PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Corey Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luther Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's entrance music is St. Elmo's Fire. A fine choice. Pope has chosen No Sunshine as his entrance music. Corey Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnson
vs
Pope

170 cm
28
155 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

172 cm
23
157 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Corey Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luther Pope!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Pope. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Pope keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnson.
Corey Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson misses with a looping right.
Johnson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Johnson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson lands with a hook. Pope tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pope lunges at Johnson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Johnson's hand.
Johnson blocks a jab.
Johnson misses with a hook. Pope ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Pope sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pope takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Pope steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Pope sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Corey Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pope looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Pope throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Johnson misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Pope counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson swings away with a body shot that misses
and Pope counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Pope fails to land with a series of punches.
Pope throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Johnson throws a hook but Pope avoids it easily.
Johnson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Pope fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Pope misses with a jab to the body

so Johnson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope is looking to stand up but Johnson isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pope's guard.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but Pope is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Johnson to get the leverage.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pope is trying to stand up here but Johnson is controlling him well.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pope's head.

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.
Pope wants to get back to full guard but Johnson has mounted him!

Johnson goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Pope turns into him and now he's in Johnson's guard.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Pope!
Johnson unloads with some shots from mount but Pope bucks and avoids them well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luther Pope will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson lands with a good body shot.
A jab from Pope misses.
Johnson slips under a jab from Pope.
Pope goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Pope lands with a shot to the body.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pope.
Johnson swings for the body but Pope moves out of range.
Pope keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pope is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Pope circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pope moves away.
Johnson swinging wildly here.
Pope swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pope swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Pope counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

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.
Pope misses with a combination
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.
Johnson misses with a hook. Pope ducked under it nicely.
Johnson misses with a body punch
and Pope makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Johnson really felt that one!
Pope scores with a leg kick.
Pope wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Pope.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Pope avoids nicely.
Johnson cracks Pope with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Pope throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pope throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson throws the left hand but Pope avoids the punch easily.
Pope tries a low kick but Johnson avoids it.
Johnson misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pope pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pope takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Pope scores with a one two! Johnson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Corey Johnson has been cut.
Johnson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Pope circles away.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Johnson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Pope blocking the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luther Pope showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Corey Johnson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Pope misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnson throws a shot to the body.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson looks to land a right hand but Pope moved out of range.
Johnson loads up on a big right hand but Pope slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Johnson.
Luther Pope seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson wants to land a leg kick but Pope is out of range.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Pope scores with a jab. Johnson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Pope swings away with a body shot that misses

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pope's guard.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pope wants to get back to his feet but Johnson passes into half guard.
Pope wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Luther Pope is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Pope is defending well.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pope's head.
Pope is holding on to half guard well.

Johnson is trying for a kimura here. Pope looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Johnson wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Corey Johnson!