PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Diego Rojas (ranked 9070 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Johnston (ranked 8481 p4p, 0 weight class). Diego Rojas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rojas
vs
Johnston

207 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
130 lbs
3 - 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Diego Rojas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phil Johnston!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston fails to land the takedown.
Rojas is looking to counter the offense by Johnston and move into the clinch.

Johnston moves into the clinch successfully.
Johnston can't get the takedown.

Johnston's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Johnston closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rojas is trying to pull guard but Johnston turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Rojas gets control of Johnston's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rojas will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnston trying to control the position from guard on top but Rojas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnston won't allow Rojas to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rojas keeping moving, preventing Johnston from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rojas is keeping the position for now.
Rojas has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rojas keeping moving, preventing Johnston from controlling successfully.
Rojas wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Johnston trying to control the position from guard on top but Rojas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rojas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Johnston can pounce on him.
Johnston misses with a takedown attempt - Rojas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rojas looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Diego Rojas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Johnston.

Rojas scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rojas cracks Johnston with a big elbow.
Rojas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
You can see the frustration on Johnston's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rojas taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is trying to control Rojas's posture but Rojas avoids it.
Rojas working the ground and pound.
Johnston tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Johnston taking a bit of punishment here - Rojas scoring with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Johnston's face as Rojas controls the position.
Rojas lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Johnston down.
Rojas works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Johnston tries to buck Rojas off but Rojas is having none of it.

Rojas stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rojas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Johnston's half guard.

Johnston has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rojas is on him like a limpet, forcing Johnston back against the cage.
Rojas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Johnston to keep the fight standing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnston wants a takedown.
Johnston looks winded!
Rojas tries to pull guard but Johnston won't allow it.
Rojas creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Rojas manages to pull guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rojas is keeping the position for now.

Johnston sitting in guard doing not very much at all here. Rojas doesn't need a second invitation though! He's locked up a guillotine and he's squeezing tight! That is tiiiiiiiiight! Johnston paying the price for stalling here - he's pushing hard on the arm trying to free himself but it's no use! He's tapped! WOW, quick submission from Rojas - great work!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Diego Rojas!