PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between David Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Quiron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
James

155 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, David Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Quiron James!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Johnson tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Johnson wants to clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around James's waist but James gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
James fails with the takedown.
James shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
David Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Quiron James.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.

James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson is trying to drag James to the mat but James just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Johnson tries to score a body lock takedown but James shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
James can't get the takedown.
James's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is working for takedown but Johnson is calmly controlling the position for now.
James looks gassed!
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Johnson has double underhooks.
Johnson tries to pull guard but James holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnson drops back down to his feet.
Johnson goes for a takedown in the clinch but James prevents it.
James stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.
James gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.
James prevents the takedown attempt.
James is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
James managing to block the knees to the body from Johnson.
Johnson prevents the takedown attempt.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent James's takedown attempt.
Johnson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
James managing to block the knees to the body from Johnson.
James 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James avoiding damage as Johnson throws knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Johnson is trying to maintain a safe position but James gets an underhook and turns Johnson into the cage.
James is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Johnson darts in trying to clinch

and James counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johnson!
James misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Johnson wants to control but James is having none of it.
James thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
James controlling his opponent.
James's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
James looking to control and managing it successfully.
James with the ground and pound from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Johnson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson tries to hold on but James pushes him away.
James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
James controlling the position easily from mount.
Let's hope that James 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 throwing hammer fists to the chest of James. What's that going to do exactly?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quiron James dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johnson's waist but Johnson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
James checks a low kick from Johnson.

Johnson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
James flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but James is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
James keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
James wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to control here.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
James tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
David Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Quiron James.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson wants to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by James which made him look bad.
Nice sprawl there from James as Johnson shoots in.
David Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

James drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
James controls the position.
James landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A lull in the action here.
James trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
James working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Despite being in the dominant position, Quiron James just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
James takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnson tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.

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 is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johnson tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
James closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. James pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from James.
Johnson tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson tries for a takedown but James sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Johnson fails to land the takedown.

James drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but James defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quiron James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson feints and as James raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
James utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
James trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Johnson has gone for a leg lock! James slips out almost immediately though and dives into Johnson's guard.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson trying to control the position.
James slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Johnson could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The referee asks James politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. James prefers to stall for the moment though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
James is holding on to half guard well.
James tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
James holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
James wants to get back to his feet.
James trying to control but Johnson postures up.
Ground and pound from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson throws a strike but James avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
James wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Johnson wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
James controlling the pace for now.
Johnson can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James punching from mount but Johnson doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.
James lands with some strikes.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound.
James misses with a head shot.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
James controlling the position easily from mount.
Johnson tries to hold on but James pushes him away.
Quiron James has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
James controlling from the full mount.

James looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Quiron James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James unloads with some shots from mount but Johnson bucks and avoids them well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson is desperately trying to improve his position but James has a good base and remains in mount.
James looking to ground and pound but Johnson is blocking nicely.
David Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Quiron James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got James 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Quiron James!