PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sebastian Giovinco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randall Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Giovinco's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Lift me up. Johnson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Psycho - 50 Cent. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Giovinco
vs
Johnson

164 cm
21
137 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

168 cm
19
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Vitality

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sebastian Giovinco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Randall Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson rushes Giovinco and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Giovinco prevents the takedown attempt.
Johnson effectively controlling the action here.
Giovinco is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Giovinco down to the mat. Giovinco avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Giovinco is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson not doing much here.
Giovinco wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Giovinco won't allow it.
Giovinco is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control. Giovinco wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Johnson content to control rather than advance.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Giovinco sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sebastian Giovinco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randall Johnson.
Giovinco shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Giovinco, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Giovinco against the cage but Giovinco circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Giovinco.
Giovinco shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Giovinco sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sebastian Giovinco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Giovinco clinches with his opponent.
Giovinco wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Giovinco jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Johnson walks away with a smile on his face. Giovinco gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Giovinco manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Johnson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson works his way into full mount!
Johnson content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control the pace but Giovinco is squirming around nicely.
Johnson content just to control the position here.
Giovinco throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controlling from the full mount.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Giovinco is looking to escape.
Giovinco tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Giovinco keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randall Johnson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Giovinco as he avoids it easily.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
An inside leg kick from Johnson misses.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
Giovinco stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Giovinco wants it to stay on the feet.
Sebastian Giovinco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randall Johnson.
Giovinco shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Giovinco dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Giovinco looking for submissions off his back.
Giovinco is looking to improve his position.
Johnson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovinco is in trouble now - Johnson has advanced to mount!
Johnson with a couple of short strikes.
Johnson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Johnson looking to control and managing it successfully.
A nice elbow there by Johnson.
Johnson controlling from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giovinco tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Johnson controlling the pace for now.
Johnson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Johnson controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giovinco tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Giovinco is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Giovinco is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randall Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Giovinco sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Giovinco lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Johnson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Johnson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Giovinco fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Giovinco blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Giovinco misses with a low kick.
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Giovinco fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Giovinco as Johnson shoots in.
Sebastian Giovinco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randall Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giovinco tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Giovinco somewhat.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Giovinco tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Giovinco manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Giovinco swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Giovinco shows good takedown defense.
Randall Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovinco keeps the fight on the outside.
Giovinco tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Johnson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Giovinco's half guard.
Randall Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson prevents Giovinco from improving his position.
Johnson controlling the pace.
Johnson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Giovinco is in all sorts of trouble here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Giovinco is looking to get to half guard.
Johnson looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Giovinco to control.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.
Sebastian Giovinco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson prevents Giovinco from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randall 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randall Johnson!
Randall Johnson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.