PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Whiskey Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Owens kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is The Undertaker's Thirst For Revenge Is Unquenchable. The crowd seem to be enjoying Johnson's choice of entrance music: Piano has been drinking- Tom Waits. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Owens
vs
Johnson

196 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

176 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Craig Owens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Whiskey Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Owens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Owens, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Owens against the cage but Owens circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Owens rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.

Owens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Owens sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Owens has taken the fight to the clinch.
Owens prevents a takedown attempt there.
Craig Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Whiskey Johnson.

Owens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Owens scores with a takedown into Johnson's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Owens would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Owens is having none of it.
Owens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Owens stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Owens wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Owens gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Owens wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Owens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck for Owens with that takedown attempt.

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.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Owens down.
Owens throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Owens throws a combination. Johnson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnson motions for Owens to come forward. Johnson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Owens.
Owens punishes Johnson's body with a nice straight punch.

Owens bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Owens is breathing heavily.
Johnson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Johnson keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Owens trying to pass the guard but Johnson defending well.
Owens lands with a punch from half guard.
Owens tries to stand but can't do so whilst Johnson controls his leg.
Johnson trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Owens avoids the head kick by Johnson.

Owens looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Johnson manages to get to full guard.
Owens wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Owens pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Owens dominated that round.
That's time! Owens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Owens shows good takedown defense.
Owens fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Johnson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
No joy there for Owens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Whiskey Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Owens connects with a high kick.
Johnson tries to clinch up

and Owens counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Johnson's guard now.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Owens is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Owens stops Johnson from standing up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson trying to control the position.
Owens will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Owens uses it to pass to side control.
Johnson is trying to control Owens's posture but Owens avoids it.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Owens stands up and beckons Johnson to his feet.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt

and Owens counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Owens wants to stand up but Johnson has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Craig Owens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Owens controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owens not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Johnson is looking to get back to full guard here but Owens has managed to pass to side control instead.
Johnson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Owens is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Johnson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Owens with a couple of short strikes.
Owens wants to get back to his feet but Johnson is holding on tight.
Owens prevents Johnson from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Johnson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Owens stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
Johnson is pulling down on Owens's head. It's preventing any offense from Owens, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is working an open guard so Owens takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Johnson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Owens gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Craig Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Whiskey Johnson.

Owens successfully pulls guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson trying to control but Owens is working from the bottom.
Johnson wants to stand but Owens is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Owens dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Owens makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Johnson really felt that one!
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Owens counters with a head kick. That will keep Johnson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Johnson clinches but Owens breaks the clinch

and Owens counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Owens advances position into side control!
Johnson is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Owens decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.

Owens shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Owens cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Owens goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Johnson is on top in guard.
Owens wants to stand and escape but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson passes Owens's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Owens wants to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Johnson is thwarting Owens's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owens is trying to stand.
Johnson wants to free his trapped foot but Owens is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but Owens is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Johnson to get the leverage.
Johnson wants to stand up but Owens has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Owens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Owens is trying to control but can't.
Owens wants to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Owens throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Owens counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick
and Owens counters with a nice body kick.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Craig Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Whiskey Johnson.
A left and a right from Owens both land. Nice combination.
Johnson checks a leg kick.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Johnson blocks Owens's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Owens looks a forlorn figure.
Johnson with the ground and pound from mount.

Johnson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Owens manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Johnson stands up and beckons Owens to his feet.
Owens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Owens keeps it at a distance.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Owens as he avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Owens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Owens has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Owens!