PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Remi Johnson (ranked 1415 p4p, 2518 weight class) and Ger McDonnell (ranked 187 p4p, 288 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Johnson
vs
McDonnell

174 cm
23
165
4 - 2 - 1

171 cm
25
160
5 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Remi Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Ger McDonnell!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonnell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in McDonnell's guard.

Johnson stands and steps away. McDonnell gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Johnson dives in and scores a takedown into McDonnell's guard.
McDonnell being controlled here, momentarily.
McDonnell keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but McDonnell blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McDonnell is on top in guard.

McDonnell looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

McDonnell looking to control.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. McDonnell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by McDonnell!

Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McDonnell is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonnell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to stand but McDonnell is controlling the position.
Johnson is looking to stand back up but McDonnell counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Johnson.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
McDonnell prevents Johnson from standing back up.
McDonnell is taking a breather. Johnson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Johnson is trying to stand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into guard.
McDonnell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonnell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson with a nice head shot there.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but McDonnell has wrist control.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McDonnell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonnell wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Remi Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Johnson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Johnson wants to control but McDonnell is keeping him busy.
McDonnell tries to buck Johnson off but Johnson is having none of it.

Johnson tries for a kimura but McDonnell is defending well.
Johnson grinds an elbow into McDonnell's temple.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
McDonnell is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

Johnson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Johnson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McDonnell can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is working McDonnell over with some ground and pound from side control.
Johnson wants to control but McDonnell is keeping him busy.

Johnson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Johnson tries to score with some ground and pound. McDonnell controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two 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.
Sloppy strikes there by Johnson.

Johnson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, McDonnell rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Johnson's guard! Nice work there by McDonnell!
Johnson keeping moving, preventing McDonnell from controlling successfully.
McDonnell prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing McDonnell from controlling successfully.
Johnson wants to stand up but McDonnell is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
McDonnell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Johnson pushes McDonnell off and gets back to his feet.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
Johnson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
McDonnell defending against the ground and pound.
McDonnell is working to avoid the ground and pound but Johnson connects with a decent elbow.
McDonnell managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Johnson.
McDonnell is trying to control Johnson's posture but Johnson avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Johnson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Johnson misses with the ground and pound.
Johnson controls the position from side control.

Johnson swings around for an armbar but McDonnell sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Johnson's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDonnell wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonnell stops Johnson from standing up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Remi Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

McDonnell slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
McDonnell lands with a hook. Johnson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and McDonnell cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in McDonnell's guard.
Johnson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Johnson with a nice head shot there.
McDonnell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McDonnell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but McDonnell has wrist control.
McDonnell working a defensive guard here.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ger McDonnell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonnell can't keep his opponent in guard - Johnson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Johnson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McDonnell can do to turn this around?
McDonnell is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McDonnell keeps trying to improve his position.
Johnson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Johnson drops an elbow to the side of McDonnell's head.
McDonnell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
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. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to McDonnell's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonnell is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
McDonnell tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Johnson working over McDonnell with some ground and pound. McDonnell looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
McDonnell trying to control from the bottom.

Johnson is working for a kimura here but McDonnell manages to reverse the position and he's now in Johnson's guard.
McDonnell prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.

Johnson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonnell misses with the head strike.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Remi Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McDonnell just misses with a punch to the body.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into McDonnell's guard.
Johnson postures up in McDonnell's guard and throws a big left but McDonnell blocks it.
Johnson distracts McDonnell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
McDonnell seems keen to control Johnson's posture.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McDonnell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
McDonnell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
McDonnell is adopting a defensive guard.
McDonnell 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 postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McDonnell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Remi Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Remi Johnson!
An out of breath Remi Johnson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.