PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Travis Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ron Justine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnson
vs
Justine

150 cm
18
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Travis Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ron Justine!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Justine tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Justine sprawls well. Justine wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Justine defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Johnson.

Justine closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Justine taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Justine successfully pulls guard.

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

Johnson feints and as Justine raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Justine keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Justine can do anything to dispel that myth.

Justine is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Justine is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Justine 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.
Justine wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Justine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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.
Justine has a closed guard, preventing Johnson from standing up.
Justine has Johnson pulled in close to control his posture.

Johnson stands up and waves to Justine to follow him.

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Come on Justine - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Johnson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson stops Justine from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justine is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Justine trying to control here.
Justine is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Justine looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Justine 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.
Justine is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Justine looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Justine wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
Justine looking for a sweep. Not yet Justine, not yet.
Justine manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.
Johnson looking to control.
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 Travis Johnson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Justine decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Justine controlling the action here.
Justine wants to free his trapped foot but Johnson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Justine slows the pace down in half guard.
Justine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Justine content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ron Justine hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Justine.
Johnson could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Justine shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Johnson.
Justine drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Travis Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ron Justine.

Justine rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Justine jumps guard.
Justine pulls Johnson in to control the position.
Johnson wanted to stand there but Justine had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justine is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Justine is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnson is aware though and is defending well.
Johnson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Justine is controlling Johnson's posture.
Justine manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justine trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Justine stands up over Johnson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Justine showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Justine passes into half guard.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Justine passes to side control.
Justine moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.
Justine is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Johnson's shoulder. That is not cool.
Johnson wants to control but Justine postures up.

Justine stands up and beckons Johnson to his feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Justine.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ron Justine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Justine shoots in.

Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.
Ron Justine has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Justine does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Johnson is looking to stall here but Justine recovers full guard.
Justine has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Justine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Justine controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ron Justine was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Justine shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Justine postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Johnson to stand up.
Justine wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justine tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Justine closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Justine is looking to advance position but Johnson won't allow it.
Justine looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Justine gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Justine is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Justine instigates a clinch.
Justine wants to break free but Johnson has control.

Justine pulls Johnson into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justine keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Justine is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.
Let's hope that Justine has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Justine.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Justine attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Justine fails in his attempt to clinch.
Justine's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Justine duly obliges.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Justine.

Justine closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Justine lands a nice short elbow.

Justine is working for a submission of some sort.
Johnson tries to roll over but Justine keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ron Justine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Justine 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ron Justine!