PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joules Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pat McGroin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Johnson
vs
McGroin

190 cm
20
205 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

188 cm
27
205 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Condemned

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joules Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pat McGroin!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McGroin takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Pat McGroin has been cut.
McGroin wants to break free but Johnson has control.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but McGroin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Johnson has his takedown stuffed
and McGroin counters with a one-two to the body.
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!
McGroin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McGroin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joules Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from McGroin.
McGroin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McGroin wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
McGroin avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McGroin.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McGroin counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from McGroin.
Pat McGroin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McGroin pinned against the cage. McGroin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McGroin but McGroin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McGroin misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGroin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McGroin scores with a shot to the body.
McGroin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown. McGroin fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McGroin is keeping the position for now.
McGroin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McGroin wants to get back to his feet but Johnson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGroin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
McGroin is looking to stand up but Johnson isn't so interested in that idea.
McGroin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
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 wants to control from the top but McGroin keeps moving.
Johnson won't allow McGroin to get back to his feet.
McGroin manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McGroin throwing strikes here but Johnson is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pat McGroin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pat McGroin's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McGroin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A right-left combo lands from McGroin.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Some wild striking there from McGroin.
McGroin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McGroin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by McGroin.
Sloppy strikes from McGroin. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McGroin.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Johnson dives in and grabs McGroin's left leg, looking for a takedown. McGroin pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joules Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGroin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McGroin wants it to stay on the feet.
McGroin swinging wildly here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
McGroin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - McGroin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McGroin leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGroin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
McGroin shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Johnson eats them both and turns towards McGroin to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
McGroin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McGroin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Johnson on the side of the head.
McGroin throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Joules Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGroin looks to land a combination. Johnson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGroin tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGroin slips under a jab from Johnson.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson has his takedown stuffed
and McGroin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pat McGroin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pat McGroin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McGroin scores with a three punch combo!
Johnson dodges the punch combination from McGroin.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McGroin can do anything to dispel that myth.
McGroin is trying to buck Johnson off.
Johnson misses with the ground and pound.
McGroin has one of Johnson's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGroin is not content to let Johnson control the position.

Johnson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McGroin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
McGroin tries to buck Johnson off but Johnson is having none of it.

Johnson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
McGroin wants to get back to his feet but Johnson drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGroin avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Johnson.
McGroin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Johnson.
Johnson working away.
McGroin is looking to reverse the position.
Johnson avoids the strikes from the bottom by McGroin.
Johnson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sloppy strikes there by Johnson.
McGroin is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands an elbow.
McGroin wants to get back to his feet but Johnson drags him back down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is working McGroin over with some ground and pound from side control.
McGroin wants to get back to his feet.

Johnson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
McGroin is trying to get back to his feet.
McGroin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGroin tries to improve position but can't.
Joules Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but McGroin keeps working.
Johnson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Johnson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Johnson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McGroin manages to get back to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Johnson lands a nice short elbow.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but McGroin keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McGroin has hold of Johnson's hands but Johnson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Joules Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McGroin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joules Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McGroin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pat McGroin!