PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ezekiel Johnson (ranked 3875 p4p, 4576 weight class) and Walter Conway (ranked 417 p4p, 466 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Johnson
vs
Conway

175 cm
26
185
2 - 3 - 0

225 cm
27
187
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ezekiel Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Walter Conway!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Steve Montenegro and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Conway counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.

Conway tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.

Conway tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Conway is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johnson has escaped the position, nice work there.

Conway thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Conway is trying to get an arm triangle but Johnson is defending well.

Conway tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Conway swings around for an armbar but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Conway's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johnson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Conway, up you get!
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson misses with the combination.
And Conway tries to counter it with a takedown but Johnson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Johnson throws a right hand that Conway ducks under and follows up with a left that Conway also avoids with ease.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Conway takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Conway sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Conway drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Johnson defends it well.
Conway is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Conway bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson throws a right hand that Conway ducks under and follows up with a left that Conway also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Conway with the counter takedown but Johnson avoids it easily.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Conway counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Conway drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Johnson dives on top into guard.

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

Conway passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Conway 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. Conway eventually gives up the hold.
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 Ezekiel Johnson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Conway uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnson.
Conway drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Johnson defends it well.
Conway slips a jab and a cross from Johnson.
And Conway tries to counter it with a takedown but Johnson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Johnson misses with a combination

and Conway counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Johnson uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Conway counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Conway is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Johnson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Johnson has escaped and now he's on top!

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Conway is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Conway has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Conway throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Conway is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Conway preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Conway has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between Conway's legs - danger averted.

Conway is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Johnson landing with the ground and pound.

Conway is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Conway is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Conway won't let him.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnson distracts Conway with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Conway can do anything to dispel that myth.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Conway is proving hard to escape from.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Conway works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Conway looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Johnson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Johnson wanted to stand there but Conway had control of the position.
Conway working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Walter Conway has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. Conway uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Conway!

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 Ezekiel Johnson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Conway circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Conway counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Johnson!
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Conway is dominant here and he's now got Johnson's back!

Johnson is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Conway gets his way!

Conway is persistently looking for the submission but Johnson is defending it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to stand back up.

Conway working for a choke but Johnson is defending well.

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.

Conway is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Johnson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Johnson for a finish.

Conway patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson showing good submission defense here.

Johnson fending off the submission attempt from Conway.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but Conway has full control of the position and if anything, Johnson has just worked his way into a worse spot.

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.

Conway is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Johnson is defending well though. Conway let's go of the attempt for now.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but Conway has full control of the position and if anything, Johnson has just worked his way into a worse spot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Walter Conway comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ezekiel Johnson!