PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Icaro O Voador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zescho Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

O Voador
vs
Johnson

180 cm
21
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

202 cm
18
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Icaro O Voador!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zescho Johnson!
The judges for this bout are , and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

O Voador moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
O Voador looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
O Voador goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Johnson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. O Voador gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Johnson is trying to drag O Voador to the mat but O Voador just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
O Voador is trying to drag Johnson to the mat but Johnson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
O Voador trying to land knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for O Voador.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Voador drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Icaro O Voador has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zescho Johnson.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with O Voador, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes O Voador against the cage but O Voador circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. O Voador tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag O Voador to the ground. O Voador escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around O Voador's waist but O Voador gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Johnson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Johnson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but O Voador pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Johnson looking for a takedown.
O Voador working hard to break the clinch.

O Voador breaks the clinch.

Johnson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. O Voador was covering up waiting for the punch and Johnson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
O Voador pulls Johnson in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Voador throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
O Voador 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.
O Voador is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.
O Voador looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
O Voador is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Voador is pulling down on Johnson's head to control his posture.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with O Voador. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Johnson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Johnson wants to stand up but O Voador is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Johnson uses his free foot to push down on O Voador's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for O Voador.
O Voador tries to get back to half guard but can't.
O Voador might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johnson avoids the attempt from O Voador to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zescho Johnson 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.

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in O Voador's guard.
O Voador wants to control the position but Johnson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Johnson stands up out of the half guard.

Johnson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
O Voador gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is trying to control. O Voador wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Voador is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can O Voador avoid being mounted?
Johnson tries to stand but his hand is stuck under O Voador.

Johnson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
O Voador is trying to stand up here but Johnson is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
O Voador is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
O Voador tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A big right from O Voador misses.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with O Voador but O Voador pushes him off and we're back to square one.
O Voador throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Icaro O Voador is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

O Voador shoots in and bounces Johnson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but O Voador pushes his legs off easily.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but O Voador defends easily.
O Voador trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
O Voador trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

O Voador drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and O Voador jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
O Voador is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
O Voador misses the shot to the body.
O Voador throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Zescho Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Voador avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and O Voador counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Icaro O Voador will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

O Voador tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches O Voador napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Zescho Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Johnson stands up.
Johnson tries to clinch but O Voador moves away
and O Voador counters with a good, hard body kick but Johnson shrugs it off.
Johnson closes the distance looking to clinch

and O Voador moves into the clinch.
O Voador wants to break free but Johnson has control.
O Voador is working for takedown but Johnson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Johnson looking for a takedown.

Johnson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

O Voador manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and O Voador counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Johnson's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

O Voador avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
O Voador is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Johnson wants to stand up but O Voador is controlling him.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but O Voador defends easily.
O Voador lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Johnson working for a triangle but O Voador defends it easily.
O Voador prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - O Voador looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
O Voador fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Johnson is out of range.
Johnson has his takedown stuffed

and O Voador counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Icaro O Voador has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zescho Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Voador is in close to Johnson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
O Voador is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.
O Voador wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
O Voador preventing the sweep.
O Voador thows a big elbow that misses.
O Voador preventing the sweep.
O Voador stays in close to Johnson's body and controls the position.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but O Voador defends easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

O Voador takes the fight into the clinch.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but O Voador pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.

O Voador darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from O Voador as the two fighters clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
O Voador tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
O Voador prevents a takedown attempt there.

Johnson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Icaro O Voador showed his dominance in that final round.
I think O Voador has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Icaro O Voador!