PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Babcock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Babcock
vs
Johnson

180 cm
24
170 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

178 cm
26
175 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bruce Babcock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, David Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babcock misses with the combination.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Babcock sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Babcock is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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

Johnson has his foot on Babcock's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Babcock works his way back into a safe position though.
Babcock passes Johnson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Johnson missing with punches from the bottom.
Babcock throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two 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.
Babcock throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Babcock thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.
Johnson manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Babcock gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Babcock lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Babcock advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babcock lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Babcock takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Babcock is stalling here. Johnson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Babcock seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Johnson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Babcock's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Babcock sneaks back into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babcock is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Babcock manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.

Johnson working for submissions but it's allowed Babcock to get to half guard.
Babcock is keen to just control but Johnson is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Babcock dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Johnson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnson misses with a kick to the body.
Babcock looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.

Babcock shoots in and bounces Johnson off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.

Johnson working for a triangle but Babcock defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babcock throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson working a defensive guard but Babcock passes into half guard.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.
Babcock trying to pass the guard but Johnson defending well.

That's two 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.
Babcock trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Babcock has control of the leg.
Babcock moves nicely into side control.
Babcock scoring with punches from side control.
Babcock connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Johnson some visible discomfort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Babcock is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johnson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Johnson is looking to reverse the position.
Johnson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Babcock is stalling here. Johnson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Babcock seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Johnson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

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 decides to stand up, so the ref orders Babcock to his feet.
Bruce Babcock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Babcock with a jab.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Babcock counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Babcock throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Babcock. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Babcock counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Babcock dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Babcock.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Babcock.
Babcock fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Johnson with a poor takedown

and Babcock counters with a shoot takedown. Johnson fights it but they end up in guard.
Johnson wants to hit a switch here but Babcock passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Johnson there!
Babcock lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Babcock landing strikes from the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babcock looking to finish with strikes here!
Johnson is in all sorts of trouble here.

Babcock swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Johnson is now in Babcock's guard. A big mistake from Babcock there, giving up the dominant position!

Babcock isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Johnson stacks Babcock on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Johnson!

Johnson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two 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 is trying to get an arm triangle but Babcock is defending well.
Babcock sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Babcock's head.
Johnson is stalling here. Babcock is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Johnson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Babcock has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Johnson sneaks back into half guard.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Babcock.
Babcock thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Babcock frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Babcock scoring with strikes but Johnson is staying in there.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Babcock isn't that keen on the idea.
David Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Babcock lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Johnson hang on?
Babcock postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Johnson looks a forlorn figure.
Bruce Babcock is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Babcock isn't that keen on the idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Babcock showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Babcock has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Babcock!