PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Barba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Manuel Johnson enters the cage!

Barba
vs
Johnson

188 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
19
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Barba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Manuel Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barba feints and as Johnson raises his hands in defense, Barba changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barba would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Barba 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.
Johnson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Johnson wants to control the pace but Barba is squirming around nicely.
Barba tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
Johnson tries to control but Barba wriggling away.
Barba regains half guard.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Barba is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barba has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barba is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Barba avoid being mounted?

Barba looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Johnson is keen to just control but Barba is a slippery customer.
Johnson works his way into side control.
Johnson trying to control the action but Barba is working from the bottom.

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

Barba shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Barba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johnson defends it well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Johnson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Barba has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Barba is trying to stand.
Johnson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Barba!
Barba is in all sorts of trouble here.

Barba defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Johnson.
Barba tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.

Johnson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Barba manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Barba can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barba knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Johnson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Johnson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Barba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnson gets to mount! Barba was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Barba defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Johnson.

That's four 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.
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Barba is working to get back to half guard.
Johnson looking to control but Barba is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Barba tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.

Johnson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Barba manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Barba looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Manuel Johnson will probably get the nod.
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 doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Barba decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.

Johnson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barba defends well.
Barba preventing the sweep.
Barba trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Barba has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Barba wants to get up but he can't break Johnson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Barba has gone for a leg lock! Johnson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Barba's guard.

Johnson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Barba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barba wants to improve his position but instead Johnson has moved into half guard.
Johnson slows the pace down in half guard.

Barba is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.

Barba looking for a kimura from the bottom but Johnson passes into side control!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two 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 wants to control but Barba is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Barba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Barba wants to get back to his feet but Johnson drags him back down.
Johnson advances nicely into full mount.
Barba is trying desperately to improve position.

Johnson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Barba is surviving well by controlling Johnson's body position as best he can.
Manuel Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barba tries to improve his position but instead Johnson has taken his back!
Barba rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Barba defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barba tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.

Barba actively working from the bottom here.

Barba looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barba is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.

Johnson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Barba regains full guard. Nicely done.

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.
Johnson trying to control but Barba is working from the bottom.
Johnson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Barba is keeping the position.

Barba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Barba is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Manuel Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Barba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Barba is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Barba tries to score a body lock takedown but Johnson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Good body shot from Barba.

Johnson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Barba is defending well.

Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.
Barba is trying to stand.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Barba won't allow it.
Barba wants to get back to full guard but Johnson has passed into side control.
Johnson is looking to work his way around to Barba's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

Johnson working for a submission but Barba is keeping him at bay.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Barba from getting the reversal.
Barba is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Barba is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Johnson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Barba to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Barba shrugs it off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barba sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Barba trying to control from the bottom.
Barba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnson's back!
Manuel Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Barba throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

Johnson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Barba is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Johnson breaks Barba's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Barba controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Johnson controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barba working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.
Johnson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Frank Barba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Barba working for submissions but it's allowed Johnson to get to half guard.
Johnson controlling the action here.

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.

Barba looking for a kimura from the bottom but Johnson passes into side control!
Barba looks to move to half guard but instead Johnson has passed into mount! Damn!
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manuel Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

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