PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between john johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Barr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that john johnston has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily john johnston seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

johnston
vs
Barr

165 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

225 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, john johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jon Barr!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barr throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by johnston.
Barr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barr lands a head kick. johnston smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Barr tries to clinch but johnston moves away

and johnston counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Barr!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

johnston has control of Barr's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Barr regains control of the situation pretty easily.

johnston has control of Barr's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Barr regains control of the situation pretty easily.
johnston won't let Barr get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

johnston is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Barr has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Barr defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from johnston.

johnston stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Barr throws a head kick that misses.

johnston closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

johnston thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
johnston is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
johnston prevents Barr from escaping the position.

johnston working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Barr wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

johnston tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no johnston has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Barr is trying to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Barr tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Barr lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but johnston circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Barr wants to clinch up but johnston keeps it at a distance.
Barr tries to clinch but fails miserably

and johnston counters by moving into the clinch.
johnston tries to land knees in the clinch but Barr avoids the damage to the body.
Barr managing to block the knees to the body from johnston.
With the fighters up against the cage, Barr throws an elbow but misses.
Barr throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but johnston blocks it with crossed arms.
Barr misses with a knee strike.

johnston drags the fight down to the ground.

johnston working for a triangle but Barr defends it easily.

johnston looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

johnston escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barr gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barr wants to clinch but johnston slips to the side

and johnston counters with a single leg into guard. Barr didn't expect that.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barr can do anything to dispel that myth.

johnston drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and johnston jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Barr wants to get back to his feet but johnston is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Barr pushes johnston off and scrambles back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
johnston avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
john johnston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barr tries to close the distance and clinch up but johnston swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Barr has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barr throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but johnston blocks it with crossed arms.
Barr lands a knee to the body.
johnston missing with knees to the body.
johnston takes an elbow to the temple.
Barr throws an elbow that misses.
johnston fails to pull guard.
johnston misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barr.
Barr misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from johnston.
Barr lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
johnston with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barr looking to throw knees to the head but johnston is blocking nicely.
Barr misses with a knee strike.
Barr tries a knee to the head but johnston blocks it.
johnston tries to pull guard but Barr holds him up against the cage and eventually johnston drops back down to his feet.
Barr tries to land knees in the clinch but johnston avoids the damage to the body.
johnston misses with a knee to the head.
johnston tries to pull guard but Barr holds him up against the cage and eventually johnston drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for john johnston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barr using the Thai plumb to throw knees but johnston has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

johnston ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. johnston no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Barr would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two 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.

johnston working for a triangle but Barr defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

johnston looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Barr has picked johnston up and slammed him! johnston can't keep hold of the triangle and Barr manages to pass to side control!
johnston is looking to regain half guard here but Barr keeps moving and retains side control.

Barr has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Jon Barr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barr wants to clinch.

Barr has taken the fight to the clinch.
Barr avoiding damage as johnston throws knees to the body.
Barr is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
johnston takes an elbow to the forehead.
Barr lands a nice knee to the body.
Barr lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Barr throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but johnston blocks it with crossed arms.
johnston tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
johnston tries for a takedown. No joy.
Barr creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through johnston's defenses.
johnston throws a knee to the head but misses.
Barr lands a knee to the head.
Barr misses with a knee to the head.
johnston wants a takedown.
Barr connects with a nasty looking knee right to johnston's face.
Barr throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but johnston blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four 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.
Barr looking to throw knees to the head but johnston is blocking nicely.
Barr throws a knee to the head but misses.
Barr with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barr tries to land a knee to the head but johnston blocks with his arms.
Barr with a knee to the head.
Barr misses with a knee strike.
johnston tries to land a knee to the head but Barr blocks with his arms.
johnston takes an elbow to the forehead.
Barr landing knees to the head.
Barr lands a damaging elbow.
Barr connects with a nasty looking knee right to johnston's face.
Barr with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barr throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but johnston blocks it with crossed arms.
johnston jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Barr walks away with a smile on his face. johnston gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

johnston feints and as Barr raises his hands in defense, johnston changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barr is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst johnston is controlling him.
johnston would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

john johnston dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Barr tries to close the distance and clinch up but johnston swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barr tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
johnston throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
johnston fails with a takedown attempt.
Barr doesn't manage to clinch there - johnston circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
johnston swats away the attempt to clinch by Barr.

Barr moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knees to the body from Barr.
johnston tries to land a knee to the head but Barr blocks with his arms.
johnston tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barr scores with a knee to the head.
johnston wants a takedown.
Barr lands a knee to the head.
Barr throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnston tries to land knees in the clinch but Barr avoids the damage to the body.
Barr gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Barr lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
johnston tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
johnston jumps guard but Barr stands there with johnston around his waist. johnston gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for john johnston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barr connects with a nasty looking knee right to johnston's face.
A knee to the head by Barr.
Barr lands a knee to the head.
Barr pushes off an throws an elbow but johnston leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Barr connects with a nasty looking knee right to johnston's face.
Barr tries to land a knee to the head but johnston blocks with his arms.
johnston has Barr pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Barr manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Barr gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Barr using the Thai plumb to throw knees but johnston has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barr gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from johnston.
johnston drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barr misses with a knee to the head.
Jon Barr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Barr looking to throw knees to the head but johnston is blocking nicely.
Barr lands an elbow inside that johnston shrugs off.
Barr with an attempt at a knee that misses.
johnston takes a knee right on the jaw!
Barr tries to land knees in the clinch but johnston avoids the damage to the body.

johnston has hold of one of Barr's legs. Barr is fighting the takedown attempt but johnston gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Barr manages to escape and get back to his feet.
johnston tries to clinch there but Barr circles away.
Barr just misses with a punch to the body.
Barr tries to clinch up

and johnston counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Barr is looking to escape.

johnston is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
johnston stops Barr from getting back to his feet.

johnston decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
johnston avoids the head kick by Barr.
Nice sprawl there from Barr as johnston shoots in.
johnston throws a lazy right hand but Barr sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barr tries a head kick but it misses.
Barr clinches but johnston breaks the clinch

and johnston counters by moving into the clinch.
Barr tries to land a knee to the head but johnston blocks with his arms.
Barr throws a knee to the head but misses.
Barr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
johnston looking to throw knees to the head but Barr is blocking nicely.
johnston fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barr lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Barr creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through johnston's defenses.
Barr misses with a knee strike.
Barr throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nice elbow from Barr.
johnston tries a knee to the head but Barr blocks it.
Barr with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Barr lands a knee to the head.
Barr using the Thai plumb to throw knees but johnston has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barr stops a takedown attempt from johnston.
Barr lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
johnston tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barr smiles and moves away.
Barr wants to clinch

and johnston counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barr's guard now.
john johnston overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Barr has an active guard here but johnston has managed to pass into half guard.

Barr is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but johnston pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
john johnston showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for johnston, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... john johnston!