PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Walton Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Wurds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Walton Johnson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Johnson
vs
Wurds

190 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

171 cm
25
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Brute

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Walton Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Wurds!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries to clinch but Wurds is having none of it.
Wurds looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnson tries to clinch but Wurds is having none of it.
Wurds circles away from the clinch attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Johnson enables Wurds to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Johnson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wurds must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Johnson tries to strike from the bottom.
Johnson tries to strike from the bottom.
Wurds sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Johnson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Wurds pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Wurds missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wurds's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Johnson striking off his back but it's not causing Wurds any problems.
Johnson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Johnson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wurds is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Johnson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wurds showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alex Wurds hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Johnson enables Wurds to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Johnson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wurds stands and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Johnson seems a little lost for a moment, as Wurds dominates the positioning.
Johnson is looking to reverse the position.
Johnson is letting Wurds control him for a moment.
Let's hope that Wurds has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Johnson tries to buck Wurds off but Wurds is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Johnson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Johnson tries to strike but it doesn't land.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Wurds avoids the strikes from the bottom by Johnson.
Wurds advances to mount.
Wurds controlling from the full mount.
Wurds blocks Johnson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Wurds controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to get to half guard.
Wurds sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
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.
Wurds's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Johnson is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Wurds prevents Johnson from getting the reversal.
Johnson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Wurds blocks Johnson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Wurds controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Wurds isn't that keen on the idea.
Wurds controlling from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wurds lands a heavy elbow.
A nice elbow there by Wurds.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Wurds working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Wurds is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Wurds tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Wurds breaks from Johnson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Wurds 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.

Wurds drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Johnson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face as Wurds controls the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Wurds tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The referee asks Wurds politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Wurds prefers to stall for the moment though.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alex Wurds hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Wurds, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Wurds circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wurds will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wurds looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Walton Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Wurds.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wurds.

Johnson has managed to clinch.
Wurds is trying to pull guard but Johnson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Johnson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wurds blocks it with crossed arms.
Johnson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wurds blocks it with crossed arms.
Wurds can't get the takedown.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Wurds has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Johnson scores with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Johnson.
Johnson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Wurds's face.

Wurds has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Johnson regains guard immediately.
Wurds is breathing heavily.
Wurds trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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!
Johnson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Johnson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Wurds 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 trying to strike off his back.
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.
Wurds trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Johnson trying to strike off his back.
Wurds 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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alex Wurds wasn't active enough on the ground.

Wurds closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Johnson quickly recovers to half guard.
Wurds with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Johnson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnson punching from the bottom.
Wurds content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Johnson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Wurds tries to pass to full mount but Johnson defends it.
Johnson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Wurds is controlling the pace.
Alex Wurds has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alex Wurds.
Wurds looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Walton Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Wurds shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Johnson napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Johnson misses with a strike from the bottom.
A lull in the action here as Wurds stalls from top position.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Wurds keeps moving and retains side control.
Wurds controls the position from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Johnson tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Johnson throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson prevents Wurds from moving into mount.
Wurds remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Wurds showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.

Johnson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnson tries to strike from the bottom.
Johnson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Johnson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wurds controls the pace.
Johnson tries to strike from the bottom.
Wurds chips away with some ground and pound.
Wurds trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wurds looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Johnson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wurds not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alex Wurds wasn't active enough on the ground.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Wurds. Wurds gets slowly back to his feet.
Walton Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Horrible takedown by Wurds or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnson which made him look bad.
Alex Wurds seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wurds keeps the fight on the outside.
Wurds fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Walton Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Wurds.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Wurds circles away.

Wurds scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Wurds is controlling the pace.
Johnson punching from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wurds is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Johnson!
Johnson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Wurds. What's that going to do exactly?
Johnson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wurds controlling the pace for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Wurds lands a big elbow.
Wurds landing strikes from the mount.
Wurds sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Johnson is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Wurds controlling from mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alex Wurds was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Wurds shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wurds will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Johnson misses with a knee strike.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wurds wants the takedown. Johnson is fighting it off but Wurds persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Johnson's guard against the cage.
Wurds tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Wurds is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Johnson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Wurds slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Wurds content to stall in guard here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alex Wurds.
Wurds shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wurds shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wurds's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Walton Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Wurds comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wurds winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Wurds!