PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rock Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Gray has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnson
vs
Gray

196 cm
34
273 lbs
25 - 16 - 0

188 cm
26
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rock 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, Ben Gray!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Gray counters with a left to the body.
Gray fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Gray manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gray is defended easily by Johnson.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Johnson duly obliges.

It looks like Ben Gray has been cut.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Johnson has clasped his hands together around Gray's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gray manages to work his way to half guard, despite Johnson's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Johnson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gray pushes Johnson off looking to stand but Johnson dives back in and keeps control.
Johnson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gray has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rock Johnson.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Gray is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gray can't break the clinch.
Gray gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.

Gray gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Gray tries to stand but can't do so whilst Johnson controls his leg.
Gray is looking to advance position but Johnson won't allow it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gray is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gray seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ben Gray.

Johnson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gray manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gray looking for a sweep. Not yet Gray, not yet.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Gray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gray wants to sweep but no luck.
Gray is trying to hold Johnson in close to prevent damage but Johnson has managed to pass into half guard.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Gray defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Johnson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Gray trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Johnson wants to control but Gray is keeping him busy.
Gray tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
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 Rock Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ben Gray's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gray throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gray is on top in guard.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Gray is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johnson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Gray actively working from the bottom here.
Gray has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Gray regains full guard. Nicely done.
Johnson trying to control but Gray is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray trying to control the position.
Gray keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Gray is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gray drops his hands momentarily and Johnson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Johnson jabs Gray right on the nose. Gray blinks but takes it well.
Johnson scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice takedown defense from Gray. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gray closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Gray pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Johnson connects with a solid leg kick.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.
Gray prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Gray's defenses.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Gray sprawls well.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gray but Gray pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lunges at Gray with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gray's hand.
Gray throws a lazy uppercut

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Johnson wants to control but Gray is keeping him busy.
Gray tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gray gets back to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gray controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.

Gray had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Johnson defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Gray can't keep his opponent in guard - Johnson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Johnson is trying to control. Gray wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Johnson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Johnson wants to take a breather but Gray is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gray trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rock Johnson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ben Gray's cut.
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!

Gray slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Gray closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Johnson tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gray taking a breather.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Gray pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Gray moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands a shot to the body.
Gray prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gray is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gray wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Johnson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Johnson is working for takedown but Gray is calmly controlling the position for now.
Johnson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gray pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gray avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gray avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Johnson looking for a takedown.
Gray tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Gray tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gray is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gray gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Gray manages to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Gray's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gray fails to pull guard.
Johnson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gray pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rock Johnson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson wants to take the fight to the mat but Gray manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gray is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Johnson is working for takedown but Gray is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gray has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Johnson uses from the top position.
Gray trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Gray manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.
Gray stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Gray from controlling successfully.
Rock Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gray stands and steps away. Johnson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Gray throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Johnson was covering up waiting for the punch and Gray finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Gray stands and steps away. Johnson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gray shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gray's waist but Gray gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Gray comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

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