PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leandro Espada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Espada comes to the cage accompanied by "Juice" by Rakim. The key to victory for Leandro Espada has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Espada
vs
Johnson

186 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

193 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Leandro Espada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Reed Andrews and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Johnson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Espada looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Espada fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Espada swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Espada.
Ray Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Johnson throws an elbow but Espada slips to the side and avoids it well.
Johnson grinds an elbow into Espada's temple.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Espada is breathing heavily.
Johnson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Johnson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Espada is avoiding damage well.
Check out the look on Johnson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Johnson decides to stand back up.
Johnson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Espada thows a leg kick but Johnson checks it

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
Johnson scoring with punches from side control.
Johnson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Espada knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Espada is working to avoid the ground and pound but Johnson connects with a decent elbow.
Espada takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Johnson stands up and beckons Espada to his feet.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Espada to the mat! Espada manages to get full guard.
Johnson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Johnson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Johnson.

Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Espada on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Espada takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Espada tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Johnson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Johnson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Espada throws and low kick but Johnson moves out of range easily.
Espada doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Johnson digs a good body shot into Espada's ribs.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Espada down.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espada makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Espada.

Espada wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd cheers as Johnson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Espada doesn't seem phased though.
Horrible takedown by Espada or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnson which made him look bad.
Johnson tries to bum rush Espada with a series of wild strikes but Espada uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnson works the jab nicely.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Espada trying to control but Johnson postures up.
Espada tries to kick Johnson off but Johnson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espada is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Espada avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.

Johnson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Espada throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Espada.
Espada chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Johnson can pounce on him.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnson wants to stand but Espada has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Espada wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Espada works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Espada throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Johnson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Johnson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Johnson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Espada moves out of range.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Espada napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Johnson working the body and head with strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Espada dodges the ground and pound from Johnson.

Johnson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Johnson blocks the leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Johnson.
Espada looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Espada counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
Johnson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Espada looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
Espada is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Johnson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ray Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Espada slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Espada is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espada fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson is looking to score with low kicks.
Johnson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Espada tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Johnson cracks Espada with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Espada misses with the combination.

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Espada is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Espada is trying to stand back up but Johnson is controlling him

Johnson decides to stand and escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Johnson decides to stand and escape the position.
Espada shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Espada defending well though.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Johnson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
The fight stays on the outside here - Espada looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Espada tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Johnson is in close to Espada's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson cracks Espada with a solid left hand.
Espada trying to control the position.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.
Johnson stops Espada from standing up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson jabs at Espada's body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson scores with a sloppy right hand. Espada should have avoided that one.

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Espada lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Johnson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Espada at a distance.

Johnson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Espada's half guard.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Johnson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Johnson catches Espada with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Espada avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Espada is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Johnson.
Nice defenses there by Johnson.

Johnson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Espada is looking for a sweep.

Johnson decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espada throws a low kick, looking for Johnson's leg but Johnson calmly moves out of range.
Leandro Espada is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Espada.
Danga de danga de dang - Johnson scores with a four punch combination!
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Espada.
Espada rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Espada doesn't seem bothered though.
Espada wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A combination from Espada does no damage.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Espada!
Espada can't escape the position.
Espada taking shots to the head.
Espada is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a heavy elbow.
Johnson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Johnson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Espada slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Espada is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Johnson decides to stand up.
Johnson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Espada is out of range.
Johnson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
A right-left combo lands from Espada.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Espada.
Espada throws a leg kick that is checked

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Espada wants to get back to his feet but Johnson drags him back down.
Espada sneaks back into half guard.

Johnson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Espada to get to his feet.
Johnson lands an overhand right.

Johnson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson is working for a kimura but Espada is defending it quite comfortably.
Leandro Espada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ray Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson slips a nice elbow through Espada's hands, connecting with Espada's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 26:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 26:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 26:30

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