PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Johnson (ranked 972 p4p, 128 weight class) and Daniel Hazlehurst (ranked 1337 p4p, 176 weight class). Hazlehurst has chosen Queen - One Vision as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnson
vs
Hazlehurst

183 cm
25
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

183 cm
26
202 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeff Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Daniel Hazlehurst!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Hazlehurst or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnson, which made it look bad.
Hazlehurst takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Johnson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hazlehurst on the side of the head.
Hazlehurst shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johnson defends it nicely.
Johnson scores with a hook.
Hazlehurst gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Jeff Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Hazlehurst.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Johnson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hazlehurst.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazlehurst dives in for a single leg takedown but Johnson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Johnson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Johnson throws a hook to the side of Hazlehurst's head but Hazlehurst sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hazlehurst takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hazlehurst takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hazlehurst moves out of range of the body kick.
Johnson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Hazlehurst counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.
Johnson wants to stand but Hazlehurst is controlling the position.
Hazlehurst looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hazlehurst throwing strikes but missing.
Hazlehurst wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Hazlehurst passes into half guard.
Johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Johnson is trying to escape back to his feet but Hazlehurst uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Hazlehurst trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Hazlehurst working the ground and pound.
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!
Johnson pushes Hazlehurst away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hazlehurst gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Johnson being controlled for a moment.
Hazlehurst working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst working the head with strikes.
Hazlehurst throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Johnson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hazlehurst has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Hazlehurst is dominant here and he's now got Johnson's back!
Johnson trying to get back to his feet but Hazlehurst is in full control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hazlehurst really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Johnson.
Johnson is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Will Hazlehurst go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Can Johnson hold on?! Hazlehurst is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Hazlehurst scores with punches from the back.
Hazlehurst scores with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Daniel Hazlehurst will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hazlehurst dives in and grabs Johnson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes down on Hazlehurst's head and hops out.
Hazlehurst shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson scores with a jab. Hazlehurst acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Johnson throws the left hand but Hazlehurst avoids the punch easily.
Hazlehurst tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hazlehurst walks into a left hand.
Hazlehurst 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 Hazlehurst off to one side.
Jeff Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Hazlehurst.
Hazlehurst shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hazlehurst fails to land the takedown.
Hazlehurst shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson lands a nice hook to Hazlehurst's body. Hazlehurst takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hazlehurst moves forwards but Johnson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hazlehurst bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hazlehurst shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hazlehurst takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazlehurst walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Hazlehurst gets a double leg takedown into Johnson's guard.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Hazlehurst is having none of it.
Hazlehurst is standing up over Johnson. Johnson looks to escape but Hazlehurst dives into side control.
Johnson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Hazlehurst throws a strike aimed at the side of Johnson's head but Johnson avoids it well.
Johnson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hazlehurst is controlling him well.
Johnson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hazlehurst.
Hazlehurst in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Johnson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is not content to let Hazlehurst control the position.
Johnson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Hazlehurst is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson is trying to buck Hazlehurst off.
Hazlehurst postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hazlehurst trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Johnson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hazlehurst postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hazlehurst trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Hazlehurst misses with the ground and pound.
Johnson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hazlehurst has just dragged him back down to the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Johnson throws the left hand but Hazlehurst avoids the punch easily.
Johnson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hazlehurst showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Hazlehurst is just out of range.
Hazlehurst drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Johnson defends it well.
Johnson connects with a high kick.
Johnson works Hazlehurst's body with a nice hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. Hazlehurst does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hazlehurst feints the counter takedown.
Johnson leaves Hazlehurst with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hazlehurst shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnson counters with a stiff right hand.
Jeff Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hazlehurst backs up against the cage.
Daniel Hazlehurst is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hazlehurst is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hazlehurst on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Johnson lands with a good body shot.
Johnson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff 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 leaves Hazlehurst with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hazlehurst with a poor takedown
and Johnson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hazlehurst thinking.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.
Jeff Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Hazlehurst.
A good leg kick by Johnson.
Johnson throws a nice head kick!
Johnson lands with a straight right. Hazlehurst didn't see that one coming.
Hazlehurst avoids a punch combination nicely.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson tests Hazlehurst's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Johnson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Hazlehurst avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Johnson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hazlehurst.
Hazlehurst moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hazlehurst looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hazlehurst takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Hazlehurst closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Hazlehurst has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Hazlehurst isn't so interested in that idea.
Hazlehurst showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hazlehurst with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hazlehurst trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hazlehurst makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hazlehurst is controlling him.
Hazlehurst working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hazlehurst can do to turn this around?
Hazlehurst chips away with some ground and pound.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Hazlehurst is having none of it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hazlehurst throwing strikes from guard but Johnson blocks nicely.
Hazlehurst throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hazlehurst moves out of range as Johnson strikes.

Hazlehurst shoots in and gets a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Hazlehurst stops Johnson from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst works over Johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
Hazlehurst prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Johnson lands with a straight right. Hazlehurst didn't see that one coming.
Hazlehurst uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.
Johnson digs a good hook to Hazlehurst's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hazlehurst fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Hazlehurst takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A left lands for Johnson.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Hazlehurst drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Johnson defends it well.
Hazlehurst shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hazlehurst on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Hazlehurst shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Johnson pushes Hazlehurst off looking to stand but Hazlehurst dives back in and keeps control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Johnson!
An out of breath Jeff Johnson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.