PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Earl Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Werner Von Braun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Earl Johnson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Johnson
vs
Von Braun

189 cm
19
182 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Earl Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Werner Von Braun!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Anthony Taglia and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Werner Von Braun seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Von Braun misses with a looping left.
Johnson checks a leg kick nicely.
Von Braun scoring well with a low kick there.
Von Braun dives in and grabs Johnson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes down on Von Braun's head and hops out.
Johnson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Von Braun counters with an outside leg kick.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Von Braun.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Von Braun.
Nice uppercut lands for Von Braun. That snapped Johnson's head back.
Johnson checks a low kick from Von Braun.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Von Braun takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Von Braun throws a leg kick but Johnson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Johnson throws a combination that misses
and Von Braun counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Von Braun circles away.

Johnson has Von Braun up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson lands a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Von Braun misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Von Braun has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Johnson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Von Braun blocks it with crossed arms.
Johnson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Johnson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Von Braun's face.
Von Braun manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Johnson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Johnson with a knee to the head.
Von Braun is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Von Braun has his back to the cage.
Johnson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Von Braun's face.
Johnson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Johnson tries to land knees in the clinch but Von Braun avoids the damage to the body.
Johnson has Von Braun pressed against the cage, preventing Von Braun from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Von Braun has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Johnson looking to stall.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Von Braun goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Von Braun.
Johnson lands a nice looking body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Von Braun avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Von Braun looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Earl Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Werner Von Braun.

Von Braun shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Johnson is trying to defend but Von Braun finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Von Braun.
Johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Von Braun is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Von Braun on the ground.
Von Braun missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Von Braun landing with the ground and pound.
Von Braun with a flurry of punches that miss.
Von Braun stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
Von Braun throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Johnson looking to control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson scores with a leg kick.
Von Braun closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Von Braun pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Von Braun makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Johnson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Von Braun circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Von Braun avoids nicely.

Johnson gets caught flat footed, as Von Braun shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Earl Johnson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.

Von Braun shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Von Braun missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Von Braun blocks the strikes from Johnson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Von Braun throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Von Braun sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.
Von Braun not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson is looking for a sweep. Von Braun is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Von Braun not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is staying active underneath Von Braun, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Von Braun has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Johnson scores with a body shot.
Von Braun throws the kick towards the body but Johnson avoids it.
Nice body punch from Johnson.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnson tries to move into range but Von Braun moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Von Braun throws a solid leg kick but Johnson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Von Braun.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Von Braun circles away.
Von Braun throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson tries to clinch but Von Braun moves out of range.

Johnson rushes Von Braun and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson lands a good knee to the midsection. Von Braun won't want to take too many of those.
Von Braun looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but Von Braun blocks with his arms.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Von Braun.
Von Braun taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson connects with a knee to the head.
Von Braun is breathing heavily.
Johnson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Von Braun's face.

It looks like Werner Von Braun has been cut.
Johnson has Von Braun pressed against the cage, preventing Von Braun from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Von Braun tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Johnson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Von Braun has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Von Braun's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Von Braun lands a with a good body shot.
Von Braun throws the left hand but Johnson avoids the punch easily.
Johnson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Von Braun misses with a double jab
and Johnson counters with a three punch combo that has Von Braun backing up. Von Braun nods at Johnson to acknowledge the strikes.
Johnson slips under a jab from Von Braun.
Von Braun throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Von Braun misses with a jab, cross combination.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Von Braun.
Johnson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Von Braun escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Von Braun throws a leg kick
and Johnson counters with a head kick.
Von Braun closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A shot to de liver by Von Braun. Beautiful body shot.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Von Braun has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Johnson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Johnson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Johnson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Johnson lands a nice elbow.
Johnson scores a nice knee to the body.
Johnson stalling against the cage.
Johnson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Johnson lands a knee to the head.
Von Braun is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Johnson is keeping busy.
Von Braun takes an elbow to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Von Braun. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.

Johnson forces Von Braun back against the cage and clinches.
Johnson lands a knee to the head.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Von Braun.
Von Braun avoiding damage.
Von Braun lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Von Braun misses with a punch to the body.
Von Braun drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Johnson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Earl Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Werner Von Braun.
Von Braun misses with a body punch.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent Von Braun's takedown attempt.
Johnson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Von Braun's face.
Johnson lands an elbow inside that Von Braun shrugs off.
Johnson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Johnson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Von Braun lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Von Braun drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Johnson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Von Braun counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Earl Johnson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Werner Von Braun's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! 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.

Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Von Braun makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Von Braun swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Earl Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice takedown defense from Johnson. No joy for Von Braun on that attempt.
Johnson darts in trying to clinch

and Von Braun counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.
Von Braun throws an elbow but Johnson slips to the side and avoids it well.
Von Braun sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Johnson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The strikes coming from Von Braun are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Von Braun working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Von Braun grinds an elbow into Johnson's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to bench press Von Braun off him but Von Braun keeps the position.
Von Braun sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Johnson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Von Braun misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Von Braun throws a leg kick

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
Von Braun tries for a takedown. No joy.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Johnson is trying to maintain a safe position but Von Braun gets an underhook and turns Johnson into the cage.

Von Braun breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Von Braun looks to throw a body kick

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson looking to slow down the pace here.
Von Braun is trying to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson prevents the takedown attempt.
Earl Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Werner Von Braun.
Von Braun is leaning against Johnson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Von Braun gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Von Braun misses with a head shot. Johnson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Johnson is trying to keep Von Braun in close.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Von Braun from controlling successfully.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Von Braun content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Von Braun trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Von Braun accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Von Braun scoring with punches to the head and body.
Von Braun missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Von Braun lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Von Braun.
Von Braun swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Johnson.
Johnson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Johnson landing knees to the head.
Johnson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Von Braun is trying to force a seperation but Johnson has the dominant position.
Johnson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Von Braun is defending well for now.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Von Braun breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Von Braun throws a left and a right that both miss

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson is trying to maintain a safe position but Von Braun gets an underhook and turns Johnson into the cage.
Von Braun avoiding damage as Johnson throws knees to the body.
Von Braun looking for a takedown.
Werner Von Braun has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Von Braun blocks it with crossed arms.
Johnson leaning against his opponent.
Johnson trying to land knees to the body.
Johnson prevents Von Braun from breaking the clinch.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Von Braun has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Von Braun goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Von Braun lands a takedown into guard.
Von Braun throwing strikes but missing.
Von Braun postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Werner Von Braun 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!