PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Corey Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Johnson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to St. Elmo's Fire. Rogers is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Flea - Pea. Corey Johnson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Johnson
vs
Rogers

170 cm
29
155 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

150 cm
22
150 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

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[WAaO]MADE IN GERMANY

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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 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Corey Johnson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Kenny Rogers!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson lands with a cross.
Johnson walks into a jab.
Rogers throws a hook but Johnson avoids it easily.
Rogers throws an off balance right hand
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Rogers throws a lazy uppercut
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rogers.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rogers keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rogers manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rogers tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily
and Johnson counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson with a hook.
Johnson scores with a nice right hand.
Rogers avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rogers has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

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.
Rogers ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rogers shoots and misses
and Rogers takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Corey Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rogers throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.
Rogers throws an off balance right hand
and Johnson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rogers rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Johnson misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rogers.
Corey Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Rogers.
Rogers throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
Rogers keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnson.
Johnson is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Johnson throws an off balance right hand

so Rogers counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogers wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Rogers controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Rogers tries to pass.
Rogers postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Rogers missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rogers wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rogers prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rogers.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Corey Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rogers backs up against the cage.
Rogers throws an off balance right hand
and Johnson counters with a left to the body.

Rogers throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rogers is in Johnson's guard.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rogers looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rogers seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rogers.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rogers accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Rogers drops back, looking for a kneebar! Johnson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Johnson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Johnson!

Johnson stands up and beckons Rogers to his feet.
A big right from Johnson misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rogers.
Johnson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rogers counters with a nice uppercut.
Rogers keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Johnson misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rogers counters with a right hand to the body.
Rogers scores with a jab. Johnson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rogers throws a right hand that misses
and Rogers takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnson misses with a hook

and Rogers counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers throwing shots but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Rogers tries to pass the half guard into mount. Johnson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rogers thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Johnson to regain full guard.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rogers looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rogers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four 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.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rogers landing with the ground and pound.
Rogers tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Rogers trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rogers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rogers is controlling him.
Rogers tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Rogers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Rogers. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Corey Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rogers misses with a looping left.
Johnson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rogers fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Johnson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Rogers circles away and keeps his distance.
Rogers might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Rogers gets the takedown into side control.
Johnson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rogers.
Rogers has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rogers in side control, throwing shots but Johnson defends.
Rogers in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rogers looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Johnson is avoiding damage well.
Rogers working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Johnson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet.
Rogers misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Johnson throws Rogers to one side and escapes!
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rogers.

Rogers darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rogers thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Johnson tries to kick Rogers off but Rogers keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Johnson is refusing to be controlled, as Rogers sits in half guard.
Rogers throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson is staying active underneath Rogers, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Rogers is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rogers thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Johnson is not content to let Rogers control the position.
Rogers seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rogers is stalling here. Johnson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rogers seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Johnson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Rogers really dominated that round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rogers lands with a right hand.
Rogers takes one on the button.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
Rogers rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson sizes up Rogers with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers throws a lazy uppercut
and Johnson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rogers thinking.
Johnson is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Rogers moves out of range.
Rogers tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily
and Johnson counters with a nice body shot.
Rogers misses with an uppercut.
Rogers throws an off balance right hand
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Rogers pushes him off.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnson throws a hook to the side of Rogers's head but Rogers sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rogers throws a poor cross that misses
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Johnson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Johnson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.
Rogers misses with an uppercut
and Rogers takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Johnson lands with a hook. Rogers tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four 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.
A shot to the body from Rogers misses
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rogers rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Johnson counters with a nice body shot.
Johnson throws a leg kick
and Rogers counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnson misses with a right hand
and Rogers cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rogers swings widly with a right hand
and Rogers takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Johnson had his way with Kenny Rogers in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rogers blocks a jab.
Johnson misses with a right hand

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

Rogers has gone for a leg lock! Johnson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rogers's guard.
Rogers trying to control the position.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rogers has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between Rogers's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rogers wants to sweep but no luck.

Johnson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Donk. Rogers catches Johnson right on the button with a cross.
Rogers misses with a right hand
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

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.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rogers moves away.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Rogers keeps it at a distance.
Johnson lands a nice looking body shot.
Johnson misses with a hook
and Rogers cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson throws the left hand but Rogers avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson throws a right hand that misses

and Rogers counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rogers looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rogers pushing down on Johnson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rogers throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rogers looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Johnson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rogers misses with a left hand
and Johnson counters with a stiff right hand.
Rogers fails with a takedown attempt.

Rogers shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johnson's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenny Rogers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rogers 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 William Gold scores the fight 47:48
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 47:48
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenny Rogers!
Kenny Rogers is the new featherweight champion!