PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Titus Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronnie Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ronnie Lopez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Johnson
vs
Lopez

175 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Titus Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ronnie Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Ronnie Lopez has been cut.

Johnson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lopez was covering up waiting for the punch and Johnson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Lopez is retaining full guard.
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lopez being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Titus Johnson wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lopez sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Johnson passes to full mount!
Lopez is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Johnson looking to control but Lopez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnson has hold of Lopez's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Lopez manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lopez is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws some wild stikes that Lopez manages to avoid easily.
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Johnson controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lopez is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Lopez is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lopez on the ground.

Titus Johnson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Johnson closes the distance and pushes Lopez back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ronnie Lopez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Johnson rushes Lopez and presses him up against the cage.

Johnson manages to pull guard.
Lopez wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Lopez stops Johnson from standing up.
Lopez stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lopez shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
Johnson wants to control for a moment but Lopez uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

Johnson is working for a kimura but Lopez is defending it quite comfortably.
Johnson wants to stand but Lopez has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Johnson is controlling the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lopez looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Johnson throws a strike but Lopez avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Johnson trying to control but Lopez is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Titus Johnson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Lopez circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Johnson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ronnie Lopez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson looking to score a takedown here. Lopez is defending well but Johnson drives through and ends up in Lopez's guard.
Johnson wanted to stand there but Lopez had control of the position.
Lopez looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Lopez is keeping the position.
Titus Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

We're going to have a standup here because Titus Johnson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Titus Johnson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lopez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lopez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johnson is defending well.

Johnson has hold of one of Lopez's legs. Lopez is fighting the takedown attempt but Johnson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Titus Johnson just wasn't active enough.
Johnson with a nice cross.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into Lopez's guard.
Johnson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Titus Johnson.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Lopez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Lopez circles away.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt.

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lopez's guard.
Lopez working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Titus Johnson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lopez is defended easily by Johnson.
Titus Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronnie Lopez.
Lopez shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Lopez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lopez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lopez fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lopez quickly recovers to half guard.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lopez can do to turn this around?
Johnson is pressing down on Lopez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lopez is holding on for now.
Johnson is looking to stall here but Lopez recovers full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Titus 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:26

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