PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jeremy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by . Harper has chosen Welcome To Jamrock as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Johnson
vs
Harper

172 cm
28
144 lbs
25 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
165 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Knock Out Artistry
MADE IN GERMANY

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 25 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeremy Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Harper!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Harper tries to clinch

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Harper didn't expect that.
Harper working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Harper can do anything to dispel that myth.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Harper keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson is stalling in the full guard.
Harper working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson lands a couple of digs.
Harper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

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.
Johnson throws a strike but Harper rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Harper looking to pass the guard.
Harper wants to stand but Johnson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Harper working a defensive guard here.
Harper is adopting a defensive guard.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

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 controlling from the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Harper keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Harper controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ben Harper wasn't active enough on the ground.
Harper tries to clinch but Johnson moves away

and Johnson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Harper being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Harper tries to clinch but Johnson moves away

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Harper's guard now.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Johnson here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Johnson throws and elbow that misses. Harper uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Harper!
Johnson is looking to stand up but Harper isn't so interested in that idea.
Harper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Harper from controlling successfully.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Harper is having none of it.

Johnson manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Harper tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Johnson pushes down on Harper's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Johnson winds up and cracks Harper with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Harper works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Harper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Harper has wrist control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Harper holds on and takes a little breather.
Harper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Harper keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Harper is looking to stand up but Johnson isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harper swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Harper keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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

Harper gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Johnson dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Harper stuffs the takedown.
Harper gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Harper won't be happy with that.
Johnson working the ground and pound but Harper is defending the strikes.
Johnson working away.
Johnson lands some shots froms side control.
Harper is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Johnson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Johnson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper controlling the position well.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Harper trying to control but Johnson postures up.

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.
Johnson winds up and cracks Harper with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Harper is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Harper on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Harper on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Johnson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Harper to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson trying to control but Harper is working from the bottom.
Jeremy Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson trying to control but Harper is working from the bottom.
Harper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ben Harper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson slips nicely into half guard.
Johnson trying to control the action but Harper is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeremy Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

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