PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shaka Johnson (ranked 24317 p4p, 644 weight class) and Jordan Bryant (ranked 1510 p4p, 198 weight class). Johnson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Mandoza - Nkalakatha. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Bryant

174 cm
23
195 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
20
202 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shaka Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jordan Bryant!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Alyssa Summers and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bryant looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bryant!
Johnson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Johnson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Bryant throws a jab when Johnson was well out of range.
Johnson is looking to counter the offense by Bryant and move into the clinch.
Johnson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Bryant dips to his left and cracks Johnson with an uppercut!
Bryant throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Bryant waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johnson.
Johnson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bryant.
Bryant throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
It looked like Johnson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bryant misses with a straight right.
Johnson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Bryant throws a shot from downtown. Johnson moves away and avoids it.
It looked like Johnson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Bryant throws a combination that misses
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
It seemed like Bryant was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bryant misses with a straight right.
Bryant goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Jordan Bryant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bryant throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bryant misses with a wild combination.
Johnson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Jordan Bryant is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bryant jabs Johnson right on the nose. Johnson blinks but takes it well.
Johnson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bryant to score with a decent uppercut.
Bryant throws a shot to the body.
Johnson looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Bryant might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Bryant connects with a looping right hand.
Bryant is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Johnson had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bryant scores with a nice strike.
Jab, jab by Bryant - just one landing.
Danga de danga de dang - Bryant scores with a four punch combination!

Johnson is rocked!
Bryant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Oh Johnson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bryant throws a one two combo.
Bryant displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johnson throws out the jab.
Bryant lands a jab to the head.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
Johnson seems to have got his legs back now.
Bryant misses with a lunging right hand

so Johnson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. Bryant uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Bryant!

Bryant landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Johnson thows a huge punch but Bryant dodges it nicely.

Johnson seems to be working for a kimura but Bryant defends the submission attempt.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Bryant dodges it nicely.
Bryant blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Johnson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Bryant tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Bryant slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Bryant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Bryant.
Bryant bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bryant.
Johnson is looking to counter the offense by Bryant and move into the clinch.
Bryant throws an off balance right hand
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.
Nice cross by Bryant.
Johnson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Bryant paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Johnson slips a straight right by Bryant.
Bryant fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bryant lands a head shot.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Decent striking displayed by Bryant there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bryant thuds a left hand into Johnson's body.
Bryant throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Johnson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bryant rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Johnson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant throws a hook but Johnson avoids it easily.
Bryant swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johnson counters with a series of strikes. Bryant will be more careful next time no doubt.
Bryant feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Johnsons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Jab by Bryant.
Bryant has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bryant blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Bryant throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bryant sprawls and moves away.
Bryant cracks Johnson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Bryant scores with a crisp jab that stopped Johnson in his tracks.
Bryant paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Johnson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Bryant lands the left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Bryant.
Bryant throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As Bryant tries to get set, Johnson tries to push him back and clinch up but Bryant manages to avoid the attempt.
Bryant throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johnson lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Bryant. That snapped Johnson's head back.
Bryant wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bryant lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bryant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Johnson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Bryant digs a good body shot into Johnson's ribs.
Bryant lands with a shot to the body.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
As Bryant tries to get set, Johnson tries to push him back and clinch up but Bryant manages to avoid the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Bryant misses with a hook.
Johnson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Bryant misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson throws a big counter combination but Bryant scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Bryant lands with a cross.
Johnson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bryant lands with an uppercut that bounces Johnson off the cage and back into range.
Bryant misses with a right hand
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Bryant throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bryant connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jordan Bryant seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Johnson takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Bryant lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Johnson backs up against the cage.
Bryant moves out of range of the body kick from Johnson.
Bryant swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bryant misses with a hook

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown. Bryant fights it but they end up in guard.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Bryant blocks nicely.
Bryant tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Bryant is retaining full guard.
Bryant wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan Bryant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bryant stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bryant digs a good body shot into Johnson's ribs.
Johnson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bryant.
Johnson throwing a counter right hand but Bryant manages to avoid it.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bryant.
Johnson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A telegraphed right hand from Bryant misses the target.
Bryant ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Bryant misses with a wild combination.
Johnson is looking to counter the offense by Bryant and move into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Bryant misses.
Johnson throws a quick counter head kick but Bryant was just out of range.
Johnson blocks a jab.
Bryant paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
Johnson tries to counter with a takedown but Bryant is quick to defend against it.
Bryant throws a big shot that misses.
As Bryant looks to move away, Johnson throws a big counter combo but Bryant just gets out of the way.
Johnson tries to move into range but Bryant moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bryant listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Bryant throws a combination that misses

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bryant avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Johnson is keen to just control but Bryant is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnson is working for a submission of some sort.
Bryant 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.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bryant does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant controlling the position well.

Johnson is working for a kimura but Bryant is defending it quite comfortably.
Bryant is trying to get back to full guard.
Shaka Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bryant has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Bryant is in trouble now - Johnson has advanced to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Bryant from getting the reversal.
Bryant takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Bryant keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bryant wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Bryant tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
Johnson working the ground and pound effectively.
Bryant is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson breaks from Bryant's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Bryant is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Johnson with the ground and pound from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johnson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bryant has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bryant!
Johnson is trying to control the position but Bryant postures up.
Shaka Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bryant stands and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Johnson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bryant working the head and body with strikes.

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 Shaka Johnson.
I think Bryant has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jordan Bryant!
The defeated Shaka Johnson had this to say: 'Sometimes you have to lose to learn how to win.'.