PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleveland Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slam 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.

Cox
vs
Johnson

177 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 St Petersburg, Cleveland Cox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Slam Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cox fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Johnson takes a swing at Cox's ribcage but misses.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cox sprawls well. Cox wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Cox could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cox ducks right into an uppercut from Johnson.
Cox goes for a double leg but Johnson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Johnson continues to drive forward.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.

Johnson forces Cox back against the cage and clinches.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Cox is controlling him.
Cox is trying to pull guard but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cleveland Cox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike.
Johnson jumps guard but Cox turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson can't get the takedown.
Johnson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cox walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cox closes the distance looking to clinch

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but Cox turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Cox has Johnson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Johnson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Cox tries to tie him up.

Johnson pulls guard effortlessly.

Johnson pushes Cox off and scrambles back to his feet.
Cox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cox has closed the distance and engaged Johnson in a clinch.
Johnson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cox prevents it.
Cox on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cox tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnson just stands there and leans against the cage.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Johnson has Cox up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cox is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cox down to the mat. Cox avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Cox. Cox gets slowly back to his feet.
Cox goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Cox persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Cox moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Slam Johnson has been cut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cox.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cox is defended easily by Johnson.
Cox is breathing heavily.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Cox sprawls well.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cox pinned against the cage. Cox gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox shoots in but no luck this time.
Cox shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johnson defends it nicely.
Johnson looks for the body kick but Cox saw that one coming.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Cox, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Slam Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Slam Johnson's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cox swinging wildly here.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.

Johnson forces Cox back against the cage and clinches.
Johnson has Cox pressed against the cage, preventing Cox from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cox is looking for a takedown.
Johnson jumps guard but Cox stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cleveland Cox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slam Johnson.
Cox gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Cox tries for a takedown but Johnson manages to get underhooks.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cox tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johnson smiles and moves away.
Cox misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cox.
Cox tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cox somewhat.

Johnson has Cox up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson jumps guard and drags Cox to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Johnson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Cox passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Johnson wants to control but Cox passes into side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox taking a breather here.
Cox misses with the ground and pound.
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard.
Cox is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson tries to buck Cox off but Cox is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is not content to let Cox control the position.
Cox passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Johnson!
Cox trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cleveland Cox will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Slam Johnson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Cox clinches.
Cox jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Johnson walks away with a smile on his face. Cox gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Cox gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cox avoids it.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Cleveland Cox is winning the standup battle so far.
Cox swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cox circles away.
Cox throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.
Johnson moves out of range as Cox throws a body kick.
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cleveland Cox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slam Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cox shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Cox closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Cox pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Cox shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cox changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Cox manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Cox closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Johnson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Johnson tries to break free but Cox pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox is trying to pull guard but Johnson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cox moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Cox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cox fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Cox. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Cox lands a nice looking body shot.
Cox fails with the takedown.
Cox leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cox rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Cox jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Johnson walks away with a smile on his face. Cox gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cox closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Cox, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Cox against the cage but Cox circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Cox, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Johnson rushes Cox and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cox tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox tries to pull guard but Johnson won't allow it.

Johnson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cox uses from the top position.
Cox postures up.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cox!
Cox might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johnson looking to control but Cox is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Cox to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Slam Johnson.
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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Slam Johnson!