PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fitch Johnson (ranked 25161 p4p, 6881 weight class) and Bubba Jackson (ranked 585 p4p, 553 weight class). Bubba Jackson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Johnson
vs
Jackson

200 cm
21
259
0 - 2 - 0

194 cm
18
255
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Fitch Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bubba Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jackson moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
Johnson looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Jackson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Jackson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johnson defends it nicely.
Jackson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Johnson checks it well.
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but Jackson 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 drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jackson sprawls and moves away.
Jackson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fitch Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bubba Jackson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Jackson gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Jackson.
Johnson moves to clinch but Jackson breaks away
and Jackson counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Jackson shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Jackson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Jackson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jackson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Johnson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jackson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johnson is defending well.

Jackson pulls guard successfully.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A right-left combo lands from Jackson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
Johnson working away.
Jackson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Jackson struggling a bit here.
Jackson dodges the ground and pound from Johnson.
Jackson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Johnson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Jackson gets back to full guard.
Jackson has his hands on Johnson's head, controlling the position.

Jackson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

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 missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jackson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jackson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Johnson tries to counter with a takedown but Jackson is quick to defend against it.
Jackson fails to land the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Johnson definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Jackson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Jackson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jackson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Johnson checks it well.
Johnson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bubba Jackson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Oooooh!!! Jackson has knocked Johnson down with a huge combo! Jackson steps away and waves a wobbly Johnson back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Johnson is rocked!

It looks like Fitch Johnson has been cut.

Jackson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Johnson manages to get underhooks.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Johnson manages to get underhooks.

Jackson gets control of Johnson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Jackson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Jackson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jackson seems keen to control Johnson's posture.
Jackson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jackson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Jackson is adopting a defensive guard.
Jackson is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
Bubba Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Fitch Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bubba Jackson.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Jackson.
Jackson dives in and grabs Johnson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes down on Jackson's head and hops out.

Jackson rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
Jackson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Jackson pulls guard.
Jackson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet but Johnson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Jackson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.

Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.
Johnson wants to stand but Jackson is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.
Johnson wants to stand but Jackson is controlling the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jackson is pushing down on Johnson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Johnson is fighting to maintain full guard but Jackson has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fitch Johnson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jackson 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 Jackson off to one side.

Jackson rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
Jackson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Jackson fails to pull guard.
Jackson is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Jackson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fitch Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bubba Jackson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Jackson shoots in.

Johnson darts in and clinches Jackson up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson pulls guard effortlessly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Jackson pulls Johnson in to control the position.
Jackson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Jackson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.
Johnson trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.

Jackson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two 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.
Jackson is trying to keep Johnson in close.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Jackson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jackson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jackson lands a slapping body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jackson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Johnson back to the cage. Jackson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jackson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jackson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Jackson wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jackson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Johnson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jackson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bubba Jackson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jackson working hard to break the clinch.
Fitch Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bubba Jackson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jackson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bubba Jackson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jackson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight for Bubba Jackson!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Bubba Jackson!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Bubba Jackson!

Bubba Jackson wins by unanimous decision!
Fitch Johnson spoke after the fight, saying 'hats off to my opponent'.