PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tarek Gebali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and LeRoy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LeRoy Johnson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Gebali
vs
Johnson

190 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
205 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tarek Gebali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, LeRoy Johnson!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Dean Styles and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gebali gets a takedown into half guard.
Johnson is pressing down on Gebali's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gebali in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gebali has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Gebali from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson managing to control the position.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Gebali from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Johnson is controlling Gebali's posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Gebali drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Gebali are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Gebali wants to stand but Johnson has his arm trapped.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gebali wants to take a breather but Johnson manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Gebali.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gebali postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.
Gebali postures up.
Johnson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Gebali avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gebali avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gebali wants to clinch

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gebali's guard.

Johnson stands up from Gebali's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Gebali shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Johnson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Johnson looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson pushing down on Gebali's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Johnson decides to stand up.
Gebali cracks Johnson with a good jab.
Gebali looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Gebali jabs Johnson right on the nose. Johnson blinks but takes it well.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Gebali saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gebali with a poor takedown

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Gebali didn't expect that.
Gebali wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson pushes down on Gebali's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Johnson is keen to just control but Gebali is a slippery customer.
Gebali is trying to control but can't.
Johnson is taking a breather. Gebali says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Gebali tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Johnson has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson looking to control but Gebali is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeRoy Johnson dominated that 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.

Gebali fails to land the takedown.
Gebali throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.

Gebali forces Johnson back against the cage and clinches.
Gebali drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gebali looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gebali's guard.
Johnson is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Gebali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gebali is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gebali working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Gebali wants to stand and escape but Johnson is having none of it.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johnson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gebali can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Johnson controls the pace.
Gebali wants to hit a switch here but Johnson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gebali there!
Gebali knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson landing strikes from the mount and Gebali is in trouble!
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
LeRoy Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Johnson stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gebali tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.

Gebali bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gebali looking to control but instead Johnson has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Johnson is positioning himself well to prevent Gebali advancing to mount.
Gebali tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Johnson tries to kick Gebali off but Gebali keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gebali throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gebali!
Johnson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Johnson stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeRoy 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!

Gebali shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gebali's guard.

Gebali throws his legs up looking for a submission but Johnson uses it to pass to side control.
Johnson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Gebali!
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gebali is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Johnson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gebali can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gebali is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gebali is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Johnson tries to control but Gebali wriggling away.
Gebali working to try and regain half guard.
Johnson with shots to the head and body - Gebali looks very uncomfortable down there.
Johnson tries to control but Gebali wriggling away.
Gebali tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.

That's two 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.
Gebali trying desperately to get to his feet.

Johnson is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Johnson instigates a clinch.
Gebali tries to land knees in the clinch but Johnson avoids the damage to the body.
Gebali is trying to break free.
Gebali on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gebali prevents the takedown attempt.

Johnson successfully pulls guard.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Gebali wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Gebali stands up out of Johnson's guard for a moment - Johnson manages to land a nice upkick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson pushes Gebali off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Gebali's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Gebali duly obliges.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gebali moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Gebali bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Gebali stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Gebali throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gebali doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gebali with a lazy takedown attempt

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gebali's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarek Gebali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gebali looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gebali looking for a sweep. Not yet Gebali, not yet.

Gebali kicks Johnson off and gets to his feet.
Gebali shoots and misses

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gebali!
Gebali keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gebali wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson looking to control but Gebali is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gebali is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
LeRoy Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... LeRoy Johnson!