PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nemanja Tancev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Johnson is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Johnson
vs
Tancev

176 cm
28
195 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

190 cm
26
190 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josh Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nemanja Tancev!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson looks to clinch

and Tancev counters with a takedown into side control.
Tancev wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson tries to buck Tancev off but Tancev is having none of it.

Tancev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Johnson struggling a bit here.
A lull in the action here as Tancev stalls from top position.
Johnson is trying to control Tancev's posture but Tancev avoids it.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face as Tancev controls the position.
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!

Tancev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tancev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Johnson is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson gets back to half guard.
Tancev wants to free his trapped foot but Johnson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tancev content to control rather than advance.

Tancev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnson is just riding it out for now. Tancev eventually gives up the hold.
Johnson is not content to let Tancev control the position.
Tancev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Tancev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tancev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Tancev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johnson defends it well.
Tancev stalling.

Tancev is working for a submission of some sort.
Tancev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Johnson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tancev wants to pass the guard but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tancev content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tancev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Johnson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tancev.
Johnson trying to control but Tancev postures up.

Tancev is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Tancev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnson is just riding it out for now. Tancev eventually gives up the hold.

Tancev wants to work for an arm triangle but Johnson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tancev is working away from the top position though.
Johnson gets back to full guard.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Johnson working for a triangle but Tancev defends it easily.
Tancev sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Johnson's guard.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tancev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Tancev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tancev is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tancev tries to pass to full mount but Johnson defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nemanja Tancev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tancev takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tancev.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson misses with a low kick as Tancev jumps back.
Tancev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Tancev pushes him off.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tancev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johnson's waist but Johnson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tancev off to one side.
Johnson misses with an attempted mid kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Johnson.
Johnson scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Nemanja Tancev has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tancev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice shot lands for Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tancev fails with a takedown attempt.
Josh Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nemanja Tancev.
Johnson tries to land a leg kick but Tancev saw it coming and moves away.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Tancev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Johnson thows a body shot but no joy.

Johnson has Tancev up against the cage in a clinch.
Tancev prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Tancev has the dominant position.
Tancev looking to stall.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson misses with a leg kick

and Tancev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Tancev trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tancev wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Tancev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Tancev from controlling successfully.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tancev passes into side control.

Tancev is trying to get an arm triangle but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tancev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tancev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Tancev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johnson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Johnson manages to get back to half guard.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tancev.
Johnson is trying to escape back to his feet but Tancev uses the scramble to pass into side control.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnson tries to bench press Tancev off him but Tancev keeps the position.
Tancev trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Tancev trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Tancev keeps moving and retains side control.
Johnson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Nemanja Tancev has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tancev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tancev has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Johnson!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tancev looking to control but Johnson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tancev is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Johnson is in real trouble.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Josh Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nemanja Tancev's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Johnson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Johnson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Josh Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Tancev counters with a straight right hand.
Johnson digs a good hook to Tancev's body.
Jab by Johnson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Tancev misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Tancev down.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Tancev keeps it at a distance.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Josh Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson slips under a jab from Tancev.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson drops Tancev with a beautiful combination! Tancev stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Johnson is looking for the KO!

Tancev is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson pounces like a tiger and cracks Tancev with a vicious hook! Tancev is down but not out! Johnson follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:13 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Josh Johnson!
A victorious Josh Johnson thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.