PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between AJ Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and billy joyce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's entrance music is money maker. A fine choice. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Johnson
vs
joyce

178 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, AJ Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, billy joyce!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson wants to clinch.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson 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 fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. joyce tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag joyce to the ground. joyce escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AJ Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson blocks a head kick by joyce.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but joyce sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but joyce swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
joyce misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for joyce.
joyce stuffs the takedown.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but joyce swivels and escapes.
joyce fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nice takedown defense from joyce. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from joyce. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but joyce paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

joyce moves into the clinch.

joyce manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson wants to control from the top but joyce keeps moving.
joyce seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Johnson stops joyce from standing up.
Johnson trying to control but joyce is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

joyce pushes Johnson off and scrambles back to his feet.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but joyce swivels and escapes.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson misses with a body kick.
Johnson blocks the body kick.

joyce gets a clinch.

joyce manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a predictable looking body shot

and joyce decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
joyce must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
joyce makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
joyce controlling from the top position.
Let's hope that joyce has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but joyce can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

billy joyce dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson misses with a takedown

and joyce counters with a shoot takedown. Johnson fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
joyce makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
joyce slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
joyce pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
joyce is stalling in the full guard.
joyce preventing the sweep.

joyce stands up from Johnson's guard - joyce perhaps looking for a knockout.
Johnson misses with a kick to the body

and joyce counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
joyce wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Johnson trying to control here.
Johnson is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute joyce jumps into side control!
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but joyce keeps moving and retains side control.
Johnson gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to control joyce's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnson avoid being mounted?
Johnson wants to improve his position but joyce is controlling well.
joyce is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Johnson tries to roll over but joyce keeps him under control.

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 regains full guard. Nicely done.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
joyce controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

billy joyce showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson tries to clinch
and joyce cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johnson wants to clinch but joyce slips to the side
and joyce counters with a nice kick to the body.

joyce rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
joyce can't break the clinch.
joyce wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.

joyce escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson wants to clinch but joyce slips to the side
and joyce counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
joyce misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and joyce counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A head kick by Johnson misses

and joyce counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Johnson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.

Johnson pushes joyce off and gets back to his feet.
Johnson throws a body punch but joyce moves out of range.
Johnson tries for a takedown but joyce circles away easily

and joyce counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Johnson's guard now.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
joyce tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working a defensive guard here.
joyce sitting in guard here, content to control.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst joyce is controlling him.

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but joyce can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
joyce stands up over Johnson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Johnson is trying to control the position but joyce postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

joyce closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

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

joyce clinches with his opponent.
Johnson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Johnson is trying to maintain a safe position but joyce gets an underhook and turns Johnson into the cage.

joyce breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails with the takedown

and joyce counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by joyce.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AJ Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but joyce is having none of it.

joyce decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Johnson, up you get!
Johnson with a poor takedown
and joyce counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
AJ Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

joyce closes the distance and clinches.
AJ Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
billy joyce is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
joyce wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Johnson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics joyce uses from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
billy joyce comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well joyce 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... billy joyce!