PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jamar Johnson (ranked 4557 p4p, 4607 weight class) and Niko Bellicov (ranked 533 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Pop- Lil Uzi Vert. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnson
vs
Bellicov

195 cm
19
205
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
209
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jamar Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Niko Bellicov!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Bruno Lombardi and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bellicov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

It looks like Jamar Johnson has been cut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bellicov.
Bellicov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bellicov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Niko Bellicov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Johnson scores with a hook.
Bellicov staying out of range there.
Johnson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bellicov tries to clinch up

so Johnson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bellicov wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson controlling from the top position.

Bellicov has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Johnson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bellicov tries to clinch up.

Johnson has managed to clinch.

Bellicov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bellicov lands with an overhand left.
Bellicov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Johnson on the side of the head.
Bellicov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bellicov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Johnson. That did some damage!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bellicov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bellicov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Johnson rushes Bellicov and presses him up against the cage.
Bellicov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bellicov 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.
Jamar Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niko Bellicov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bellicov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Bellicov is looking to stand back up but Johnson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Bellicov.

Bellicov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Johnson throws a strike but Bellicov avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Bellicov wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Bellicov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bellicov is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Bellicov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bellicov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Johnson pulls Bellicov in close to his closed guard and prevents Bellicov from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Bellicov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jamar Johnson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Johnson gets a double leg takedown into Bellicov's guard.
Bellicov working a defensive guard here.
Bellicov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bellicov looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bellicov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bellicov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
An inside leg kick lands from Bellicov.
Bellicov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Johnson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Johnson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bellicov on his heels. He'll look to pass Bellicov's guard now, I'm sure.
Johnson cracks Bellicov with a solid left hand.
Bellicov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bellicov is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Johnson throws a strike but Bellicov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Johnson wants to stand up but Bellicov is controlling him.
Bellicov with a nice head shot there.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bellicov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bellicov throws a big elbow that misses.
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.
Bellicov working some strikes from top position.
Bellicov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bellicov working some strikes from top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bellicov throwing strikes but missing.
Bellicov trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bellicov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bellicov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bellicov connects with an inside leg kick.

Bellicov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bellicov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johnson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bellicov lands with a punch from half guard.
Johnson is staying active underneath Bellicov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bellicov on the ground.
Johnson has hold of Bellicov's hands but Bellicov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bellicov connects with a nice short shot to Johnson's temple.
Bellicov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bellicov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Bellicov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jamar Johnson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bellicov lands with a shot to the body.
Bellicov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Bellicov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bellicov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Bellicov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Bellicov keeps moving and retains side control.
Bellicov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
An elbow from Bellicov crashes against the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson is not content to let Bellicov control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bellicov working the ground and pound but Johnson is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is not content to let Bellicov control the position.
Bellicov throws a strike aimed at the side of Johnson's head but Johnson avoids it well.
Sloppy strikes there by Bellicov.
Bellicov lands a few punches from side control.
Bellicov cracks Johnson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bellicov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Johnson to see if he's OK.
Bellicov 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson dodges the ground and pound from Bellicov.
Bellicov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Bellicov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Bellicov moves into full mount!
Bellicov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Bellicov with the ground and pound from mount.
Johnson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Bellicov with good strikes from the mount here!
Bellicov connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Bellicov with shots to the head and body - Johnson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Niko Bellicov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bellicov in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Bellicov controlling from mount.
Bellicov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four 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.
Bellicov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Bellicov raining down hammerfists from mount.
Bellicov controlling from mount.
Niko Bellicov has got the better of the ground game so far.
A nice elbow there by Bellicov.
Jamar Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bellicov landing strikes from the mount.
Bellicov content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Bellicov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bellicov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niko Bellicov!
Jamar Johnson was interviewed post fight and said 'He was just the better fighter tonight! first fight in mma tho so ima be back on g'.