PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Li (ranked 24271 p4p, 6384 weight class) and Fitch Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 505 weight class). Li's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Space Cowboy. Fitch Johnson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Li
vs
Johnson

190 cm
23
217
0 - 7 - 0

200 cm
21
259
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Bruce Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Fitch Johnson!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Li bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Li seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Li uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnson.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Li.
Li backing away here, and Johnson unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Li slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Li is trying to keep an underhook but Johnson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Li's coaches at Tycoon Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Li controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li tries to kick Johnson off but Johnson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Li throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Johnson looks to land a strike but Li avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. Li uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Li!

Li controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Li works over Johnson with some ground and pound from guard.
Johnson is wriggling around but Li manages to pass to half guard.
Li scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li not doing much here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Li lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Li with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Johnson shoots in but Li avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Li darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Li prevents Johnson from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson pushes Li off but Li dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Li dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Li shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Johnson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Johnson pushes Li off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Li closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Li 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Li manages to pull guard.
Li is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Johnson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Johnson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Li's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Li tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson being controlled here momentarily.
Li is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

That's two 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 scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Li manages to mount him!
Johnson tries to buck Li off but he can't manage it.
Li controlling his opponent.
Li seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Johnson for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Li raining down hammerfists from mount.
Li looking to control and managing it successfully.
Li lands a big shot there that rocks Johnson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Johnson is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Li tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Johnson squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Johnson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Li controlling from mount.
Li landing shots from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Li 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 gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johnson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Li.
Johnson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Li blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li goes for a takedown in the clinch but Johnson prevents it.
Li on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Li goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Johnson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Li defends well and Johnson ends up having to push Li into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.

Li pulls guard effortlessly.
Li managing to control the position.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Li controlling the position.
Johnson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Li's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Li is on top in guard.

Johnson is looking to stand back up but Li counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Johnson.
Li is taking a breather. Johnson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Li has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Li is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Johnson is looking to get back to is feet but Li passes into side control.
Li just content to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson bucks up and tries to throw Li off but instead Li has got his back!

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Li showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Li, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Li!
In his post fight interview, Bruce Li gave a big smile as he said 'Thank you to my team, thank you to my trainers, thank you to my fans, without them, I don't have this victory, now I want to share this victory with you。'.
Fitch Johnson was interviewed post fight and said 'hats off to my opponent'.