PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billy Belcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hunter Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hunter Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Belcher
vs
Johnson

195 cm
18
225 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

176 cm
21
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Belcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hunter Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson blocks a leg kick.
Belcher throws a leg kick but Johnson moved away.

Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Johnson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Belcher is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Belcher tries to escape but Johnson is in control.
Johnson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Belcher sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Belcher can't do much from the bottom here.
Johnson tries to advance to mount but Belcher denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Belcher tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Belcher tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Belcher manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Belcher lands a really nice looking cross but Johnson seems unphased.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Johnson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belcher is looking to improve his position.
Belcher is breathing heavily.
Belcher is looking to escape.

Johnson escapes and gets back to his feet.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with Belcher.
Johnson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Belcher.
Johnson checks a leg kick.
Belcher takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A head kick by Belcher misses

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Belcher won't be happy with that.

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

Johnson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Belcher to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belcher throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Johnson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson controlling from the full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson looking to control but Belcher is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Belcher sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Belcher tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Johnson moves into the clinch.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A punch combination from Belcher misses.
Belcher closes the distance looking to clinch

and Johnson counters by clinching up.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Belcher pulls his leg out and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Belcher gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Belcher wants to break the clinch but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Belcher tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnson wants to clinch.

Belcher moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Belcher's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Belcher fails to land with a series of punches.
Belcher looks to clinch

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Johnson won't allow Belcher to get back to his feet.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Belcher keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Johnson has eaten all the pies!
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Belcher keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belcher wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belcher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Belcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Johnson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Belcher working a defensive guard but Johnson manages to pass into side control anyway.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belcher is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Belcher gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Belcher is keeping the position.
Belcher is looking to stand back up but Johnson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Belcher.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Johnson in particular looking to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson escapes and gets back to his feet.
Belcher closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side
and Johnson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Belcher is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Belcher swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Belcher's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Belcher keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands up from Belcher's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hunter Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Belcher falls off balance throwing a combination

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Belcher!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Belcher looks a forlorn figure.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Despite being in the dominant position, Hunter Johnson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Belcher.
Belcher closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Billy Belcher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A combination from Belcher does no damage.
Billy Belcher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Belcher napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Johnson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hunter Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hunter Johnson!