PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kareem Johnson (ranked 278 p4p, 459 weight class) and Ray Luciano (ranked 42 p4p, 71 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Luciano's choice of entrance music: SHORT PEOPLE. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Luciano

186 cm
26
185
14 - 5 - 0

187 cm
27
187
14 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

New Standard
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

HELLBENT

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kareem Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Luciano!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson thows a leg kick but Luciano checks it
and Luciano counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.

Luciano gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Luciano scores with a nice hook to the head.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Luciano has the dominant position.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Luciano has him pressed against the cage.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Luciano loads up on a big right hand but Johnson slips the punch.
Johnson scores with a body shot.
Luciano wants to clinch
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Luciano bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson struggling a bit here.

Luciano looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face as Luciano controls the position.

Luciano tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.

Luciano goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Johnson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Luciano but great work by Johnson.
You can see the frustration on Luciano's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Luciano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Johnson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Johnson working away.
Luciano is looking for a sweep.
Luciano looking for a sweep but Johnson has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Luciano felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Luciano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Luciano has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Luciano can't escape the position.
Luciano is still trying to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano wants to control his opponent's hands but Johnson gets his hands free.
You can see the frustration on Luciano's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Johnson controls the action.
Johnson controlling well, preventing Luciano from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Johnson doesn't have the hooks in and Luciano manages to turn into his guard.
Johnson has control of Luciano's left arm, preventing Luciano from doing any damage.
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 Kareem Johnson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Johnson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Luciano slips a jab from Johnson.
Johnson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Luciano counters with a straight right hand.
Luciano scores with a jab to the body.
Luciano tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson connects with a body shot that sends Luciano's belly button to the back.
Luciano throws a jab when Johnson was well out of range.
Johnson moves out of range of the body kick from Luciano.
Johnson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Luciano has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a leg kick
and Luciano counters with a straight right hand.
Luciano lands a nice shot to the body.
Luciano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johnson appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Luciano moves away from the strike by Johnson.
Johnson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Luciano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano staying out of range there.
Johnson misses with a hook. Luciano ducked under it nicely.
And Luciano responds with a good body kick, but Johnson manages to step out the way in time.
Johnson thumps Luciano with a low kick.
Luciano takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Johnson avoids a kick to the body.
Luciano walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Johnson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Johnson swings for the body but Luciano moves out of range.
Luciano wants to counter with a clinch but Johnson pushes him away.
Luciano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnson.
A nice leg kick from Johnson, right into the meat of the thigh.
Luciano misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd cheers as Johnson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Luciano doesn't seem phased though.
Johnson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Johnson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lucianos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Luciano uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano misses with a leg kick
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Luciano misses the target.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Johnson with a nice calf kick.
Luciano misses with a body shot.
Luciano moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Johnson misses with a straight left.
Luciano looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Johnson throws a looping overhand right but Luciano ducks down to avoid it.
Kareem Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Donk. Luciano catches Johnson right on the button with a cross.
Luciano wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Johnson takes a swing at Luciano's ribcage but misses.
Johnson loads up on a big right hand but Luciano slips the punch.
Luciano throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Luciano throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson connects with a single shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano throws a looping overhand right but Johnson ducks down to avoid it.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Luciano.
Johnson explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kareem Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Luciano.
Luciano connects with a right hand. Johnson shakes it off.
Good leg kick by Johnson.
Johnson moves out of range as Luciano throws a body kick.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Luciano tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Luciano shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Luciano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnson.
Luciano stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano is looking to score with low kicks.
Johnson drops his hands momentarily and Luciano takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Luciano uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnson.
Luciano has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Luciano there as he acknowledges the shot.
Johnson jabs Luciano to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Johnson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnson throws a jab when Luciano was well out of range.
A nice leg kick from Johnson, right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Luciano counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnson misses with a body kick.
Johnson lets loose with a powerful body kick. Luciano will feel that in the morning.
A left lands for Johnson.
Johnson thows a body kick. Luciano tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Luciano misses with a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kareem Johnson dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Luciano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Johnson misses with a left hand
and Luciano counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Luciano wants to counter the offense by Johnson and move into the clinch position.
Luciano swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Luciano down.
Luciano looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Luciano checks a leg kick nicely.
Luciano scores with a punch to the head.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Luciano moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Luciano tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson takes a swing at Luciano's ribcage but misses.

Luciano clinches with his opponent.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano works on Johnson's body with a couple of short punches.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Luciano. Luciano obviously looking to wear him down.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Luciano moves away and avoids it.
Luciano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Luciano is out of range and Johnson settles back down.
Luciano tries to counter by closing the distance.
Johnson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
Johnson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Luciano checks a leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Johnson.
Luciano loads up on a big right hand but Johnson slips the punch.
Luciano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Luciano throws a solid leg kick but Johnson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Luciano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano moves out of range of the body kick from Johnson.
Johnson sizes up Luciano with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Johnson connects with an inside leg kick.
Johnson lands with a straight right. Luciano didn't see that one coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson is looking to slow Luciano down with leg kicks.
Luciano swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Luciano. That's going to slow Johnson down.
The fighters circle momentarily. Johnson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Luciano drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ray Luciano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Johnson sets himself, and Luciano steps forward looking for the clinch! Johnson avoids it this time.
Johnson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Luciano goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kareem Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luciano shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Johnson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Johnson blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws the left hand but Luciano avoids the punch easily.
Johnson missing with a left hand there. Luciano was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnson scores with a leg kick.
Johnson misses the jab.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Johnson.
Luciano checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Luciano connects with the punch.
Kareem Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

It looks like Kareem Johnson has been cut.
Luciano throws a leg kick but Johnson moved away.
Johnson tries a low kick but Luciano avoids it.
Johnson scoring well with a low kick there.
Johnson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Luciano displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johnson throws out the jab.
Luciano moves away from the strike by Johnson.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Luciano sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thuds his shin into the meat of Luciano's side.
Luciano fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Johnson.
Luciano misses with a right hand
and Johnson counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Luciano on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Johnson tries to score with a low kick but Luciano moves his leg out of the way.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Luciano moves away.
Jab from Johnson.
Johnson walks into a stiff left hand from Luciano.
Johnson connects with a jab.
Johnson jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Luciano throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Luciano looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Luciano can do to turn this around?

Luciano is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kareem 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kareem Johnson!
Kareem Johnson decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.