PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manny Johnson (ranked 583 p4p, 1928 weight class) and Kevin Jones (ranked 77 p4p, 241 weight class). Johnson's entrance music is On The Run . A fine choice. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Johnson
vs
Jones

188 cm
36
196
31 - 16 - 2

184 cm
27
198
11 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

The Pharmacy Phuket
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

FUClothing
Conviction

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 31 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Manny Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kevin Jones!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson connects with a leg kick.
Johnson lands a head shot.
Jones throws a right hand that misses
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.
Jones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Johnson looks to throw the jab but Jones is out of range.
And Jones tries to counter it with a takedown but Johnson pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Jones shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jones showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Jones is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Johnson is trying to stand back up but Jones is controlling him
Jones has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jones looks to land a strike but Johnson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones cracks Johnson with a solid left hand.
Jones trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.
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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
My spies in Gym inform me that Jones has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Johnson keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.
Jones is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson pulls Jones in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jones wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson is looking to stand back up but Jones counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Johnson.
Johnson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jones slips nicely into half guard.
Johnson won't allow Jones to pass to mount.

Jones is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jones lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to stand back up but Jones is controlling him
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. Jones connects with a nice short shot to Johnson's temple.
Johnson is looking to escape.
Johnson is in trouble now - Jones has advanced to mount!
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Jones trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones content just to control the position here.
Johnson tries to hold on but Jones postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson regains half guard.
Johnson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones not doing much here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Jones dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnson lands with an overhand left.
Jones shoots and misses
and Jones takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jones with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Johnson to score with a decent uppercut.
Johnson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Jones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones misses the jab.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnson is looking to counter punch.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jones sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Manny Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Jones misses with a looping left.
Jones misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones shoots in and bounces Johnson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Jones postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Jones is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Jones postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson looking to control.
Jones postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson's brow.
Jones won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Jones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position.
Jones pushes down on Johnson's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Jones is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Jones perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Jones takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Jones is trying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Jones has control of the leg.
Jones thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is just content to waste time from the top position. Johnson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.

Johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jones is aware though and is defending well.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Jones isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Jones stops Johnson from standing up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Johnson.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jones tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jones.
A jab from Johnson does it's job there.
Jones shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson fires out a quick counter leg kick but Jones just manages to avoid it.
Manny Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Jones.
Johnson throws a low kick but Jones moves out of range easily.
Jones ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.

Johnson tries to sprawl but Jones drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Jones sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.
Jones wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Jones passes the guard and advances to mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jones looking to control but Johnson is working nicely, looking to advance position 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 Manny Johnson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jones shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but Jones keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Johnson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson scores with a jab to the head.
Jones will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Johnson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jones's sensitive parts.
Jones misses with a hook.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Johnson appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Manny Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Jones.
Johnson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a hook

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson is being controlled here.
Johnson prevents Jones from moving into mount.
Johnson regains half guard, as Jones was trying to land strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones is working for a submission of some sort.

Jones is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnson is just riding it out for now. Jones eventually gives up the hold.
Jones controlling the action here.
Jones is pressing down on Johnson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Johnson is holding on for now.

That's two 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.
Jones seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Johnson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jones not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jones wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Jones prevents Johnson from standing back up.
Jones is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jones throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Johnson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johnson punishes Jones's body with a nice straight punch.
That kick from Johnson tenderised Jones's leg. Jones is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Johnson.
Jones tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Johnson defends well and Jones ends up having to push Johnson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
Johnson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Manny Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jones darts in looking for a takedown but Johnson gets double underhooks and turns Jones into the cage.
Johnson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Johnson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Jones gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jones throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Jones moves away and avoids it.
Johnson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Manny Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson throws the left hand but Jones avoids the punch easily.
Jones closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters circle momentarily. Jones darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A good leg kick by Johnson.
Jones throws an off balance right hand
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.
Jones looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
It looked like Johnson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Johnson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Jones has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Jones misses with a takedown
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice leg kick lands there from Johnson.
Jones's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Johnson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Johnson dips to his left and cracks Jones with an uppercut!
Johnson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A big right from Johnson misses.

Jones has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

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