PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cody Garza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Garza
vs
Johnson

171 cm
23
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
24
199 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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, Cody Garza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Franklyn Lucas and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Garza keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Garza looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Garza persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Garza tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.

Garza gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Garza 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.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Garza dives on top into guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garza is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Garza throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Garza is having none of it.
Garza with a flurry of punches that miss.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johnson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Garza is having none of it.
Garza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Garza throws a big right hand that misses.

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.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Garza is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Garza sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Garza is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.
Garza could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Garza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garza is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson passes to side control.

Johnson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Garza has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Johnson but great work by Garza.
Johnson is pushing Garza's head away, looking to escape. Garza manages to hold on to the position though.
Johnson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Garza.
Sloppy strikes there by Garza.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garza throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Johnson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Garza throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Garza is keen to just control but Johnson is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cody Garza will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson feints and as Garza raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnson wants to stand but Garza has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Johnson lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Johnson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Garza looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Garza looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Garza!

Garza throws an elbow but Johnson slips to the side and avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson parries the strikes from Garza easily there. Garza is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Johnson to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Garza has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Johnson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Garza wants to control for a moment but Johnson uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Johnson tries to kick Garza off but Garza keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Johnson regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Garza.
Garza throws a strike but Johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Johnson wants to stand and escape but instead Garza has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Garza throws a big right hand that misses.

Johnson kicks Garza off and gets to his feet.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Garza defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Garza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Garza defends it well.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Garza appears to be looking for a big counter.
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Garza counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cody Garza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Johnson.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Garza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.

Garza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Garza displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Garza changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Tony Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has his takedown stuffed
and Garza counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Garza as he avoids it easily.
Garza shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Danga de danga de dang - Garza scores with a four punch combination!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Garza has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Garza tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.
Garza is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
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 Cody Garza will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Garza, which made it look bad.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Garza circles away quickly and effectively.
Garza appears to be looking for a big counter.
Cody Garza is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Garza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson shoots in but Garza avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cody Garza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Johnson.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Garza moves out of range easily.
Garza appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Garza.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Garza counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Garza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garza tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Garza tries to break free but Johnson pushes him back against the cage.

Garza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A low kick from Johnson is predictable there
and Garza counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cody Garza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Johnson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Garza tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Johnson is in Garza's guard.

Garza has his foot on Johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnson works his way back into a safe position though.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Garza has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson advances to half guard.
Johnson drops an elbow to the side of Garza's head.
Johnson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Garza is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Garza is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.

Johnson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Garza sees it coming and defends easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Garza defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garza regains full guard. Nicely done.

Johnson pushes Garza away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Garza gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
An elbow from Garza crashes against the mat.
Garza throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Johnson pushes Garza away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Garza gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Tony Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garza in side control, throwing shots but Johnson defends.
Johnson pushes Garza away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Garza gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Johnson defending against the ground and pound.
Garza is trying to ground and pound but Johnson uses the momentary lack of control by Garza to regain half guard.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cody Garza.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Garza, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cody Garza!