PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Darin Smith (ranked 2856 p4p, 264 weight class) and Adam Johnson (ranked 4360 p4p, 357 weight class). Smith's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Long Live the Chief- Jidenna. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Smith
vs
Johnson

170 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

171 cm
19
151 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darin Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Adam Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Johnson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Smith has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smith lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Johnson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
Smith is trying to push Johnson away but Johnson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Johnson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smith seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Darin Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Johnson.
Smith throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Smith throws a body kick that misses.
Johnson feints the counter takedown.
Smith smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Johnson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smith knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Johnson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Johnson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

Johnson swings around for an armbar but Smith sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Johnson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith wants to stand and escape but instead Johnson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Johnson stands up from Smith's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.
A right-left combo lands from Smith.
Smith tests Johnson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Smith dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Johnson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Smith defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Smith goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

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

Johnson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Johnson rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Johnson has Smith pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Johnson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Smith tumbling to the mat - Johnson dives into Smith's guard.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Johnson advances position into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smith knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Johnson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smith is pushing Johnson's head away, looking to escape. Johnson manages to hold on to the position though.

Johnson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Johnson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Adam Johnson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Smith wants to clinch.

Johnson gets a double leg takedown into Smith's guard.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Johnson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Johnson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson is pushing down on Smith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Smith is fighting to maintain full guard but Johnson has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson wants to work for an arm triangle but Smith is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Smith is defending well.

Johnson is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.

Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.

Johnson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

Johnson is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Smith has managed to free his arm - good work.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Johnson stands up out of the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Smith.
And Johnson tries to counter it with a takedown but Smith pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Darin Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Smith.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Johnson.
Darin Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Johnson.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Johnson manages to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Johnson pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Smith can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
Johnson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Darin Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch up

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Smith!

Johnson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet.

Johnson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Johnson drags him back down.

Johnson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smith, who protects the arm well.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Smith coming out on top.
Johnson throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Johnson.
Darin Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Johnson.
Johnson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson missing with a left hand there. Smith was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Johnson dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
Darin Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Johnson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Smith manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Johnson stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.
Smith lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Smith.
Darin Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith lands with a nice combination. Johnson backs away looking to recover.
Smith lands with a good body shot.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Darin Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.

Smith is fighting off a takedown attempt but Johnson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Smith to the mat. Smith regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Johnson won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slips nicely into half guard.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Johnson is looking for a kimura but Smith is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Johnson to get the leverage.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

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 Darin Smith.
I think Johnson 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adam Johnson!
Adam Johnson thanked the fans post fight for their support.