PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cortez Wiggins (ranked 25261 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Johnston (ranked 9042 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Wiggins
vs
Johnston

223 cm
20
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
130 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cortez Wiggins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phil Johnston!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnston closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Wiggins's guard.
Wiggins is pulling down on Johnston's head to control his posture.
Wiggins has a closed guard, preventing Johnston from standing up.

Wiggins looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wiggins wants to get back to his feet but Johnston passes into half guard.
Wiggins keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Wiggins tries to roll over but Johnston keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wiggins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnston.
Wiggins is concentrating on defense, preventing Johnston from advancing position.
Johnston blocks the strikes from Wiggins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wiggins keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wiggins wants to control but Johnston is keeping busy.

Johnston is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Wiggins looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Wiggins controlling the position well.
Wiggins is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnston missing with some ground and pound from the 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.
Wiggins is trying to get back to full guard.
Wiggins is trying to stand.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Wiggins trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wiggins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnston.

Johnston clinches up against the cage.
Johnston effectively controlling the action here.

Johnston jumps into guard, dragging Wiggins to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wiggins stopping the sweep attempt from Johnston.

Johnston is looking for a triangle here but Wiggins uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johnston tries to bench press Wiggins off him but Wiggins keeps the position.

Wiggins tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Wiggins is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnston is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Wiggins is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johnston has escaped the position, nice work there.
Johnston taking punishment in the form of punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Wiggins tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Johnston dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnston dives in and scores a takedown into Wiggins's guard.
Wiggins keeping moving, preventing Johnston from controlling successfully.
Wiggins pulls Johnston in close to prevent any damage.
Johnston must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Wiggins looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wiggins trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston postures up.
Johnston is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Wiggins wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Johnston is now in half guard.
Wiggins keeping control of the position.
Phil Johnston has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnston is keen to just control but Wiggins is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Wiggins moves into full guard.
Wiggins is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Wiggins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wiggins controls Johnston momentarily but Johnston frees himself.

Johnston stands up from Wiggins's guard - Johnston perhaps looking for a knockout.

Johnston shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Wiggins manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Johnston has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wiggins is trying to hold Johnston in close to prevent damage but Johnston has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wiggins wants to improve his position but Johnston is controlling well.
Johnston wants to stand up but Wiggins is controlling the position.
Johnston throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wiggins trying to hold on to Johnston's head to control him but Johnston postures up.
Wiggins preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Wiggins pushes Johnston off looking to stand but Johnston dives back in and keeps control.

Wiggins looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Wiggins is trying to stand back up but Johnston is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Johnston is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Wiggins won't allow Johnston to pass to mount.
Johnston slows the pace down in half guard.
Johnston passes into side control, despite Wiggins's attempt to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnston misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Wiggins trying his best to control but Johnston has mounted him.
Wiggins tries to hold on but Johnston pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Johnston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Johnston shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Wiggins blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnston.
Wiggins regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Johnston.
Wiggins trying to control the position here.
Wiggins avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wiggins avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnston wants to pass the guard but Wiggins is keeping the position.
Johnston is fighting to break Wiggins's control of his arms but Wiggins is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wiggins is looking to stand up but Johnston isn't so interested in that idea.
Wiggins controlling the position.

Wiggins throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Johnston trying to control but Wiggins is working from the bottom.
Wiggins has Johnston pulled in close to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wiggins looks to clinch
and Johnston counters with a left and a right that stings Wiggins.

Wiggins is rocked!
Wiggins looks up at the clock. Bad move! Johnston lands a right hand from hell, dropping Wiggins. Johnston pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Phil Johnston!