PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brian Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Luis Montoya Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Revenge by Danger Mouse. 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
Luis Montoya Rivera

168 cm
25
157 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

170 cm
24
152 lbs
15 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

[JMFC] 160!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brian Johnson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Luis Montoya Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Johnson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Montoya Rivera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Johnson tries to land a leg kick but Montoya Rivera saw it coming and moves away.
Johnson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Brian Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson misses with an uppercut
and Montoya Rivera counters with a stiff right hand.
Montoya Rivera defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.
Montoya Rivera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Montoya Rivera takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Johnson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Johnson feints and as Montoya Rivera raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Montoya Rivera looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Johnson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Brian Johnson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Johnson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Montoya Rivera lands a lovely overhand right.
Montoya Rivera with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johnson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Montoya Rivera's knee momentarily.
Johnson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Johnson thuds his shin into the meat of Montoya Rivera's side.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Montoya Rivera sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montoya Rivera throws a hook to the side of Johnson's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Montoya Rivera misses with a straight right.
Johnson slips a straight right by Montoya Rivera.
That kick from Johnson tenderised Montoya Rivera's leg. Montoya Rivera is trying to keep his angry face on.
Montoya Rivera misses with a body punch
and Johnson counters with a good, hard body kick but Montoya Rivera shrugs it off.
Montoya Rivera bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Montoya Rivera takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Montoya Rivera down.
Montoya Rivera misses with a left hand
and Johnson counters with a stiff right hand.
Montoya Rivera connects with a right hand. Johnson shakes it off.
Johnson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a body kick that misses.
Montoya Rivera swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Johnson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Montoya Rivera throws a sloppy body shot
and Johnson counters with a good, hard body kick but Montoya Rivera shrugs it off.
Johnson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Montoya Rivera ducks right into an uppercut from Johnson.
Johnson is looking to slow Montoya Rivera down with leg kicks.
Johnson connects with a high kick.
Montoya Rivera is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.
A leg kick checked by Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montoya Rivera misses the body punch
and Johnson counters with a low kick, right behind Montoya Rivera 's knee.
Montoya Rivera shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Brian Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Luis Montoya Rivera.
Johnson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Johnson thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Montoya Rivera if he has to take too many more of those.
Nice body punch from Johnson.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson wants to clinch.
Johnson thumps Montoya Rivera with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Johnson scores with a spinning back kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Johnson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson lands with a cross.
Johnson throws a lazy head kick

and Montoya Rivera counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.
Montoya Rivera working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnson is not content to let Montoya Rivera control the position.
Johnson being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jose Luis Montoya Rivera was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.

That's two 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.
Montoya Rivera moves out of range of the body kick from Johnson.
Montoya Rivera lands with an overhand left.
Johnson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Montoya Rivera.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Montoya Rivera takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Johnson connects with a leg kick. Montoya Rivera looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Montoya Rivera misses with an uppercut.
Montoya Rivera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johnson defends it nicely.
Montoya Rivera misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montoya Rivera clobbers Johnson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Montoya Rivera has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Johnson.

Montoya Rivera scores a takedown into full mount!
Johnson blocking the ground and pound.
BOOM! Montoya Rivera connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Johnson is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Montoya Rivera scoring with strikes but Johnson is staying in there.
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Montoya Rivera's attempts to control the action.
Montoya Rivera landing strikes from the mount.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Montoya Rivera isn't that keen on the idea.
Johnson tries to hold on but Montoya Rivera pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Luis Montoya Rivera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Montoya Rivera moves out of range easily.
Montoya Rivera tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Montoya Rivera walks forward, straight into a front kick from Johnson.
A leg kick checked by Montoya Rivera.
Montoya Rivera is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.
Johnson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Montoya Rivera connects with a good right hand that stumbles Johnson. Johnson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Montoya Rivera as he avoids it easily.
Johnson connects with a right hand. Montoya Rivera shakes it off.
A slapping body kick lands there for Johnson.
Montoya Rivera shoots in but no luck this time.
Montoya Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson wants to slow Montoya Rivera down by chopping away at his legs.
Johnson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Montoya Rivera chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Johnson can pounce on him.
Brian Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Montoya Rivera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Montoya Rivera chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Johnson can pounce on him.
Montoya Rivera defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Johnson.
Montoya Rivera misses with a hook.
Montoya Rivera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Johnson misses with a hook
and Montoya Rivera counters with a one-two to the body.
Montoya Rivera misses with a right hand
and Johnson finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Johnson scores with a leg kick.
Montoya Rivera has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Johnson.
Johnson throws a lazy uppercut
letting Montoya Rivera counter with a right hand.
Johnson defending well as Montoya Rivera loads up on a big left hand.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Montoya Rivera, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnson lands a head kick. Montoya Rivera smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Montoya Rivera drives through with a takedown into guard.
Montoya Rivera trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Johnson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Montoya Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson won't allow Montoya Rivera to get back to his feet.
Montoya Rivera keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

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 preventing the sweep.

Brian Johnson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Johnson throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Montoya Rivera throws a hook to the side of Johnson's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johnson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Johnson throws a body kick that misses.
Montoya Rivera lands a slapping body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Johnson clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Montoya Rivera throws a sloppy body shot
and Johnson makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Montoya Rivera really felt that one!
A shot to the liver by Johnson. Beautiful body shot.
Montoya Rivera misses with a left hand
and Johnson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Montoya Rivera shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Montoya Rivera's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Montoya Rivera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Montoya Rivera moves out of range of the body kick.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Montoya Rivera scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1-2. Johnson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Johnson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A low kick from Johnson is predictable there

and Montoya Rivera counters with a shoot takedown. Johnson fights it but they end up in guard.
Montoya Rivera passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Montoya Rivera is just content to waste time from the top position. Johnson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Montoya Rivera engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Montoya Rivera trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Montoya Rivera passes into half guard.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Montoya Rivera is very close to passing his half guard.
Montoya Rivera is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johnson regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montoya Rivera wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Johnson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Montoya Rivera has passed into side control.
Johnson is trying to control Montoya Rivera's posture but Montoya Rivera avoids it.
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson is not content to let Montoya Rivera control the position.

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.
Montoya Rivera tries to score with some ground and pound. Johnson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Luis Montoya Rivera dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Johnson.
Montoya Rivera's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Johnson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Montoya Rivera.
Montoya Rivera throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson lands a nice looking kick to the body. Montoya Rivera takes a step back to recover.
Johnson thows a leg kick but Montoya Rivera checks it
enabling Montoya Rivera to counter with a crisp jab.
Montoya Rivera on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Johnson. Johnson obviously looking to wear him down.
Johnson catches Montoya Rivera with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Montoya Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.

Montoya Rivera closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Johnson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Montoya Rivera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Montoya Rivera's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Montoya Rivera wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.

Montoya Rivera tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.

Montoya Rivera is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Montoya Rivera is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Montoya Rivera's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

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.
Montoya Rivera lands strikes from half guard.

Montoya Rivera is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnson is looking to control Montoya Rivera's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnson avoid being mounted?

Montoya Rivera is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Johnson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Montoya Rivera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controlling the position for now.
Montoya Rivera is just content to waste time from the top position. Johnson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Johnson looking to control.

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 wants to sweep but no luck.
Montoya Rivera passes Johnson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Montoya Rivera tries to pass to full mount but Johnson defends it.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Montoya Rivera is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Montoya Rivera uses his free foot to push down on Johnson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Johnson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Luis Montoya Rivera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Montoya Rivera 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 47:48
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 47:48
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Luis Montoya Rivera!
Jose Luis Montoya Rivera is the new featherweight champion!