PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Mark Steve (ranked 1820 p4p, 5750 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (ranked 39 p4p, 122 weight class). Steve kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Its a fine day to whoop somebodies ass. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Steve
vs
Johnson

190 cm
32
210
25 - 11 - 0

189 cm
31
216
26 - 20 - 1

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Dr Zoidberg Office

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Steve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 20 - 1, fighting out of New York, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steve walks into a stiff left hand from Johnson.
Johnson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Johnson misses with a double jab.

Steve pushes Johnson up against the ropes in a clinch.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Steve has the dominant position.
Steve lands a right hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
A shot in the inside from Steve.
Steve tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson blocking some punches.
Still in the clinch, Johnson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Steve is leaning against Johnson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Steve scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson throws the left hand but Steve avoids the punch easily.
Steve swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Johnson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Steve connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Steve's shoulder, as Steve tries to avoid the shot.
A big left from Steve misses.
A jab from Steve does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a jab but it's blocked by Steve.
Johnson lands a head shot.
Steve fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Steve throwing a counter right hand but Johnson manages to avoid it.
A big left from Johnson misses.
Steve connects with the punch.

Steve has managed to clinch.
Johnson misses with a hook to the ribs.

Steve manages to break the clinch.
Nice body kick from Steve.
Steve ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Steve appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Steve scores with a leg kick.
Steve looks to throw the jab but Johnson is out of range.
Steve throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steve moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Steve.
Steve blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steve lands a body punch.
Steve tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Steve lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Steve lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Steve creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A shot in the inside from Johnson.
Steve lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Still in the clinch, Steve scores with a nice short uppercut.
Steve tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Steve blocks a body shot from Johnson.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johnson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right from Steve on the inside.
Steve lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steve lands a right hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Steve dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
It looked like Steve wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Steve.
Steve tries to land a leg kick but Johnson saw it coming and moves away.
Steve on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Johnson clobbers Steve with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Steve avoids a punch combination nicely.
Steve is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Steve takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Johnson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses the jab.

Steve instigates a clinch.
Johnson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Steve prevents a body shot from Johnson.
A short right from Steve on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mark Steve has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Steve avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the ropes.
Steve lands a hook that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Steve working aggressively here.

Steve's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nice defenses there by Steve.
Steve catches Johnson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Johnson throws a jab but it's blocked by Steve.
Steve is looking to counter punch.
Steve avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Steve.
Steve fails in his attempt to clinch.
Steve throws a body shot but no joy.
Steve dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
A counter left hand to the body from Steve misses its target.
Anthony Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson swings for the body but Steve moves out of range.
Steve lands a body shot.
We've been told by Steve's head coaches at Roosters Coop that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Johnson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Steve.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. Steve does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steve tried to counter with a leg kick but Johnson avoided it.
Johnson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Johnson throws a shot to the body.
Johnson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Steve scores with a jab to the jaw.
Johnson jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Steve throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A nice leg kick lands there from Steve.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Steve dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Steve misses with a wild body shot.
Mark Steve is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
Steve is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
A counter left hand to the body from Steve misses its target.
Johnson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Steve avoids it well.
Johnson looks to throw the jab but Steve is out of range.
Steve avoids a punch combination nicely.
Steve was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a body shot
and Steve connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.
It looked like Steve was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Steve lands with an uppercut that bounces Johnson off the ropes and back into range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
A nice side step and Johnson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Steve is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
Steve wants to clinch.
Anthony Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steve tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Steve dips to his left and cracks Johnson with an uppercut!
Johnson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Steve is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve scores with a leg kick.
Steve stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mark Steve is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson lands with a nice body punch.
Steve lands a lovely overhand right.
Steve moves away from the strike by Johnson.
Johnson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steve throws a one two combo.
Steve moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Steve rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mark Steve.
Well Steve 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Steve!