PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Lesnar (ranked 23411 p4p, 4454 weight class) and Josh Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Johnson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Lesnar
vs
Johnson

178 cm
23
220
4 - 6 - 0

182 cm
24
210
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Lesnar!
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, Josh Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Bruno Lombardi and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lesnar rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.

Johnson manages to pull guard.

Lesnar got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lesnar has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lesnar can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johnson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Johnson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lesnar trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesnar preventing the sweep.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lesnar tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lesnar tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lesnar could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lesnar leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lesnar seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Lesnar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lesnar.
Lesnar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Despite the aggression on Johnson's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Lesnar fails in his attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Johnson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Johnson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lesnar is defended easily by Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lesnar looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Johnson!
Lesnar wants to stand but Johnson is controlling his arm.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.
An elbow from Lesnar crashes against the mat.
Johnson is not content to let Lesnar control the position.
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Lesnar from moving into mount.
Lesnar trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
Johnson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard but Lesnar has mounted him!
Lesnar controlling from mount.
Lesnar landing strikes, looking to finish!
Johnson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lesnar looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lesnar tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Lesnar isn't that keen on the idea.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Lesnar tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lesnar manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Lesnar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson avoids a kick to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Johnson! But no joy.
Lesnar shoots in but no luck this time.
John Lesnar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lesnar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Lesnar is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Johnson.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Lesnar keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesnar looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nice takedown defense from Johnson. No joy for Lesnar on that attempt.

Lesnar pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Lesnar prevents a takedown attempt there.
John Lesnar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Johnson.
Lesnar drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.
An inside leg kick from Johnson misses.
Lesnar darts in looking for a takedown but Johnson gets double underhooks and turns Lesnar into the cage.
Johnson tries to stall but Lesnar uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Lesnar has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Johnson uses from the top position.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Lesnar blocks nicely.
Lesnar wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.
Lesnar is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Johnson trying to control but Lesnar is working from the bottom.
Johnson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lesnar keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Lesnar sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lesnar rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
Lesnar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Johnson jumps guard but Lesnar stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lesnar is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lesnar tries for a takedown but Johnson manages to get underhooks.
Johnson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lesnar.

Lesnar pulls guard.

Johnson stands up from Lesnar's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a push kick but Lesnar slaps the foot to one side.
Lesnar wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lesnar drops down looking for a counter takedown but Johnson sprawls and moves away.

Johnson rushes Lesnar and presses him up against the cage.
Johnson avoiding damage as Lesnar throws knees to the body.
Lesnar is working for takedown but Johnson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lesnar after a bit of a struggle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lesnar has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Johnson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Johnson drags the fight down to the ground.

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

That was a close second round but I would say that John Lesnar will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lesnar shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd cheers as Lesnar lands an impressive looking overhand right. Johnson doesn't seem phased though.
Lesnar throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Lesnar moves out of range of the leg kick from Johnson.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lesnar throws an elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Lesnar is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Johnson to keep the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lesnar pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lesnar smiles and moves away.
John Lesnar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Johnson.

Lesnar looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson wants to stand back up but Lesnar manages to pass into side control.
Lesnar lands a few punches from side control.
Lesnar working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lesnar looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
John Lesnar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.
Lesnar moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Johnson to see if he's OK.
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard.
Lesnar scores with punches from side control.
Johnson is not content to let Lesnar control the position.
Lesnar controls the position.

That's four 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 control the position but he's not in luck - Lesnar easily slips into full mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Lesnar cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Lesnar landing shots from mount.
Lesnar wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
Lesnar looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lesnar controlling his opponent.
Lesnar trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Lesnar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lesnar 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Lesnar!