PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between JJ Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnston comes to the cage accompanied by Shackler's Revenge - Guns N Roses. JJ Johnston could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Billy Riley's chin.

Johnston
vs
Riley

169 cm
25
132 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

172 cm
27
140 lbs
14 - 23 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, JJ Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 23 - 0, fighting out of London, Billy Riley!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riley slips under a jab from Johnston.

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

Riley drops back, looking for a kneebar! Johnston looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Johnston looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Johnston!
Johnston tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Riley tries to improve position but can't.
Johnston tries to move into full mount but can't pass Riley's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston is working hard here to advance position.
Johnston working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riley trying to remain calm as Johnston controls from the top position.
Johnston advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston looking to control and managing it successfully.
Riley wants to control but Johnston is having none of it.
Johnston tries to control but Riley wriggling away.
Johnston looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley is in all sorts of trouble here.
Johnston controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston trying to control but Riley is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. JJ Johnston wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Riley has his takedown stuffed
and Johnston counters with a solid body kick.

Johnston gets caught flat footed, as Riley shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Johnston keeping moving, preventing Riley from controlling successfully.
Johnston manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riley tries to hold on but Johnston pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Johnston 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.

Johnston throws a push kick but Riley slaps the foot to one side.
Johnston misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riley misses with a takedown
and Johnston counters with a low kick, right behind Riley 's knee.
Riley wants to clinch but Johnston slips to the side

and Johnston counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Johnston.

Johnston has gone for a leg lock! Riley slips out almost immediately though and dives into Johnston's guard.
Riley wants to stand but Johnston is controlling his posture from full guard.
Riley preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnston not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Johnston keeping moving, preventing Riley from controlling successfully.
Johnston controlling the position.

JJ Johnston has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Johnston throws a head kick that misses.
Riley takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Johnston lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Johnston throws a head kick but Riley moves out of range.
Johnston fails with an attempt to clinch.
Riley throws a right and a left that both miss.
Billy Riley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnston swinging wildly here.
Riley misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnston tries to sprawl out of it but Riley keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Johnston manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Riley doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnston circles away.
Riley looks for the body kick but Johnston saw that one coming.
Riley with a poor takedown

and Johnston counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Riley's guard now.
JJ Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Riley.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnston controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Johnston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Riley is keeping the position for now.
Riley can't keep his opponent in guard - Johnston advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is thwarting Riley's attempts to control the position.
Riley is looking to improve his position.
Still in half guard, Johnston seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Riley enables Johnston to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Riley manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Johnston trying to control the position from guard on top but Riley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnston is pushing down on Riley's leg trying to pass to half guard. Riley is fighting to maintain full guard but Johnston has managed to sneak the leg through.
Johnston controlling the action here.
Johnston has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Johnston dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Riley with a poor takedown
and Johnston counters with an inside leg kick.
Riley doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnston makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Riley really felt that one!
Johnston leaves Riley with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
JJ Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Riley.
Riley doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Johnston counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnston tries to throw a body punch but Riley avoids it by throwing Johnston back against the cage.
Come on Johnston - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Johnston breaks from the clinch.
Riley has his takedown stuffed
and Johnston counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Riley is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Riley is rocked!
Riley fails to land the takedown.
Johnston takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Riley misses with a takedown
and Johnston counters with a left to the body.
Riley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riley fails with the takedown
and Johnston connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Riley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnston counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Riley thinking.
Riley misses with a takedown attempt
and Johnston counters with a head kick. That will keep Riley thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
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!

Johnston shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Riley is trying to defend but Johnston finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
JJ Johnston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because JJ Johnston wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A head kick misses from Johnston.

Riley drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston trying to control the position here.
Johnston manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Johnston takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
JJ Johnston showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnston 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JJ Johnston!
JJ Johnston spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.