PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teddy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Filipovic
vs
Johnson

180 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ivan Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Teddy Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jonathan Paton and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filipovic stuffs the takedown.
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Filipovic counters with a body kick.

Filipovic moves into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Filipovic drags the fight down to the ground.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Filipovic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Filipovic is looking to stand up but Johnson isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Johnson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson landing some decent shots from guard.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Filipovic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Johnson drops back looking for a leg! Filipovic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Filipovic manages to kick Johnson off! Johnson jumps back into Filipovic's guard.
Filipovic knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Filipovic has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Johnson passes Filipovic's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Johnson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Filipovic tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Filipovic is breathing heavily.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Johnson throwing shots but Filipovic is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Filipovic is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Filipovic taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
Johnson drops an elbow to the side of Filipovic's head.

Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Filipovic is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson prevents Filipovic from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teddy Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Filipovic avoids them all with ease.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Filipovic avoids nicely.

Johnson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Filipovic did well to prevent Johnson getting side control.
Filipovic is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Johnson winds up and cracks Filipovic with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Filipovic dodges it nicely.
Johnson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic missing with punches from the bottom.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Filipovic is defending against the submission attempts here by Johnson.
Johnson working over Filipovic with some ground and pound. Filipovic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Johnson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Filipovic tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Filipovic is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.

Johnson is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Filipovic is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Teddy Johnson!
After winning the bout, Teddy Johnson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.