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!
Sap tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Johnson counters with a left and a right that stings Sap.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sap shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but Sap 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 swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson leaves Sap with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Sap is just out of range.
Tony Sap is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sap has his takedown stuffed
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.
Johnson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Johnson.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.
No luck for Sap with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson cracks a nice hook into Sap's ribs.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tony Sap seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson looks to land a right hand but Sap moved out of range.
Johnson jabs Sap to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sap wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sap keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnson.
Johnson sets himself, and Sap steps forward looking for the clinch! Johnson avoids it this time.
Johnson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Sap avoids it well.
Sap misses with a takedown
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.
Sap throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Sap walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sap sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sap throws out a powerful jab.
Sap with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Johnson scores with a four punch combination!
Jab by Johnson.
Johnson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sap was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnson.
Sap fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johnson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Luke Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Sap.
Johnson lands a right hook to the body.
Sap shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sap shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sap fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sap fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sap tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.
A shot to the liver by Johnson. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sap shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnson counters with a left to the body.
Johnson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Sap tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tony Sap has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson scores with a jab.
Sap tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Sap shoots and misses
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sap fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Johnson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sap.
Sap takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sap fails with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sap with a poor takedown
and Johnson counters with a left to the body.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sap takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Luke Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sap tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:24
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:25
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Johnson!
After winning the bout, Luke Johnson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.