PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Clerk Maxwell (ranked 2073 p4p, 3481 weight class) and Lefty Johnson (ranked 117 p4p, 192 weight class). Johnson has chosen Masturbate by Outlaw as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Clerk Maxwell
vs
Johnson

165 cm
21
136
7 - 4 - 0

153 cm
20
148
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Hoarse Pills

Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, James Clerk Maxwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lefty Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Roberts and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson clinches with his opponent.
Clerk Maxwell lands with a short shot to the head.
Clerk Maxwell lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Lefty Johnson has been cut.
Clerk Maxwell throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Clerk Maxwell has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Johnson is pushing Clerk Maxwell up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Clerk Maxwell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a left to the body.
Johnson has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A big right from Johnson misses.
It looked like Clerk Maxwell was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Clerk Maxwell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Clerk Maxwell scores with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a right hand to the body.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Clerk Maxwell.
Clerk Maxwell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Johnson throws a counter combo.
Johnson with a poor takedown
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Johnson is looking to clinch but Clerk Maxwell is avoiding it.
Clerk Maxwell lands a nice looking body shot.
Clerk Maxwell moves forwards but Johnson connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Johnson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Clerk Maxwell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
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!
Clerk Maxwell can't do much from the bottom here.
Clerk Maxwell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Clerk Maxwell tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Who's going to make the next move?

Johnson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Johnson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Johnson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clerk Maxwell is trying to improve his position.
Johnson controlling the position from side mount.
Clerk Maxwell is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Johnson gets to mount! Clerk Maxwell was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

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.
Clerk Maxwell really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Johnson looking to secure an arm triangle but Clerk Maxwell defends it well.
Clerk Maxwell is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James Clerk Maxwell will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lefty Johnson's cut.
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.

Clerk Maxwell stuns Johnson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Clerk Maxwell lands a body shot.
Clerk Maxwell throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Clerk Maxwell dips to his left and cracks Johnson with an uppercut!
Clerk Maxwell cracks Johnson with a good jab.
Lefty Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson has Clerk Maxwell up against the cage in a clinch.
Clerk Maxwell lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Johnson successfully pulls guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Clerk Maxwell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Clerk Maxwell tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Clerk Maxwell is stalling in the full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Johnson is looking to sweep but instead, Clerk Maxwell has passed into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Johnson trying to control from the bottom.
Clerk Maxwell stalling.
Clerk Maxwell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Johnson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Johnson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Clerk Maxwell trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a body punch
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a stiff right hand.
Johnson tries to clinch
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Clerk Maxwell to acknowledge the strikes.

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Clerk Maxwell seems keen to control Johnson's posture.
Clerk Maxwell has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Clerk Maxwell keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Clerk Maxwell keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clerk Maxwell connects with a single shot there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Clerk Maxwell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lefty Johnson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Clerk Maxwell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson wants to counter with a clinch but Clerk Maxwell pushes him away.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a nice body shot.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnson shoots and misses
and Clerk Maxwell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd cheers as Clerk Maxwell lands an impressive looking overhand right. Johnson doesn't seem phased though.

Johnson is rocked!
Johnson misses with a takedown
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a stiff jab, followed by a cross and an uppercut! That's too much punishment for Johnson to take - he tumbles to the canvas, blood pouring from his nose, barely conscious. That's the end of the fight! Great knockout by Clerk Maxwell!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). James Clerk Maxwell!
James Clerk Maxwell seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Lefty Johnson was interviewed post fight and said 'My left arm is always strong, remember that!'.