PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Oatmeal (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
Oatmeal

165 cm
22
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve 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, The Oatmeal!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oatmeal looks to land a combination. Johnson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Steve Johnson has been cut.
The Oatmeal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Oatmeal keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Oatmeal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Oatmeal dives in and grabs Johnson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes down on Oatmeal's head and hops out.

Oatmeal moves into the clinch.
Oatmeal looking to slow down the pace here.
Oatmeal tries for a takedown but Johnson manages to get underhooks.
Steve Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Oatmeal.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Oatmeal shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Oatmeal moves into the clinch.
Oatmeal prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oatmeal avoids the elbow strike from Johnson, against the cage.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Oatmeal shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Oatmeal throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Oatmeal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Oatmeal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Oatmeal somewhat.

Johnson gets a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Oatmeal is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Johnson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Oatmeal wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Oatmeal wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Johnson pulls guard effortlessly.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Johnson 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.
Oatmeal has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnson is proving hard to escape from.

Johnson has his foot on Oatmeal's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Oatmeal works his way back into a safe position though.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Oatmeal controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Oatmeal!

Johnson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Johnson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Oatmeal has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Oatmeal!
Johnson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oatmeal postures up.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Oatmeal controlling him for the moment.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Oatmeal moves into the clinch.
Johnson letting Oatmeal take a breather here.
Johnson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Oatmeal up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oatmeal tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Oatmeal drops back down to his feet.
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 Steve Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Steve Johnson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Oatmeal shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Oatmeal shoots in but no luck this time.
Oatmeal tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Oatmeal manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Oatmeal shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Steve Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Oatmeal.

Oatmeal rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
Oatmeal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Oatmeal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Oatmeal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Oatmeal gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Oatmeal stalls.
Oatmeal receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Oatmeal has had enough of the clinch but Johnson keeps him there for the moment.
Oatmeal is trying to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling him.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Oatmeal circles away.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
Johnson feints and then cracks Oatmeal's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Oatmeal down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Oatmeal.
Oatmeal fails with a takedown attempt.
Steve Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Oatmeal is avoiding it.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Oatmeal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Oatmeal wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Oatmeal pinned against the cage. Oatmeal gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Johnson takes one to the chin there.
Oatmeal misses with a jab, cross combination.
Oatmeal displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Oatmeal tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Oatmeal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Oatmeal finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oatmeal fails with the takedown.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Oatmeal as he avoids it easily.
Oatmeal fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Oatmeal moves into the clinch.

Johnson manages to pull guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Oatmeal postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Oatmeal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve Johnson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Oatmeal.
Oatmeal looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Oatmeal's waist but Oatmeal gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Oatmeal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Steve Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Oatmeal.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Oatmeal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No luck for Oatmeal with that takedown attempt.
Oatmeal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Oatmeal persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Oatmeal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oatmeal fails to land the takedown.
Johnson checks a leg kick.
Oatmeal closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Oatmeal pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Oatmeal as Johnson shoots in.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Oatmeal manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Oatmeal saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Oatmeal, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Oatmeal against the cage but Oatmeal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Oatmeal moves to clinch but Johnson breaks away

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson passes into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Oatmeal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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 throwing shots but Oatmeal is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands up out of the half guard.
Oatmeal shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A combination from Oatmeal does no damage.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Oatmeal counters with a nice body shot.
Johnson leaves Oatmeal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Oatmeal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with Oatmeal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oatmeal tries for a takedown. No joy.
Oatmeal taking a breather.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Oatmeal trying to control the position but instead, Johnson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Oatmeal into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson prevents Oatmeal from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Steve Johnson!