PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between michael johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Koshcheck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that michael johnson has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily michael johnson seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

johnson
vs
Koshcheck

171 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

178 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, michael johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Koshcheck!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Jonathan Paton and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
johnson misses with a head kick.

johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
johnson tries to pull guard but Koshcheck won't allow it.
Koshcheck has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. johnson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Koshcheck 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 is trying to force a seperation but Koshcheck has the dominant position.
johnson wants to stall.

Koshcheck tightens his grip and picks johnson up, before dumping him to the ground. johnson manages to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
johnson wants to stand but Koshcheck is controlling the position.

Koshcheck drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Koshcheck jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Koshcheck is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Koshcheck chips away with some ground and pound.
Koshcheck missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koshcheck throws and elbow that misses. johnson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Koshcheck's guard. Nice move by johnson!

johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
johnson is breathing heavily.

Koshcheck escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Koshcheck has a closed guard, preventing johnson from standing up.
johnson trying to control but Koshcheck is working from the bottom.

Koshcheck looking for a guillotine here but johnson defends easily.
johnson preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koshcheck looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! johnson has picked Koshcheck up and slammed him! Koshcheck can't keep hold of the triangle and johnson manages to pass to side control!
johnson gets to mount! Koshcheck was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
johnson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Koshcheck working to try and regain half guard.
Koshcheck is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
johnson working the ground and pound effectively.
Koshcheck is trying desperately to improve position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Koshcheck can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
johnson landing strikes, looking to finish!

johnson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
johnson prevents Koshcheck from getting the reversal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koshcheck manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Koshcheck looking for submissions off his back.

Koshcheck looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Koshcheck actively working from the bottom here.

That's four 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.
johnson prevents Koshcheck from improving his position.

Koshcheck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Koshcheck makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Koshcheck.

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

Koshcheck 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.

Koshcheck had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. johnson defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Koshcheck dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Koshcheck fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Koshcheck swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

johnson has closed the distance and engaged Koshcheck in a clinch.
Koshcheck goes for a takedown in the clinch but johnson prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Koshcheck keeps control of johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koshcheck has hold of one of johnson's legs. johnson is fighting the takedown attempt but Koshcheck gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Koshcheck throws a strike but johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Koshcheck working for submissions but it's allowed johnson to get to half guard.

Koshcheck looking for submissions off his back.
johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koshcheck is not content to let johnson control the position.
Koshcheck wants to improve his position but johnson is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koshcheck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Koshcheck actively working from the bottom here.

johnson seems to be looking for submissions.
johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

johnson gets caught flat footed, as Koshcheck shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Koshcheck landing with the ground and pound.
Koshcheck throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koshcheck stops johnson from standing up.
johnson is trying to control the position but Koshcheck postures up.
Koshcheck missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
johnson wants to stand but Koshcheck is controlling the position.

Koshcheck drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Koshcheck jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
johnson throws a series of punches but Koshcheck avoids them all with ease.

Koshcheck throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. johnson was covering up waiting for the punch and Koshcheck finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koshcheck postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
johnson working a defensive guard here.

Koshcheck drops back looking for a leg! johnson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and johnson manages to kick Koshcheck off! Koshcheck jumps back into johnson's guard.
Koshcheck throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koshcheck missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Koshcheck distracts johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

johnson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Koshcheck off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Koshcheck showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Koshcheck scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Koshcheck has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Koshcheck working the head and body with strikes.
johnson is looking to escape.
johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Koshcheck is working away from the top position though.

Koshcheck is looking for a kimura here.
johnson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Koshcheck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koshcheck is thwarting johnson's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koshcheck is nestled in close to johnson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Koshcheck seems to be working for a kimura but johnson defends the submission attempt.
johnson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Koshcheck scores with a couple of nice shots.
Koshcheck working johnson over with strikes.

johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two 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.

Koshcheck wants to work for an arm triangle but johnson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Koshcheck throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Josh Koshcheck has got the better of the ground game so far.

Koshcheck is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
johnson wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
johnson throws a half hearted mid kick.

Koshcheck closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Koshcheck lands in his opponent's guard.
johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Koshcheck is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koshcheck lands a couple of elbows.
Koshcheck pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. johnson is keeping the position for now.

Koshcheck has gone for a leg lock! johnson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Koshcheck's guard.

Koshcheck looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Koshcheck throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
johnson looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koshcheck has his foot on johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. johnson works his way back into a safe position though.
johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Koshcheck working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
michael johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Koshcheck is proving hard to escape from.
Koshcheck tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Koshcheck looking for subs off his back but johnson has passed one foot through into half guard.
Josh Koshcheck is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Koshcheck keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Koshcheck comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Koshcheck winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Koshcheck!