PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jason Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bear McKenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bear McKenzie will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Johnson
vs
McKenzie

170 cm
25
162 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

170 cm
19
150 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bear McKenzie!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
McKenzie pushes Johnson off looking to stand but Johnson dives back in and keeps control.
McKenzie keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johnson trying to control from half guard but McKenzie is working away.
Johnson is stalling here. McKenzie is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Johnson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and McKenzie has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
McKenzie working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenzie working the ground and pound but Johnson is defending the strikes.
Johnson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of McKenzie.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A slow jab from McKenzie misses its intended target.
McKenzie lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by McKenzie.

It looks like Jason Johnson has been cut.
Johnson throws a series of punches but McKenzie avoids them all with ease.
McKenzie works the jab nicely.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McKenzie.
McKenzie lands a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McKenzie throws a left and a right that both miss
and Johnson counters with an outside leg kick.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and McKenzie moves out of range easily.

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Johnson tries to score a body lock takedown but McKenzie shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
McKenzie is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Johnson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson pulls guard.
McKenzie throwing strikes from guard but Johnson blocks nicely.
McKenzie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McKenzie wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
McKenzie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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 three minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
McKenzie would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McKenzie lunges at Johnson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Johnson's hand.
Johnson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McKenzie misses with a takedown

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McKenzie's guard now.
Johnson wants to control from the top but McKenzie keeps moving.
McKenzie wants to stand and escape but Johnson is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
McKenzie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McKenzie wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McKenzie dives on top into guard.
McKenzie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McKenzie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bear McKenzie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jason Johnson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Jason Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
McKenzie trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but McKenzie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
McKenzie looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Johnson prevents McKenzie from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenzie trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
McKenzie wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson trying to control but McKenzie is working from the bottom.
McKenzie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but McKenzie manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

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 working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McKenzie.
McKenzie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Johnson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McKenzie is trying to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling him.
McKenzie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Johnson prevents it.
Johnson content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McKenzie is fighting off a takedown attempt but Johnson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip McKenzie to the mat. McKenzie regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Johnson trying to control but McKenzie is working from the bottom.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McKenzie dives on top into guard.
McKenzie looking to pass the guard.
McKenzie won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
McKenzie throws and elbow that misses. Johnson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McKenzie's guard. Nice move by Johnson!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson postures up in McKenzie's guard and throws a big left but McKenzie blocks it.
McKenzie is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McKenzie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McKenzie is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson defending well as McKenzie loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Johnson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jason 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. This is the final round!

McKenzie is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
McKenzie misses with a straight left.
Nice uppercut there from McKenzie.
McKenzie gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
McKenzie lands an overhand right.
McKenzie slips a jab and a cross from Johnson.
Johnson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McKenzie swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johnson counters with a slapping leg kick.
Johnson blocks a head kick by McKenzie.
McKenzie scores with a nice strike.
Bear McKenzie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson with a knee to the head.

Johnson has hold of one of McKenzie's legs. McKenzie is fighting the takedown attempt but Johnson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
McKenzie wants to get back to his feet but Johnson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenzie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson trying to control but McKenzie is working from the bottom.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson wants to control from the top but McKenzie keeps moving.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but McKenzie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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.
McKenzie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McKenzie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
McKenzie ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Johnson throws a leg kick which misses McKenzie's front leg but catches the back leg as McKenzie tries to avoid it.
McKenzie lands a with a good body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McKenzie misses with a takedown
and Johnson counters with a head kick. That will keep McKenzie thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
McKenzie ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Johnson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McKenzie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McKenzie misses the jab.
McKenzie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Jason Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bear McKenzie.
McKenzie lands a body shot.
McKenzie connects with a crisp jab.
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.
McKenzie thows a left - swing and a miss!
McKenzie throws a lazy head kick
and Johnson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps McKenzie thinking.
McKenzie stuns Johnson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McKenzie avoids it really well and circles away.
McKenzie throws a body kick the misses
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.
McKenzie with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Johnson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jab from McKenzie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Johnson is looking to clinch but McKenzie is avoiding it.
McKenzie lands a body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as McKenzie shoots in.
McKenzie uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Johnson has time to react.
Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McKenzie.
Bear McKenzie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McKenzie.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McKenzie to the mat! McKenzie manages to get full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as McKenzie holds on and takes a little breather.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bear McKenzie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McKenzie 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bear McKenzie!