PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Peyton Manning (ranked 954 p4p, 128 weight class) and Luke Johnson (ranked 3278 p4p, 374 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Manning might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Jiu-Jitsu. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Manning
vs
Johnson

180 cm
30
197 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

179 cm
48
183 lbs
40 - 17 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Peyton Manning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luke Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manning shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Manning's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Johnson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've been hearing reports that Manning has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Manning shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Johnson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Manning actively working from the bottom here.
Well, if Johnson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Manning wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson controlling the pace.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Manning is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Manning is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Manning wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Manning has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Manning is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Manning tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Johnson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Manning defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manning is trying to get back to full guard.
Manning is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Manning is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Manning is defending well.
Manning is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Manning taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
Manning is looking to improve his position.
Manning works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Manning is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Manning has escaped and now he's on top!

Manning tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Manning stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manning trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manning trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson is trying to keep Manning in close.
Manning pushes down on Johnson's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Johnson is defending against the submission attempts here by Manning.

Johnson is defending against the submission attempts here by Manning.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Manning pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Johnson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Manning shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Manning shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Manning.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peyton Manning. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Manning dodges it nicely.
Johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Manning looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Manning wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson wants to pass to mount but Manning is defending the position.
Johnson is trying to control. Manning wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson controlling the action here.
Manning is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Johnson moves nicely into side control.
Manning keeps Johnson under control for a moment.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Manning is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Manning is looking to reverse the position.
Manning manages to get back to half guard.
Manning works his way to full guard. Good work.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Manning has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between Manning's legs - danger averted.
Johnson with a nice head shot there.
Johnson works over Manning with some ground and pound from guard.
Johnson stays in close to Manning's body and controls the position.
Johnson is working Manning over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Manning is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manning trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson trying to control but Manning is working from the bottom.
Johnson forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manning tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Manning is working hard here to advance position.
Manning is trying to control but can't.
Johnson prevents Manning from improving his position.
Johnson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Manning is defending well.
Manning manages to get to full guard.

Manning is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnson is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Manning pulls Johnson in to control the position.
Johnson won't allow Manning to sweep him here.
Manning keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Manning looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Manning is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manning controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.

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

Manning shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Johnson has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Manning wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Johnson tries to sprawl but Manning drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Manning is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.
Johnson is staying active underneath Manning, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson is positioning himself well to prevent Manning advancing to mount.
Johnson wants to control but Manning is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manning is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Manning is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Johnson sees it coming and defends easily.
Manning throwing shots but Johnson is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is doing well to control the position and prevent Manning from advancing to side control.
Johnson moves into full guard.
Johnson has control of Manning's left arm, preventing Manning from doing any damage.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Manning from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Johnson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Manning's guard.

Manning looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slips nicely into half guard.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Manning is defending well.
Manning is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Manning gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manning keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Manning looking to control.
Manning has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Manning keeps moving.
Luke Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Manning is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Manning working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Johnson trying to control but Manning is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Johnson advances to half guard.
Johnson controlling the action here.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Manning wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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 Peyton Manning.
Well Johnson 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Johnson!
A very excited looking Luke Johnson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.