PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saul Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnson
vs
Alvarez

168 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
143 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Urijah Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Saul Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Johnson lands with a punch from half guard.
Well, if Johnson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Alvarez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Johnson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Johnson in particular looking to stall.
The fighters are battling for position here. Alvarez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Johnson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson distracts Alvarez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Johnson controls from within his opponent's guard.

Alvarez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson landing with the ground and pound.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alvarez wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Johnson manages to pass to side control.
Johnson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stalling.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Johnson wants to stand but Alvarez has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Alvarez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnson's back!
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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alvarez doesn't have the hooks in and Johnson manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson forces his way into half guard.
Alvarez taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
Johnson slows the pace down in half guard.
Alvarez taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Alvarez won't allow it.
Alvarez is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Alvarez avoid being mounted?
Johnson content to control rather than advance.

Alvarez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Johnson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Johnson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson working Alvarez over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urijah Johnson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Alvarez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Johnson to the mat! Johnson manages to get full guard.
Alvarez looking to pass the guard.
Johnson is pulling down on Alvarez's head. It's preventing any offense from Alvarez, at least for the moment.
Alvarez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
Alvarez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson trying to control the position here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alvarez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alvarez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Alvarez quickly recovers to half guard.
Alvarez is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Johnson jumps into side control!
Johnson scoring with punches and elbows.
Urijah Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alvarez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Johnson in particular looking to stall.
Johnson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Johnson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Johnson passes into side control, despite Alvarez's attempt to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Johnson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Johnson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Alvarez, who protects the arm well.

Johnson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Alvarez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controls the position.
Alvarez is trying to improve his position.
Alvarez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Alvarez is defending well.
Alvarez is controlling Johnson's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Alvarez from improving his position.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Alvarez won't allow it.
Johnson passes to full mount!
Johnson prevents Alvarez from getting the reversal.
Alvarez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvarez taking shots to the head.

Johnson wants to finish this one by submission but Alvarez is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Johnson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urijah Johnson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Johnson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alvarez.

Alvarez closes the distance and clinches.

Johnson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Alvarez is trying to keep an underhook but Johnson manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Johnson seems to be working for a kimura but Alvarez defends the submission attempt.
Johnson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Alvarez trying to control but Johnson postures up.

Alvarez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson uses his free foot to push down on Alvarez's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Alvarez.
A nice elbow there by Johnson.
Alvarez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Alvarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson controlling the pace for now.
Alvarez is looking to improve his position but Johnson isn't that keen on the idea.
Johnson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Alvarez wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Alvarez can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Alvarez is rocked!
Johnson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Alvarez looks a forlorn figure.
Alvarez is still in real trouble! Can Johnson finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Johnson postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Alvarez badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Johnson around the waist but Johnson pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Johnson is the winner by TKO! Johnson jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Urijah Johnson!