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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luke Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Socha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 179 cm
34
184 lbs
30 - 7 - 0 |
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185 cm
27
186 lbs
19 - 5 - 0 |
BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
30 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luke Johnson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Karl Socha!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Bruno Lombardi and Jorge Garcia.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Socha ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Johnson looks for the body kick but Socha saw that one coming.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Johnson.
Socha misses with a looping left.
Johnson moves out of range of the body kick.
Socha wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Johnson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Johnson is looking to land body kicks.
Socha throws a push kick but Johnson slaps the foot to one side.
Socha uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Socha takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Socha fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Socha checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Johnson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Socha uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Socha napping and manages to drive through into side control!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Socha parries the strikes from Johnson easily there. Johnson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Socha to escape.
Johnson misses with the ground and pound.
Johnson trying to control the action but Socha is working from the bottom.
Johnson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Socha being controlled for a moment.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Socha manages to work his way to half guard, despite Johnson's best efforts.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but Socha defending well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Johnson lands a nice short elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've been hearing good reports from Johnson's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Johnson trying to control the pace.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
Socha keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Johnson trying to work for an americana but Socha has managed to regain full guard.
Socha looking for a sweep. Not yet Socha, not yet.
Johnson slips nicely into half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johnson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Socha wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Socha regains half guard.
Johnson is thwarting Socha's attempts to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Socha wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Luke Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Johnson scores with a leg kick.
Luke Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Socha is able to avoid easily.
Johnson wants to slow Socha down by chopping away at his legs.
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Socha sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Socha tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Socha.
Socha has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.
Socha avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Socha controlling the position well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Socha is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Luke Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Johnson drops an elbow to the side of Socha's head.
Socha is looking to improve his position.
Socha is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Johnson controlling from the top position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Socha manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Socha trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Socha gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Socha won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
Socha got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Socha has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Socha from controlling successfully.
Socha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnson trying to control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controlling Socha's posture.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Socha from controlling successfully.
OK we're going to have a standup here. Karl Socha hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Johnson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson scores with a takedown into Socha's guard.
Johnson advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Luke Johnson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Nice defenses there by Socha.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Socha sees it coming and moves out of range.
Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Socha parries the strikes from Johnson easily there. Johnson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Socha to escape.
Socha can't do much from the bottom here.
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.
Socha tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Johnson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Johnson in side control, throwing shots but Socha defends.
Johnson in side control, throwing shots but Socha defends.
Johnson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sloppy strikes there by Johnson.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Socha is looking to reverse the position.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Socha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Socha can't do much from the bottom here.
Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Socha to see if he's OK.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a strike aimed at the side of Socha's head but Socha avoids it well.
Johnson lands a few punches from side control.
Johnson scores with punches from side control.
Socha regains half guard, as Johnson was trying to land strikes.
Socha keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johnson is trying to control. Socha wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
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.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Socha looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Socha avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but Socha defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Socha blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Socha won't allow it.
Johnson works his foot free and advances to mount.
Socha is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Johnson with good strikes from the mount here!
Johnson controlling from the full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Socha is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Luke Johnson clearly takes 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.
Johnson throws a front kick that sends Socha stumbling back into the cage.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Socha!
Socha wants to slow Johnson down by chopping away at his legs.
Both fighters circling a little - Johnson finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Socha lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Johnson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Johnson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Johnson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Johnson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Socha takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johnson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Johnson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Socha saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Socha sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson throws a hook but Socha blocks it.
Socha throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Socha will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Johnson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Johnson dives in for a single leg takedown but Socha sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Socha with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Socha cracks Johnson with a nice body shot.
A body shot lands from Johnson.
Socha tries to land knees in the clinch but Johnson avoids the damage to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stalling in the clinch but Socha improves position.
Socha prevents the takedown attempt.
Socha lands a body punch in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Socha scores with a nice short uppercut.
Socha blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Socha.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Socha struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Socha lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Socha gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Still in the clinch, Johnson scores with a nice short uppercut.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Socha misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson managing to block the knees to the body from Socha.
Johnson tries a body shot but Socha blocks it.
Socha throws a head punch that misses.
Socha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johnson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Johnson cracks Socha with a nice body shot.
Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into Socha's guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson slips nicely into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Socha won't allow Johnson to pass to mount.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson with the ground and pound but Socha uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Socha has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close fourth round but I would say that Luke Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Johnson misses with a looping left.
Johnson with a nice cross.
Johnson throws the left hand but Socha avoids the punch easily.
A lazy left from Johnson finds it's target.
Johnson shoots in but Socha avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Socha's waist but Socha gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Socha lands with a hook. Johnson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Socha saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
A momentary lapse in concentration from Socha enables Johnson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Socha manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson postures up.
Johnson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Socha keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson advances position into side control!
Johnson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Socha, who protects the arm well.
The ground and pound from Johnson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Karl Socha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Socha is trying to get back to half guard.
Socha is trying to escape the position but Johnson is controlling the position.
Socha wants to control but Johnson postures up.
Johnson working the body and head with strikes.
Socha is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Socha defending against the ground and pound.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Socha tries to improve position but can't.
Socha is still trying to improve position.
Johnson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Socha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Johnson taking a break here but Socha is having none of it and regains half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Socha is trying to control but can't.
Johnson looks to land a strike but Socha avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Socha can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Johnson controls the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Socha works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 50:45
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 50:45
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 50:45
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Johnson!
Luke Johnson retains his middleweight title!
A victorious Luke Johnson thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
78% |
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