PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edward Norton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norton has chosen Transfuzja as his entrance music. Alex Johnson looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Johnson
vs
Norton

175 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Edward Norton!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norton scores with a one two! Johnson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Alex Johnson has been cut.
Norton stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.

Norton is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Johnson's half guard.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Norton is controlling the pace.
Johnson manages to get to full guard.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Norton is controlling him.
Norton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Norton looking to pass the guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Edward Norton wasn't active enough on the ground.
Norton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Norton circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norton misses with the combination.

Norton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Norton controls the position.
Norton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norton fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Johnson is trying to escape the position but Norton is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Edward Norton wasn't active enough on the ground.
Norton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson looks to clinch

and Norton counters with a shoot takedown. Johnson fights it but they end up in guard.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Norton wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Norton is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Norton is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Norton 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.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Edward Norton.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Norton. Norton gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Norton works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Norton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Johnson's cut.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Norton as he avoids it easily.

Norton closes the distance and clinches.
Norton is working for takedown but Johnson is calmly controlling the position for now.

Norton tightens his grip and picks Johnson up, before dumping him to the ground. Johnson manages to land in guard.
Edward Norton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Norton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Norton trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Norton is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Norton wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Norton or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnson which made him look bad.
Norton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Norton somewhat.
Alex Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edward Norton.
Norton stuffs the takedown.

Norton drives through with a takedown into Johnson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Johnson pushes Norton off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Johnson enables Norton to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Johnson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Johnson has an active guard here but Norton has managed to pass into half guard.
Johnson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Norton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.

Johnson pushes Norton off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Norton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Norton swivels and escapes.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Johnson is pressing down on Norton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Norton is holding on for now.
Johnson is keen to just control but Norton is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Norton keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Norton is defending against the submission attempts here by Johnson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Edward Norton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alex Johnson's cut.
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!

Norton shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Norton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Norton is retaining full guard.
Johnson trying to move into half guard but instead Norton has managed to sweep!

Johnson has an active guard here but Norton has managed to pass into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Norton connects with a nice short shot to Johnson's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Norton is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Johnson is looking for a sweep. Norton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson is looking to control Norton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnson avoid being mounted?
Norton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Alex Johnson just wasn't active enough.
Norton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Edward Norton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Norton fails with a takedown attempt.
Edward Norton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Alex Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edward Norton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norton shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Norton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Norton clinches up against the cage.
Johnson has Norton pushed against the cage.
Norton is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Norton down to the mat. Norton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Johnson tries to sprawl but Norton drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Norton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Norton is controlling well.
Norton wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson is looking to control Norton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnson avoid being mounted?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Norton.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alex Johnson.
Well Norton 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Edward Norton!