PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ritchie Johannesburg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Corden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Corden has chosen Osmani Garcia - El Taxi as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Mark Corden has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Johannesburg
vs
Corden

162 cm
28
146 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

162 cm
27
145 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

M.O. Fight Wear

Pitt Nutrition 160Q! 10% Laundry plus fees!!!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ritchie Johannesburg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Corden!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johannesburg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Corden avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johannesburg avoids the body shot from Corden.
Johannesburg tries to clinch up.
Corden lands with a straight right. Johannesburg didn't see that one coming.

Johannesburg closes the distance and clinches.
Johannesburg looking to throw knees to the head but Corden is blocking nicely.
Johannesburg tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Corden avoids it.
Johannesburg tries to land knees in the clinch but Corden avoids the damage to the body.
Johannesburg using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Corden avoiding damage.
Corden tries a body shot but Johannesburg blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Corden swings wildly with an uppercut but Johannesburg uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short uppercut from Corden.
Corden lands with a light punch inside.
Johannesburg blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Johannesburg misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johannesburg blocking some punches.
Johannesburg missing with knees to the body.
Johannesburg tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Corden avoids it.
Corden lands a left hand.
Corden on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Johannesburg landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A right handed body shot lands from Corden.
Corden misses with some punches.
Corden makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Corden avoiding damage as Johannesburg throws knees to the body.
A body shot lands from Corden.
Corden can't find room to land a body shot as Johannesburg controls the action.
Corden tries to work over Johannesburg's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Corden swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johannesburg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Corden scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Corden makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Johannesburg tries to land knees in the clinch but Corden avoids the damage to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Corden swings wildly with an uppercut but Johannesburg uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johannesburg missing with knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Corden fails to land.
Corden throws a head punch that misses.
Johannesburg tries to land knees in the clinch but Corden avoids the damage to the body.
A shot in the inside from Corden.
Johannesburg is struggling to control the position.
Corden on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Corden stalling in the clinch but Johannesburg improves position.
Johannesburg with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Johannesburg misses with a knee strike.
Corden lands a shoulder strike.
Corden scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Corden has a couple of punches blocked by Johannesburg.
Johannesburg tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Corden avoids it.
Johannesburg blocking some punches.
Johannesburg misses with an elbow over the top.
Johannesburg blocks a body shot from Corden.
Corden blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corden lands a shoulder strike.
Corden swings wildly with an uppercut but Johannesburg uses good head movement to avoid it.
Corden lands a shot to the body.
Johannesburg blocks a body shot from Corden.
Johannesburg with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Corden blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Johannesburg with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Corden fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Corden stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Johannesburg utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Johannesburg missing with knees to the body.
Johannesburg throws a knee to the head but misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Corden.
Corden lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Johannesburg blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Johannesburg is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Corden is defending well for now.
Johannesburg trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johannesburg with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Corden on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johannesburg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Corden is leaning against Johannesburg and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Corden lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Corden misses with a body punch.
Corden lands a nice uppercut.
Johannesburg is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Corden is defending well for now.
Corden lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Corden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Corden with a hook.
Corden lands with a good body shot.
Corden scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Johannesburg keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johannesburg tries to clinch up but Corden circles away and keeps his distance.
Corden with a hook.
A cross from Corden lands.
Johannesburg walks into a stiff left hand from Corden.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Corden dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johannesburg tries to clinch there but Corden circles away.
Corden misses with an uppercut.
Corden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johannesburg is looking to clinch but Corden is avoiding it.
Corden swinging wildly here.
Johannesburg seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Johannesburg tries to clinch up.
Corden throws a jab but it's blocked by Johannesburg.
Johannesburg quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
A slow jab from Corden misses its intended target.
Corden lands with a cross.

Johannesburg gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Johannesburg lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Mark Corden has been cut.
Johannesburg trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johannesburg tries a knee to the head but Corden blocks it.
Johannesburg throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Corden blocks it with crossed arms.
Corden misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johannesburg tries to land a knee to the head but Corden blocks with his arms.
Johannesburg throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Corden lands with a left to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corden slows down the pace here.
Johannesburg lands an elbow inside.
Johannesburg connects with a nasty looking knee right to Corden's face.
Johannesburg tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Corden avoids it.
Corden stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Corden breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johannesburg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It seemed like Corden was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Johannesburg is looking to clinch but Corden is avoiding it.
Johannesburg doesn't manage to clinch there - Corden circles away.
Johannesburg takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Johannesburg is looking to clinch.
Corden keeps the fight on the outside.
Johannesburg is looking to clinch.
Corden with a nice cross.
Johannesburg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Corden paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Corden connects with a nice looking jab.
Corden waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johannesburg.
Johannesburg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A little jabbing left from Corden on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Johannesburg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Corden swats him away and circles back towards the center.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Johannesburg clinches up against the cage.
Johannesburg misses with a knee strike.
Corden is working Johannesburg over against the cage.
Johannesburg crunches a lovely knee into Corden's ribcage.
Corden scores with a nice hook to the head.

Corden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johannesburg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Corden swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johannesburg tries to clinch up
and Corden cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johannesburg doesn't manage to clinch there - Corden circles away.
Corden looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Corden darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Johannesburg takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johannesburg takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Corden cracks Johannesburg with a good jab.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Corden in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Johannesburg tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Corden manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johannesburg takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Corden swats away the attempt to clinch by Johannesburg.
Corden lands a jab to the nose.
Johannesburg tries to clinch there but Corden circles away.
Johannesburg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Corden might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Johannesburg closes the distance looking to clinch
and Corden counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Corden looks to land a left hand but Johannesburg moved out of range nicely.
Corden misses with a looping right.
Johannesburg tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johannesburg drops his hands momentarily and Corden takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Johannesburg is looking to clinch but Corden is avoiding it.
Corden dips to his left and cracks Johannesburg with an uppercut!
Corden throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Corden keeps the fight on the outside.
Corden connects with a crisp jab.
Corden circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johannesburg wants to clinch up but Corden keeps it at a distance.
Johannesburg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A little jabbing left from Corden on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Johannesburg tries to clinch up.
Corden scores with a jab to the head.
Johannesburg tries to clinch up.
Corden swats away the attempt to clinch by Johannesburg.
Mark Corden seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johannesburg takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Corden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mark Corden'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. This is the final round!

Corden throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johannesburg tries to clinch up
and Corden counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Corden rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johannesburg moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Corden throws a poor cross that misses
and Johannesburg counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Johannesburg tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Corden manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johannesburg gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Corden.
Corden has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Corden lands a jab to the head.
Corden lands a head shot.
Corden looks to land a right hand but Johannesburg moved out of range.
Corden swats away the attempt to clinch by Johannesburg.
Johannesburg fails in his attempt to clinch.
Corden avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Corden swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Johannesburg ducks right into an uppercut from Corden.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Johannesburg has Corden up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Corden as the two fighters clinch.
Corden misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johannesburg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Corden dodges an elbow strike from Johannesburg.
Corden lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Johannesburg backwards.
Johannesburg unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A bit of stalling here from Corden.
Johannesburg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Johannesburg misses with a knee strike.
Johannesburg tries a knee to the head but Corden blocks it.
Johannesburg looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Johannesburg with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Corden lands with a left to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Corden blocks the elbow strike.
Corden leaning against his opponent.
Mark Corden seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Johannesburg tries a knee to the head but Corden blocks it.
Corden tries to work over Johannesburg's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johannesburg is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Corden is defending well for now.
Johannesburg using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Corden has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Corden managing to block the knees to the body from Johannesburg.
Corden dodges an elbow strike from Johannesburg.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A right hand to the body from Corden.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johannesburg scores with a knee to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Corden.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johannesburg.
Corden lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Johannesburg backwards.
Corden lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Corden's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Corden lands a nice hook to Johannesburg's body. Johannesburg takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Corden misses the jab.
A big right from Corden misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johannesburg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Corden swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johannesburg tries to close the distance and clinch but Corden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johannesburg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Corden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johannesburg moves forwards but Corden connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Corden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johannesburg moves away.
Johannesburg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johannesburg tries to clinch there but Corden circles away.
Johannesburg tries to clinch but Corden is having none of it.
Corden circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johannesburg is looking to clinch.
Johannesburg tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Corden manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Corden fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Corden scores with a crisp jab that stopped Johannesburg in his tracks.
Corden avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johannesburg avoids the body shot from Corden.
Johannesburg looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Johannesburg tries to clinch but Corden is having none of it.
Johannesburg tries to clinch up but Corden circles away and keeps his distance.
Johannesburg's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Corden connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Johannesburg scrambles back to his feet.
Corden getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Corden misses with a wild body shot.
Johannesburg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Corden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A little jabbing left from Corden on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Johannesburg fails with an attempt to clinch.
Corden with a nice cross.
Johannesburg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Corden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Corden looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Corden slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Johannesburg tries to clinch there but Corden circles away.
Corden fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Johannesburg on the side of the head.
Ritchie Johannesburg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johannesburg throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Corden jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Corden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Corden has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Corden!
Mark Corden took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Pitt Nutrition 160Q! 10% Laundry plus fees!!! for their support in the buildup to the fight.