PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brady Baird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arturo Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baird
vs
Johnson

175 cm
30
177 lbs
12 - 24 - 0

178 cm
22
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 24 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brady Baird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Arturo Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baird lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Brady Baird seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson lands a jab to Baird's midsection.
Johnson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Baird rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Baird moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Johnson misses the jab.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A combination from Baird does no damage.
Donk. Johnson catches Baird right on the button with a cross.

Johnson scores a takedown into full mount!
Johnson content just to control the position here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson working Baird over with strikes here.
Johnson throwing strikes here but Baird is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Johnson controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson with the ground and pound from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baird is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Baird is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Johnson throwing strikes but Baird bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baird trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Baird wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.
Johnson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird scoring with punches to the head and body.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baird manages to get himself to full guard.
Baird is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Johnson postures up in Baird's guard and throws a big left but Baird blocks it.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Baird is keeping the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Baird has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Baird keeps moving.
Johnson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Johnson trying to control but Baird is working from the bottom.
Baird keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baird.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Baird.
Johnson lands a jab.

It looks like Brady Baird has been cut.
Baird misses with a jab, cross combination.
Baird throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Baird swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.

Baird tries to sprawl but Johnson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Baird defending well though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson trying to control from half guard but Baird is working away.
Johnson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Baird is not content to let Johnson control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson is thwarting Baird's attempts to control the position.
Johnson is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Baird reverses the position - he's now on top in Johnson's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arturo Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brady Baird's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Baird attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Baird looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice defenses there by Baird.
Johnson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Baird tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Baird which made him look bad.
Baird throws a combination that misses

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Baird won't be happy with that.
Johnson scores with a couple of short elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson looks up at the clock and then as Baird takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Johnson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Johnson prevents Baird from escaping the position.
The ground and pound from Johnson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Baird taking a bit of punishment here - Johnson scoring with strikes.
Johnson is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Baird's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baird keeps working.
Johnson cracks Baird with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Baird is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson working the ground and pound but Baird is defending the strikes.
Johnson wants to control for a moment but Baird uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Arturo Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Johnson moves nicely into side control.
Johnson scoring with punches and elbows.
Johnson looks up at the clock and then as Baird takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Johnson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Johnson cracks Baird with a big elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson controls the position from side control.
Johnson throws a strike aimed at the side of Baird's head but Baird avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Baird regains half guard, as Johnson was trying to land strikes.
Baird is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Baird is retaining full guard.
Johnson trying to control but Baird is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Baird works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Baird not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Baird is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Baird keeps moving.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baird manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Johnson tries to hold on but Baird pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arturo Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brady Baird's cut.
That's time! Baird's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Baird throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson takes a swing at Baird's ribcage but misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baird looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Johnson. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Baird swinging wildly here.
Baird will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Baird misses with a wild combination.
Baird stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Johnson.
Baird on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Baird throws a combination. Johnson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Baird misses with a low kick.
Sloppy strikes from Baird. Those never looked like landing.
Baird falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Baird throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson catches Baird with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Baird will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Johnson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnson lands in his opponent's guard.
Johnson postures up in Baird's guard and throws a big left but Baird blocks it.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnson forces his way into half guard.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Baird does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Johnson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Johnson wants to take a breather but Baird is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baird keeps working.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
Brady Baird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Arturo Johnson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Baird tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Baird.
Baird fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a jab but it's blocked by Baird.
Baird wants to clinch
and Johnson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A solid body kick from Johnson.
Baird takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Baird walks into a left hand.
A head kick misses from Baird.
Baird fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson misses with a straight left.
Sloppy strikes from Baird. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baird slips under a jab.
Baird throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson feints a jab promting Baird to slip. Johnson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Baird slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Baird looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Baird persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brady Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson connects with a single shot there.
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Arturo Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd cheers as Johnson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Baird doesn't seem phased though.
Johnson swings for the body but Baird moves out of range.
Johnson connects with a solid leg kick.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Johnson.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.

Johnson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Baird regains guard immediately.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Baird is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arturo Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

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