PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steffan Bonnar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Johnson is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Bonnar
vs
Johnson

190 cm
32
223 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

188 cm
32
214 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steffan Bonnar!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Johnson has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Bonnar fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Johnson sprawls well initially but Bonnar persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Johnson is looking to get back to full guard here but Bonnar has managed to pass to side control instead.
Bonnar fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Johnson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bonnar wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Johnson struggling a bit here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Johnson wants to control but Bonnar postures up.
Bonnar working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Johnson on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Bonnar gets to mount! Johnson was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Bonnar swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Johnson is now in Bonnar's guard. A big mistake from Bonnar there, giving up the dominant position!
Bonnar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bonnar working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson wants to control from the top but Bonnar keeps moving.
Bonnar scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson wants to get up but he can't break Bonnar's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Bonnar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bonnar throwing strikes from guard but Johnson blocks nicely.
Bonnar looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonnar lands a couple of digs.
Bonnar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Bonnar isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson is looking to sweep but instead, Bonnar has passed into half guard.

Bonnar is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Bonnar is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonnar 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.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.
Bonnar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Johnson is looking to get back to full guard here but Bonnar has managed to pass to side control instead.
Bonnar working the ground and pound from side control.
Johnson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Bonnar is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bonnar pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steffan Bonnar dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Johnson swinging wildly here.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Steffan Bonnar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bonnar tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bonnar cracks Johnson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Johnson is rocked!
Good leg kick by Bonnar there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Johnson is still on wobbly legs! Can Bonnar finish him?
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson seems to have recovered his senses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bonnar swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Johnson tries to stall but Bonnar uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bonnar wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bonnar tries for a takedown. No joy.
Johnson is looking to control Bonnar's arms but Bonnar gets an underhook and turns him. Now Johnson has his back to the cage.
Johnson keeps control of Bonnar as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to push Bonnar away but Bonnar has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Bonnar.

Bonnar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bonnar swinging wildly here.
Bonnar misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. Bonnar does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bonnar throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Bonnar avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson throws a wild body kick that Bonnar sees coming a mile off.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson tries to clinch up
and Bonnar counters with a crisp right that sends Johnson to the canvas! Bonnar follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:06 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Steffan Bonnar!
Steffan Bonnar is the new light heavyweight champion!
An out of breath Steffan Bonnar thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.