PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joeseph Ballin (ranked 4592 p4p, 451 weight class) and Cameron Johnson (ranked 5088 p4p, 466 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Ballin
vs
Johnson

200 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

175 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joeseph Ballin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cameron Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson moves to clinch but Ballin breaks away
and Ballin counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ballin shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but Ballin 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 connects with a body shot that sends Ballin's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ballin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ballin is defended easily by Johnson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joeseph Ballin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ballin stalling in the clinch.
Ballin landing knees to the head.
Johnson stalling against the cage.

Johnson wants the takedown. Ballin is fighting it off but Johnson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ballin's guard against the cage.

Ballin pushes Johnson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Ballin shoots in but no luck this time.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Johnson wants to take the fight to the mat but Ballin manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson tightens his grip and picks Ballin up, before dumping him to the ground. Ballin manages to land in guard.
Ballin is looking to stand back up but Johnson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ballin.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Johnson working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Johnson decides to stand up.
Ballin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Ballin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
Ballin is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johnson is defending well.

Ballin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Ballin circles away and keeps his distance.

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ballin is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ballin is breathing heavily.
Ballin trying to control but Johnson postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Johnson is keen to just control but Ballin is a slippery customer.
Ballin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Johnson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ballin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four 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.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ballin circles away quickly and effectively.
Ballin fails with a takedown attempt.
Ballin wants to clinch.
Johnson is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Johnson misses with a jab to the body
and Ballin counters with a one-two to the body.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Ballin sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cameron Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cameron Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ballin clinches up against the cage.
Ballin wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Ballin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ballin holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson is trying to push Ballin away but Ballin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ballin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Johnson controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but Ballin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ballin wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ballin fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joeseph Ballin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ballin is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ballin down to the mat. Ballin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ballin manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Johnson jumps into guard, dragging Ballin to the mat.
Ballin won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.
Johnson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Ballin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johnson wants to stand up but Ballin is controlling him.
Ballin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ballin postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ballin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Ballin is controlling well.
Ballin stops Johnson from getting back to his feet.
We've been hearing that Ballin has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Johnson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Ballin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ballin with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four 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 can't keep his opponent in guard - Ballin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ballin stops Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.
Ballin stops Johnson from standing up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ballin tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ballin tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson tries a quick counter leg kick but Ballin is wise to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joeseph Ballin dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ballin has managed to clinch.
Ballin stalling in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Ballin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnson down to the mat. Johnson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Ballin.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.

Ballin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
Johnson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Ballin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ballin - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Ballin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson stops a takedown attempt from Ballin.
Ballin tries to score a body lock takedown but Johnson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joeseph Ballin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ballin manages to break the clinch.
Johnson swinging wildly here.
As Johnson tries to get set, Ballin tries to push him back and clinch up but Johnson manages to avoid the attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ballin or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnson, which made it look bad.
Johnson swinging wildly here.
Ballin 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 throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Johnson sprawls well. Johnson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ballin gets slowly back to his feet.
A little jabbing left from Johnson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ballin wants a takedown.
Ballin is trying to pull guard but Johnson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ballin manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Joeseph Ballin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Johnson stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent Ballin's takedown attempt.
Johnson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ballin is defending well.
Ballin gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch but Ballin is having none of it.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ballin is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Johnson.
Ballin tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Cameron Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ballin throws a big counter combination but Johnson scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Johnson wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ballin counters with a thumping low kick.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ballin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ballin is looking for a counter combo.
Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Ballin darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.
Johnson tries to circle away but Ballin has him pinned against the cage.
Ballin tries to score a body lock takedown but Johnson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ballin is trying to drag Johnson to the mat but Johnson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Johnson lands a takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cameron Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Cameron Johnson!