PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Stockham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Johnson (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.

Stockham
vs
Johnson

171 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 Hilo, Matthew Stockham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brad Johnson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stockham shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stockham misses with a head kick.
Stockham looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Stockham persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Stockham looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Stockham persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Stockham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stockham avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stockham with a nice cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Stockham shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stockham tries to clinch up.
Stockham shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stockham changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Stockham manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Johnson clinches up with Stockham and pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Johnson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Johnson lands a knee to the body.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Stockham.
Stockham keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Stockham is controlling the position.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stockham has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Johnson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Stockham avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Johnson.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The strikes coming from Johnson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson advances nicely into full mount.
Johnson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Johnson prevents Stockham from getting the reversal.
Stockham is breathing heavily.
Stockham avoids a series of strikes thrown by Johnson.
Johnson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Johnson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Stockham holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Johnson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Stockham bucks up and throws Johnson to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a solid leg kick but Stockham takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Johnson.
Johnson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Stockham is out of range and Johnson settles back down.
Johnson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Johnson.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Stockham avoids nicely.
Stockham fails to land the takedown.
Stockham closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Stockham pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Stockham avoids nicely.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.

Johnson rushes Stockham and presses him up against the cage.
Stockham is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stockham blocking some punches.
Stockham blocks an elbow strike.
Stockham blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stockham prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.

Johnson pulls guard effortlessly.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Johnson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Stockham's shoulder, as Stockham tries to avoid the shot.
Stockham fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Stockham circles away.
Stockham fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stockham circles away from the clinch attempt

and Stockham counters with a takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.
Johnson gets back to half guard.
Stockham is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Johnson tries to roll over but Stockham keeps him under control.
Johnson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Johnson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Johnson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stockham postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Stockham has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stockham gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson wants to hit a switch here but Stockham passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Johnson there!
Johnson is trying desperately to improve position.
Stockham cracks Johnson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Johnson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stockham controlling his opponent.
Stockham wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
Johnson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Stockham wants to finish this one by submission but Johnson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Stockham.
Johnson tries to reverse the position but Stockham maintains control.
Stockham in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stockham working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Stockham dominating with strikes here.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Stockham landing strikes from the mount.
Stockham controlling from the full mount.
Johnson is trying desperately to improve position.
Johnson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Johnson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Johnson is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Stockham dominated that second round.
That's time! Stockham's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Johnson avoids the head kick by Stockham.
Johnson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Matthew Stockham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson clinches with his opponent.
Johnson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Knees in the clinch landing for Johnson.
Stockham makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Stockham fails to pull guard.
With the fighters up against the cage, Johnson throws an elbow but misses.
Johnson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.

Johnson decides to pull guard.
Johnson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Stockham scoring with punches to the head and body.

Johnson pushes a forearm under Stockham's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Stockham is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Brad Johnson!