PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lemar Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alistair Struve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the ring accompanied by Ready to Fight. Alistair Struve will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Johnson
vs
Struve

195 cm
23
270 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

225 cm
20
275 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lemar Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alistair Struve!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Struve swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Struve manages to avoid it.
Johnson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Johnson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Struve's head backwards.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Struve bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No luck for Struve with that takedown attempt.

Struve decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Struve 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. Struve eventually gives up the hold.
Struve misses with a head shot. Johnson uses the momentum to regain guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson managing to control the position.
Struve is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Struve trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Struve is fighting to break Johnson's control of his arms but Johnson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Struve missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson trying to control the position.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Struve circles away from the clinch attempt.
Struve fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Struve avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Struve takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Struve circles away from the clinch attempt.
Struve tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Struve looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Struve persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Lemar Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alistair Struve.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Struve circles away.
Johnson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Johnson tries to score with a low kick but Struve moves his leg out of the way.
Johnson clinches but Struve breaks the clinch

and Struve counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.
Struve landing with the ground and pound.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Struve on the ground.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Struve looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Struve from controlling successfully.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Struve tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Struve looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Struve looks gassed!
Johnson misses with a hook.
Struve fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Struve keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Struve ducks right into an uppercut from Johnson.
Johnson pushes Struve away with a front kick.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Struve moves out of range.
Struve moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Johnson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Struve checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Good leg kick by Johnson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson swings for the body but Struve moves out of range.
Johnson tries to clinch up.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Struve pushes him off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Struve throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Struve. That did some damage!
Struve gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnson.

Struve darts in and clinches Johnson up against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lemar Johnson 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.

A clash of legs there as Struve blocks the low kick.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Struve manages to avoid it.
Struve circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Struve moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Lemar Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson wants to clinch.
Struve wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Lemar Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Struve looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Struve persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson wants to clinch but Struve slips to the side
and Struve makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Johnson wants to clinch

and Struve counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Struve throwing strikes but missing.

Struve 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Struve with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Struve sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Johnson's guard.
Struve prevents Johnson from standing back up.
Johnson trying to control here.
Struve has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Struve is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Struve not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Struve is controlling well.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Struve is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Struve wants to work for an arm triangle but Johnson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Struve is nestled in close to Johnson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Struve is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Struve working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struve scoring with strikes but Johnson is staying in there.
Struve avoids the attempt from Johnson to control.
Struve tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.

Struve working for a guillotine from mount but Johnson is in no mood to give up.
Struve tries to take Johnson's back but instead Johnson uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Struve wants to pass to mount but Johnson is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Struve is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Johnson is trying to stand.
Struve sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.
Struve frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Johnson is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Struve landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Struve showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Struve bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Struve wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.

Struve swings around for an armbar but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Struve's guard.
Alistair Struve has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson wanted to stand there but Struve had control of the position.
Struve lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Struve scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Johnson?
Struve can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Struve postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Johnson looks a forlorn figure.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve lands a nice shot to the head.

Struve has isolated one of Johnson's arms. Johnson looking to fight him off but Struve twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alistair Struve!