PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Grady (ranked 23944 p4p, 661 weight class) and Shaka Johnson (ranked 24033 p4p, 640 weight class). Johnson has chosen Mandoza - Nkalakatha as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Grady
vs
Johnson

189 cm
20
192 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

174 cm
24
195 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Grady!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shaka Johnson!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grady throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
Tom Grady seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grady blocks a jab.
Johnson checks a leg kick nicely.
Johnson throws out a counter right but Grady avoids it with no problem.
Grady throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Johnson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Grady wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Grady tests Johnson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A head kick misses from Grady.
Johnson lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Grady rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Grady tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Grady back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but Grady has him pressed against the cage.
Grady lands a hook to the side of the head.
Grady stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Tom Grady has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaka Johnson.
Grady gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.

Grady breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grady scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Grady pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Still in the clinch, Grady scores with a nice short uppercut.
Grady lands a nice elbow.
Johnson is looking for a takedown.
Grady is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Johnson takes a shot to the head.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
Grady scores with a nice hook to the head.
Johnson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Johnson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Grady gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Johnson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Grady's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Grady scores with a one two! Johnson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice uppercut there from Grady.
The fighters circle momentarily. Grady darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tom Grady is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Grady does no damage.
A left lands for Grady.
Grady misses with a body kick.
Grady lands a slapping body shot.
Grady throws a one two combo.
Grady swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Johnson.
Grady connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Grady scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Grady misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A punch combination from Grady misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nice body punch from Grady.
Good standup being displayed there by Grady as he connects with a hook.
Grady blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Grady swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Grady connects with a body shot that sends Johnson's belly button to the back.

Grady clinches with his opponent.
A short right from Grady.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Grady after a bit of a struggle.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Grady pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Grady lands a jab to the nose.
Johnson drops his hands momentarily and Grady takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grady connects with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson walks into a jab.
Johnson drops his hands momentarily and Grady takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson wants to counter with a clinch but Grady pushes him away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Grady darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Johnson moves out of range as Grady throws a body kick.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Grady.
Grady throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Johnson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Grady cracks Johnson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Grady dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Some wild striking there from Grady.
Johnson steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Tom Grady is winning the standup battle so far.
Grady misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Grady closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson is trying to drag Grady to the mat but Grady just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Grady stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.

Johnson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Grady got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Grady has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grady controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Grady passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Johnson is not content to let Grady control the position.

That's two 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.
The referee asks Grady politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Grady prefers to stall for the moment though.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Grady keeps moving and retains side control.
Grady is putting a hurting on Johnson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Grady controlling the position from side mount.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnson is not content to let Grady control the position.
Grady controlling from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grady wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Grady wants to control for a moment but Johnson uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Grady trying to control the pace.
Johnson is staying active underneath Grady, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Grady looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Johnson is looking to control Grady's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnson avoid being mounted?
Grady looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Johnson misses with a body kick.
Grady was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Grady tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grady closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Grady.

Grady clinches up with Johnson and pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson has Grady pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Grady manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tom Grady has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaka Johnson.
Grady working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Grady dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Grady scores with a hook to the body. Johnson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Grady cracks Johnson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Grady scores with a nice right hand.
Grady is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
A left and a right from Grady both land. Nice combination.
Grady throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Tom Grady is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Grady sizes up Johnson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Grady digs a good hook to Johnson's body.
Grady is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grady throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Johnson on the side of the head.
Johnson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Johnson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Johnson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grady tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Grady bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Johnson's head backwards.
Johnson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Johnson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Grady throws out a powerful jab.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but Grady has taken the fight into the clinch.
Grady lands a body punch in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Grady fails to land.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Grady after a bit of a struggle.

Grady breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grady gets a clinch.
Grady lands a right hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Tom Grady has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Johnson wants a takedown.
Grady lands a good knee to the midsection. Johnson won't want to take too many of those.
Grady scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Grady lands a left hand.
Johnson is working for takedown but Grady is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tom Grady has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaka Johnson.
Johnson can't get the takedown.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Grady gets through Johnson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Grady prevents a takedown attempt there.
Grady stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Grady throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Grady prevents a takedown attempt there.
A shot in the inside from Grady.
Grady makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Grady throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grady lands a body shot.
Johnson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A right hand to the body from Grady.

Grady has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Johnson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Grady really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Johnson.
Johnson trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Grady lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Grady is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Grady is landing with strikes from the back.
Johnson just trying to survive but Grady is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Grady throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Johnson right now.
Grady has the hooks in. Johnson is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Grady biding his time, controlling Johnson.
Grady lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Shaka Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grady controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Johnson is still trying to improve position.
Tom Grady is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson trying to control the hands but Grady won't let him.
Grady keeps control of the position easily here as Johnson tries to buck him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Grady showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Grady has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:25
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:25
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Grady!
In defeat, Shaka Johnson stepped up to the mic, saying 'Sometimes you have to lose to learn how to win.'.