PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Connor MacLeod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). MacLeod comes to the cage accompanied by Battle Hymn . Johnson has chosen It's A Fight as his entrance music. Andy Johnson has the eye of the tiger tonight.

MacLeod
vs
Johnson

180 cm
24
160 lbs
12 - 3 - 1

180 cm
25
169 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
****160Q Reduce Energy****

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 12 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Connor MacLeod!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andy Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Reed Andrews and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson is looking to land body kicks.
The fighters circling - Johnson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
MacLeod misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson walks into a straight right hand from MacLeod.
MacLeod jabbing away but nothing is landing.
MacLeod throws a left and a right that both miss
and Johnson counters with a slapping leg kick.
MacLeod lands a jab to the head.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. MacLeod sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from MacLeod.
MacLeod tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow MacLeod down.
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before MacLeod has time to react.
Johnson jabs at MacLeod's body.
MacLeod tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Some wild striking there from MacLeod.
Connor MacLeod is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
MacLeod keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
MacLeod fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from MacLeod.
MacLeod doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
MacLeod keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but MacLeod swivels and escapes.
Connor MacLeod has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Johnson.
MacLeod throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson throws out a loose jab but MacLeod uses good head movement to avoid it.
MacLeod misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod sizes up Johnson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Johnson slips under a jab.
MacLeod looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
MacLeod lands with a good body shot.
Johnson scoring well with a low kick there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. MacLeod does a little dance to reset his feet.
MacLeod is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
MacLeod misses with a double jab
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
MacLeod fails to land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - MacLeod looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A combination from MacLeod does no damage.
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 Connor MacLeod will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

MacLeod misses with a jab, cross combination.
Andy Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
MacLeod takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
MacLeod defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.
Sloppy strikes from MacLeod. Those never looked like landing.
MacLeod misses with a wild combination.
MacLeod takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Johnson misses with a lunging right hand
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Andy Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacLeod listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
MacLeod walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
No joy there for MacLeod, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
MacLeod closes the distance looking to clinch
and MacLeod takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnson stuns MacLeod with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Johnson as he connects with a hook.
The crowd cheers as Johnson lands an impressive looking overhand right. MacLeod doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
MacLeod moves forwards but Johnson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
MacLeod throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
MacLeod misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged MacLeod in a clinch.
MacLeod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson tries to work over MacLeod's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
MacLeod takes a shot to the head.
MacLeod prevents a takedown attempt there.
Johnson misses with a hook to the ribs.
MacLeod lands a left hand.
MacLeod throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
MacLeod can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Johnson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with the head strike.
MacLeod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
MacLeod keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Johnson lands a body punch in the clinch.
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!
MacLeod lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Johnson pushes MacLeod back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Johnson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
MacLeod fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
MacLeod has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.
A head punch blocked on the inside by MacLeod.
A head punch on the inside from MacLeod fails to land.
MacLeod has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.
MacLeod swings away with an uppercut that misses.
MacLeod misses with a punch on the inside.
MacLeod lands with a left to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
MacLeod fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
MacLeod swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johnson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Johnson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

MacLeod lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson throws a leg kick but MacLeod sees it coming and checks it nicely.
MacLeod looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
Johnson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Johnson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Johnson trying to control the action but MacLeod is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Johnson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
MacLeod is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Johnson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
MacLeod wants to get back to his feet but Johnson drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod is working to avoid the ground and pound but Johnson connects with a decent elbow.
Johnson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Johnson working the body and head with strikes.
Johnson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but MacLeod is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
MacLeod is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson is trying to ground and pound but MacLeod uses the momentary lack of control by Johnson to regain half guard.
MacLeod is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thows a huge punch but MacLeod dodges it nicely.
Johnson prevents MacLeod from standing back up.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but MacLeod is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. MacLeod defending well though.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed MacLeod's head.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but MacLeod keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johnson content to control rather than advance.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Andy Johnson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Johnson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Johnson wants to clinch up but MacLeod keeps it at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johnson 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Johnson!
After the fight, Andy Johnson was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.