PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brighton Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anders Hedberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnston comes to the cage accompanied by Billy Ray Cyrus - Achy Breaky Heart. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Johnston
vs
Hedberg

150 cm
20
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

184 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brighton Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anders Hedberg!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnston gets the takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Hedberg is looking for a sweep.
Johnston is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Hedberg will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hedberg is looking to reverse the position.
Johnston scores with punches from side control.
Johnston working the ground and pound from side control.
Hedberg struggling a bit here.
Johnston is staying tight to Hedberg's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Johnston working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnston stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Brighton Johnston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnston looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nice strikes from Johnston there.
Johnston 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.

Johnston stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Johnston darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Johnston slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johnston frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johnston controlling the pace for now.
Hedberg wants to control but Johnston is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnston pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnston jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hedberg manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Hedberg wants to get back to his feet but Johnston drags him back down.

Johnston stands up and beckons Hedberg to his feet.

Johnston closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hedberg to the mat! Hedberg manages to get full guard.
Johnston not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hedberg controls Johnston momentarily but Johnston frees himself.
Johnston is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Johnston passes Hedberg's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston controlling the pace.
Hedberg is looking to control Johnston's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hedberg avoid being mounted?
Johnston is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Johnston is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hedberg can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Johnston sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnston scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hedberg?
Johnston takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnston moves into range and clinches up with Hedberg.

Johnston tightens his grip and picks Hedberg up, before dumping him to the ground. Hedberg manages to land in guard.
Johnston sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hedberg trying to keep a closed guard but Johnston is proving a slippery customer.
Johnston could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Johnston showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Brighton Johnston just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Johnston shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnston showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnston not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hedberg wants to get back to his feet.
Johnston prevents Hedberg from improving his position.
Johnston trying to control the pace.
Hedberg won't allow Johnston to pass to mount.
Hedberg wants to control but Johnston is keeping busy.
Hedberg wants to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Johnston scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Johnston throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hedberg tries for a takedown but Johnston circles away easily

and Johnston counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hedberg!
Johnston tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hedberg is trying to escape the mount.
Johnston content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hedberg for as long as he can get away with.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Brighton Johnston just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Johnston gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnston has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Johnston closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnston lands in his opponent's guard.
Johnston sitting in guard here, content to control.
Johnston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnston sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brighton Johnston dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnston scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hedberg trying to control here.
Johnston with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hedberg pushes Johnston off looking to stand but Johnston dives back in and keeps control.
Johnston looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hedberg has hold of Johnston's hands but Johnston slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Johnston wants to pass to mount but Hedberg is defending the position.
Hedberg wants to get back to full guard.
Hedberg taking some punishment here, with Johnston in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnston decides to return to a standing position.
Hedberg gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnston counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Johnston is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hedberg can do to turn this around?
Hedberg takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnston controls from within his opponent's guard.
Johnston won't allow Hedberg to get back to his feet.
Johnston working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hedberg's head.
Johnston with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Johnston stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hedberg swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hedberg misses with a takedown

and Johnston counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hedberg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Johnston stands up and beckons Hedberg to join him on the feet.

Johnston shoots in and bounces Hedberg off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Johnston stands up from Hedberg's guard - Johnston perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hedberg gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnston counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Brighton Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anders Hedberg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnston gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hedberg moves out of range as Johnston strikes.

Johnston closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Johnston works his way into full mount!
Johnston controlling the pace for now.
Johnston's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brighton Johnston showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnston 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:24
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:24
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brighton Johnston!