PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Slutskaya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lamar Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Slutskaya
vs
Johnson

173 cm
18
156 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
163 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

BioPharm Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ivan Slutskaya!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lamar Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Columbo Gatti and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Slutskaya looking to stall.
Slutskaya jumps guard but Johnson stands there with Slutskaya around his waist. Slutskaya gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Johnson misses with an elbow strike.
Slutskaya tries to pull guard but Johnson won't allow it.
Slutskaya tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnson just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Slutskaya. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slutskaya dodges an elbow strike from Johnson.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Slutskaya circles away.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Slutskaya circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looks to throw the jab but Slutskaya is out of range.

Slutskaya shoots in and bounces Johnson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Slutskaya tries to pass.
Slutskaya pushing down on Johnson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Slutskaya tries to pass to full mount but Johnson defends it.
Slutskaya thows a huge punch but Johnson dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slutskaya trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Slutskaya prevents Johnson from standing back up.

Slutskaya is looking for a kimura here.
Slutskaya is looking to stall here but Johnson recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slutskaya trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Slutskaya clinches but Johnson breaks the clinch

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson lands a damaging elbow.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch up

and Slutskaya counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Johnson's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slutskaya postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Slutskaya is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Slutskaya sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Slutskaya pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Slutskaya dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Slutskaya bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson darts in trying to clinch

and Slutskaya counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johnson!
Slutskaya working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Slutskaya's attempts to control the action.

Slutskaya is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Johnson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Johnson!

Slutskaya working for submissions but it's allowed Johnson to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slutskaya regains full guard. Nicely done.
Slutskaya pulls Johnson in to control the position.
Johnson wants to get up but he can't break Slutskaya's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Slutskaya 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.

Slutskaya working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Johnson has passed into half guard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to stand up but Slutskaya has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Slutskaya works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slutskaya lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Johnson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

Slutskaya is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Johnson is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ivan Slutskaya!
Ivan Slutskaya retains his lightweight title!