PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Ricketts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Fabolous Imma Do It. 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.

Johnson
vs
Ricketts

183 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Austin Ricketts!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Ricketts closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Ricketts has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnson down to the mat. Johnson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Johnson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ricketts keeping hold of Johnson's head, controlling as best he can.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Johnson stands up out of the half guard.
Ricketts misses with a wild combination.
Ricketts is looking to clinch.

Johnson moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ricketts wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ricketts tries to pull guard but Johnson won't allow it.
James Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Austin Ricketts.
Ricketts tries for a takedown. No joy.

Ricketts has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Johnson uses from the top position.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Ricketts is keeping the position.
Johnson controlling from the top position.
Ricketts bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ricketts passes Johnson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Johnson has one foot on Ricketts's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Ricketts tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricketts lands a head kick!

It looks like James Johnson has been cut.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Ricketts against the cage.

Ricketts jumps guard.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson landing with the ground and pound.
Ricketts has a closed guard, preventing Johnson from standing up.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Ricketts working a defensive guard here.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricketts wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Ricketts gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ricketts gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Ricketts stands up from Johnson's guard - Ricketts perhaps looking for a knockout.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

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 swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ricketts counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ricketts.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Ricketts is having none of it.
Ricketts is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ricketts's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ricketts forces his way into half guard.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Ricketts is very close to passing his half guard.
Ricketts wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ricketts works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Austin Ricketts dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Johnson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson looks to clinch
and Ricketts counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Johnson tries to clinch but Ricketts is having none of it.
Ricketts looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

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

Johnson uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Ricketts shoots in and bounces Johnson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ricketts preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to sweep but instead, Ricketts has passed into half guard.
Ricketts looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Johnson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Johnson is staying active underneath Ricketts, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Ricketts is controlling well.
Ricketts is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Johnson!
Ricketts content just to control the position here.
Ricketts breaks from Johnson's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Ricketts working for a guillotine from mount but Johnson is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricketts trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Ricketts's attempts to control the action.
Johnson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson can't escape the position.
Ricketts breaks from Johnson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ricketts trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson is working to get back to half guard.
Ricketts wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ricketts putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Ricketts looking to secure an arm triangle but Johnson defends it well.
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Austin Ricketts showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Johnson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ricketts has taken the fight to the clinch.

Johnson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Johnson manages to end up in side control.

Johnson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ricketts is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ricketts blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Johnson is thwarting Ricketts's attempts to control the position.
Ricketts might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Johnson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson wants to pass to mount but Ricketts is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricketts moves into full guard.
Ricketts looking to control.
Ricketts tries to strike from the bottom.
Ricketts looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ricketts.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Ricketts against the cage.

Johnson jumps guard.

Johnson pushes Ricketts off and scrambles back to his feet.
James Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to control but Ricketts wriggling away.
Johnson landing shots from mount.
Johnson punching from mount but Ricketts doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Johnson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Johnson looking to control but Ricketts is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ricketts tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricketts taking shots to the head.
Johnson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ricketts hang on?
Ricketts holds on for dear life.
Johnson with good strikes from the mount here!
Ricketts takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ricketts wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.

Johnson goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ricketts is on top in guard.
Ricketts passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson manages to get to full guard.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ricketts throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Ricketts from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ricketts 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Austin Ricketts!