PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manny Johnson (ranked 300 p4p, 196 weight class) and Darwin Zambrano (ranked 46 p4p, 27 weight class). Johnson comes into the arena with On The Run blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Zambrano

188 cm
33
196
27 - 12 - 1

185 cm
29
185
14 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Manny Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Darwin Zambrano!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zambrano swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Zambrano shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnson scores with a jab. Zambrano acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Johnson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zambrano at a distance.
Zambrano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johnson.
Zambrano moves out of range as Johnson throws a body kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Zambrano has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zambrano drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Johnson defends it well.
Zambrano gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Zambrano darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Zambrano is proving a slippery customer.

Johnson kicks Zambrano off and gets to his feet.
Johnson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Johnson lunges at Zambrano with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Zambrano's hand.
Zambrano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.
A low kick from Johnson misses
and Zambrano counters with a nice uppercut.
Johnson throws a hook but Zambrano avoids it easily.
Johnson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Manny Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick

and Zambrano counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zambrano.

Zambrano has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Johnson regains guard immediately.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Zambrano controlling him for the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zambrano trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Zambrano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson controls Zambrano momentarily but Zambrano frees himself.
Zambrano throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson wants to stand but Zambrano is controlling the position.
Zambrano trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zambrano missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zambrano trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zambrano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson controls Zambrano momentarily but Zambrano frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zambrano wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Zambrano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Zambrano drops back looking for a leg! Johnson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Johnson manages to kick Zambrano off! Zambrano jumps back into Johnson's guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zambrano thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Johnson cracks Zambrano with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Zambrano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Manny Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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 throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zambrano shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zambrano's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Zambrano darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Johnson moves into full guard.
Zambrano looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zambrano lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zambrano passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Zambrano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Manny Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zambrano throws a lazy body kick
and Johnson counters with a slapping leg kick.

Zambrano closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Zambrano misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
Johnson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zambrano lands an uppercut.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Zambrano will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Zambrano walks into a left hand.
Johnson lands a jab.
Donk. Johnson catches Zambrano right on the button with a cross.
Zambrano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson throws a leg kick that misses.

Zambrano gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson kicks Zambrano off and gets back to his feet.
Zambrano staying out of range there.
Zambrano is looking to clinch.
Zambrano throws a sloppy head kick
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Zambrano has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Zambrano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnson's elbow.
Johnson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zambrano backwards.
Johnson lands with a light punch inside.
Zambrano blocking some punches.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zambrano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnson's elbow.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Zambrano ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Zambrano no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zambrano keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.

Zambrano working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.

Zambrano is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Johnson lands a jab.
Johnson misses with a leg kick
and Zambrano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zambrano tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zambrano avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zambrano can do to turn this around?

Zambrano changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Johnson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Johnson tries to improve position but can't.
Johnson is not content to let Zambrano control the position.
Johnson wants to control but Zambrano postures up.
Zambrano prevents Johnson from escaping the position.
Johnson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Zambrano is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zambrano is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnson's back!

Zambrano has managed to slip his arm under Johnson's chin. This could be all over... yep, Johnson is tapping out! Submission win for Zambrano.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Darwin Zambrano!
Darwin Zambrano was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.