PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between LeBron Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and lee kiesel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Johnson
vs
kiesel

175 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, LeBron Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, lee kiesel!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

kiesel forces Johnson back against the cage and clinches.
Johnson looking to stall.
Johnson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Johnson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Johnson scores a nice knee to the body.
kiesel is trying to stall.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Johnson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, kiesel regains guard.
Johnson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
kiesel working a defensive guard here.
Johnson stays in close to kiesel's body and controls the position.
Johnson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down kiesel for as long as he can get away with.
Johnson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
kiesel looking to control.
kiesel being controlled here, momentarily.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from kiesel.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
kiesel is trying to control the position from the bottom.

kiesel looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Johnson trying to control but kiesel is working from the bottom.
kiesel is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.

That's two 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.

kiesel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
kiesel looks gassed!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
kiesel takes one to the side of the head.
Johnson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A left and a right from Johnson both land. Nice combination.
kiesel takes a head kick and keeps coming.

kiesel gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
kiesel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
kiesel keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson content to stall in guard here.
kiesel trying to control the position.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
kiesel is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stays in close to kiesel's body and controls the position.
Johnson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for kiesel on the ground.
Johnson is fighting to break kiesel's control of his arms but kiesel is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Johnson stays in close to kiesel's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as kiesel holds on and takes a little breather.
kiesel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.
kiesel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
kiesel trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
kiesel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
kiesel wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
kiesel wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
kiesel controlling from the top position.
Johnson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
kiesel wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
kiesel is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeBron Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A head kick by kiesel misses
and Johnson counters with a nice low kick that buckles kiesel's knee momentarily.
LeBron Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
kiesel with a poor takedown
and Johnson counters with an outside leg kick.
kiesel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
kiesel shoots and misses

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in kiesel's guard.
LeBron Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of lee kiesel.
Johnson advances to half guard.
Johnson trying to control the pace.
kiesel trying to control here.
kiesel holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
kiesel works his way to full guard. Good work.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but kiesel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
kiesel works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
kiesel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnson trying to control here.
kiesel working the head and body with strikes.
kiesel trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
kiesel is taking a breather. Johnson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Johnson trying to control here.

kiesel decides to return to a standing position.
kiesel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
kiesel throws and low kick but Johnson moves out of range easily.
kiesel darts in trying to clinch

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for kiesel!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
kiesel wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson controlling his opponent.
kiesel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson controlling from the full mount.
Johnson punishing his opponent with strikes.
kiesel flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Johnson content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. LeBron Johnson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Johnson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.

Johnson decides to stand up, so the ref orders kiesel to his feet.
Johnson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Nice takedown defense from kiesel. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but kiesel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
kiesel wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
kiesel wants to slow Johnson down by chopping away at his legs.
kiesel tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from kiesel. kiesel gets slowly back to his feet.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
kiesel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but kiesel is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeBron Johnson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

kiesel fails to land with a series of punches.
kiesel swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johnson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
No joy there for kiesel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson throws a leg kick which misses kiesel's front leg but catches the back leg as kiesel tries to avoid it.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson throws a series of strikes that have kiesel backpedaling.
Johnson throws a series of strikes that have kiesel backpedaling.
kiesel fails with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a left and a right that stings kiesel.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but kiesel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson tries to bum rush kiesel with a series of wild strikes but kiesel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as kiesel shoots in.
Johnson throws a right hand that kiesel ducks under and follows up with a left that kiesel also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
kiesel gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnson.
Johnson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by kiesel.
kiesel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in kiesel's guard now.
LeBron Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of lee kiesel.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.

kiesel scrambles and gets back to his feet.
kiesel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for kiesel!
Johnson controlling the pace for now.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as kiesel is looking to escape.
kiesel is looking to improve his position but Johnson isn't that keen on the idea.
kiesel is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Johnson controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but kiesel is having none of it.
kiesel slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
kiesel wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but kiesel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee stands the fighters back up. LeBron Johnson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
kiesel tries to clinch up.
kiesel shoots and misses

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in kiesel's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson stays in close to kiesel's body and controls the position.
kiesel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Johnson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
kiesel is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.
kiesel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
kiesel keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. kiesel is keeping the position for now.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Johnson trying to control but kiesel is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
kiesel is pulling down on Johnson's head to control his posture.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but kiesel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but kiesel is keeping the position.
Johnson postures up.
Johnson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
kiesel throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
kiesel is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
LeBron Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

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