PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eddie O Hare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Hare comes into the arena with Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight blaring out of the sound system. Johnson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: It's A Fight. Andy Johnson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

O Hare
vs
Johnson

180 cm
27
166 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

180 cm
25
169 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eddie O Hare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andy Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Hare throws a low kick but it's checked well by Johnson.
Johnson tries to clinch but O Hare moves out of range.
O Hare gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johnson counters with a big head kick but O Hare shrugs it off.
O Hare comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
O Hare throws a leg kick
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
O Hare stuns Johnson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Johnson throws a leg kick which misses O Hare's front leg but catches the back leg as O Hare tries to avoid it.
O Hare throws a low kick but Johnson avoids it.
O Hare throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Johnson's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
O Hare throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
O Hare shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
O Hare is looking to score with low kicks.
Johnson looks to land a left hand but O Hare moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
O Hare keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
O Hare manages to get back to half guard.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
O Hare is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
O Hare avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Johnson is stalling here. O Hare is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Johnson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and O Hare has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Johnson keeps O Hare under control for a moment.
O Hare throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from O Hare are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
O Hare creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Johnson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
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!

O Hare swings around for an armbar but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into O Hare's guard.

O Hare had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Johnson defends it easily.

O Hare 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.

O Hare looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but O Hare blocks nicely.

O Hare has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Johnson is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for O Hare.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Johnson wants to control but O Hare is keeping him busy.
O Hare is looking to reverse the position.
Johnson scoring with punches and elbows.
O Hare taking a bit of punishment here - Johnson scoring with strikes.
O Hare is looking for a sweep.
Johnson lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
O Hare is trying to improve his position.
O Hare is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson trying to control the action but O Hare is working from the bottom.
O Hare tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.
Johnson wants to control but O Hare is keeping him busy.
O Hare gets back to half guard.
Johnson trying to control from half guard but O Hare is working away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
O Hare has hold of Johnson's hands but Johnson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
O Hare is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andy Johnson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnson gets a clinch.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but O Hare avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Johnson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. O Hare avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
O Hare pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Johnson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
O Hare blocking some punches.
O Hare misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Johnson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.

O Hare manages to break the clinch.
O Hare shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnson counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Hare shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johnson defends it nicely.
Johnson throws a low kick but O Hare moves out of range easily.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from O Hare.
O Hare misses with a body shot.
O Hare swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nice uppercut lands for O Hare. That snapped Johnson's head back.
Johnson moves away from the strike by O Hare.
O Hare looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie O Hare. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

O Hare looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
O Hare is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johnson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks O Hare with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
O Hare is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.

O Hare looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and O Hare defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson works his way into side control.
Johnson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused O Hare some visible discomfort.
Johnson in side control lands a decent elbow.
O Hare is looking to regain half guard here but Johnson keeps moving and retains side control.
O Hare is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
O Hare takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
O Hare is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Johnson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Johnson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks O Hare with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
O Hare is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.
Andy Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Hare is looking to improve his position.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but O Hare is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

O Hare looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
O Hare tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
O Hare gets back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

O Hare working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

O Hare looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A shot to the liver by Johnson. Beautiful body shot.
O Hare slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
O Hare fails to land with a series of punches.
O Hare pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between O Hare's hands.
O Hare does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
O Hare throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
O Hare shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from O Hare.
Johnson misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Hare throws a big shot that misses.
Johnson throws a push kick but O Hare slaps the foot to one side.
O Hare misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
O Hare tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Johnson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent O Hare stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
O Hare tries a head kick but it misses.
O Hare shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie O Hare. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
O Hare throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
A head kick misses from O Hare.
Johnson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck O Hare on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with O Hare.
Johnson pushes O Hare back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
O Hare lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Johnson or not.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Johnson.
A head punch blocked on the inside by O Hare.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
O Hare fails with a takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson sizes up O Hare with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
O Hare fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson checks a leg kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Hare shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
O Hare shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Johnson.

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Eddie O Hare has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson trying to control but O Hare is working from the bottom.
Johnson landing some decent shots from guard.
Johnson trying to control but O Hare is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controlling from the top position.

Andy Johnson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A low kick from Johnson is predictable there
and O Hare counters with a nice body kick.
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!
O Hare takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Andy Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
O Hare does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in O Hare's guard.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
O Hare thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci 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.