PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Issac Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Velasquez
vs
Johnson

158 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Issac Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Velasquez quickly recovers to half guard.
Velasquez wants to get back to full guard.
Velasquez keeping hold of Johnson's head, controlling as best he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Velasquez keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Velasquez taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Velasquez's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
My spies in Hyperion Fight Club inform me that Johnson has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Velasquez moves into full guard.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Johnson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Velasquez is on top in guard.

Velasquez throwing strikes but missing.
Velasquez won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Velasquez is aware though and is defending well.
Johnson looks winded!
Johnson is looking to sweep but instead, Velasquez has passed into half guard.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.
Velasquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Velasquez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Velasquez pushes his legs off easily.
Velasquez cracks Johnson with a solid left hand.
Velasquez stands up over Johnson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Velasquez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Johnson for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Velasquez!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Velasquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Velasquez is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Velasquez avoid being mounted?
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Velasquez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Velasquez gets full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Velasquez is trying to keep Johnson in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anthony Johnson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Velasquez!
Velasquez is trying to control Johnson's posture but Johnson avoids it.
Velasquez on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Johnson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Velasquez works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Johnson is thwarting Velasquez's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Velasquez tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Velasquez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Velasquez could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Johnson has cracked it and Velasquez is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Johnson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Anthony Johnson!
Anthony Johnson opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.