PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tim Johns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hairy Bear (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johns kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Cocaine Blues. Hairy Bear has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johns
vs
Bear

165 cm
33
133 lbs
22 - 15 - 1

180 cm
30
128 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Tim Johns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hairy Bear!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johns ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Johns misses with a wild body shot.
Bear tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Johns counters with a nice leg kick.
Bear scores with a nice right hand.
Bear just misses with a punch to the body.

Johns closes the distance and pushes Bear back into the cage.
Johns landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Johns.
Johns lands a body shot in the clinch.
Johns struggles to land a body shot inside as Bear controls his hands.
Johns lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Good body shot from Johns.

Bear has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Johns uses from the top position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Johns cracks Bear with a solid left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johns pushing down on Bear's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Johns has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Johns is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bear sees it coming and defends easily.
Bear wants to control but Johns is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bear is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johns is looking for a kimura here.
Bear keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johns is thwarting Bear's attempts to control the position.
Johns frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johns blocks Bear's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Johns scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bear?
Bear wants to control but Johns is having none of it.
Johns has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bear's face.
Johns lands a big shot there that rocks Bear but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Bear keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johns moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Bear has worked his arm free - good work by Bear!
Bear is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Johns lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Johns scoring with punches and elbows.

Johns tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Johns has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Johns has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Johns blocks a jab.

Johns has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns dodges an elbow strike from Bear.
A hook to the body from Johns.
A left hand lands to the body for Johns.
A left hand lands to the body for Johns.

Bear decides to pull guard.
Bear working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bear keeping moving, preventing Johns from controlling successfully.
Johns 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.
Johns might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Bear looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johns preventing the sweep.
Johns throws a big elbow that misses.

Johns avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johns passes Bear's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Bear looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johns looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Johns stands up from half guard.
Johns swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johns with a jab.
Bear is looking to clinch.
Johns throws a series of strikes that have Bear backpedaling.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johns thuds his right hand into Bear's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Bear is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bear looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Johns shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bear throws a looping overhand right but Johns ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Johns 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.

Johns clobbers Bear with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bear misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johns.
Bear throws a head kick but Johns moves out of range.
Bear wants to clinch

and Johns counters with a shoot takedown. Bear fights it but they end up in guard.
Tim Johns overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bear controls Johns momentarily but Johns frees himself.
Johns passes into half guard.

Johns is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bear doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Johns.
Bear is trying to control but can't.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johns sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bear defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johns throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johns wants to pass to mount but Bear is defending the position.
Johns is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Bear tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Bear throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Johns forces his way into half guard.

Johns is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bear is just riding it out for now. Johns eventually gives up the hold.

Bear is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johns pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johns is keen to just control but Bear is a slippery customer.
Johns stalling.
Bear has hold of Johns's hands but Johns slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bear won't allow Johns to pass to mount.
Still in half guard, Johns seems content to control.

Johns is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Bear as he works his way to full guard.
Bear trying to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bear is looking for a triangle but Johns pushes his legs off easily.
Johns throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns trying to control but Bear is working from the bottom.
Johns advances to half guard.
Johns is keen to just control but Bear is a slippery customer.
Johns throwing shots but Bear is blocking nicely.

Johns is working for a kimura but Bear is defending it quite comfortably.
Bear tries to roll over but Johns keeps him under control.

Johns looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Johns throws a strike but Bear avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johns accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bear is trying to control the position but Johns postures up.
Bear looking for a sweep. Not yet Bear, not yet.
Johns postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Johns got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bear has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johns has managed to get both his arms back between Bear's legs - danger averted.
Johns not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Bear has his foot on Johns's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johns works his way back into a safe position though.
Bear is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bear keeping moving, preventing Johns from controlling successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Johns is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Johns dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Johns moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Tim Johns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johns will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bear tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Johns counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bear preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johns tries to free his leg and advance position but Bear is retaining full guard.

Bear is looking for a triangle but Johns pushes his legs off easily.

Bear is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Johns passes Bear's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Johns is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bear is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bear takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johns not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johns is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Johns is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bear can do to turn this around?
Bear manages to get to full guard.
Johns lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Bear has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Johns is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bear.

Johns wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bear, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johns tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Johns has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bear takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Johns is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bear is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bear is looking for a sweep.
Bear gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johns is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Johns looking to secure an arm triangle but Bear defends it well.
Bear tries to hold on but Johns pushes him away.

Johns has control of Bear's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Bear regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Bear is in all sorts of trouble here.
Johns lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Johns fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Johns goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Bear is on top in guard.

Johns looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bear pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johns is keeping the position for now.

Bear drops back looking for a leg! Johns is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Johns manages to kick Bear off! Bear jumps back into Johns's guard.

Bear thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Johns working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bear doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bear manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Johns is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Johns showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johns 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim Johns!