PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Hughs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarik Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hughs
vs
Johnson

178 cm
36
167 lbs
29 - 16 - 0

184 cm
23
171 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 29 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Hughs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tarik Johnson!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hughs gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Johnson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hughs is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hughs has escaped and now he's on top!
Johnson can't keep his opponent in guard - Hughs advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hughs.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hughs pulls his head out easily.
Hughs throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hughs pulls his head out easily.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughs throwing shots but Johnson is blocking nicely.

Hughs is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Johnson works his way to full guard. Good work.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Hughs pushes his legs off easily.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hughs defends it easily.
Hughs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hughs has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hughs can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hughs gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hughs keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hughs defends it easily.
Johnson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hughs has passed into side control.

Hughs is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johnson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Johnson gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughs thows a huge punch but Johnson dodges it nicely.
Johnson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughs loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Hughs got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hughs has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hughs avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hughs sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johnson somewhat.
Hughs leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hughs fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Hughs circles away easily
and Hughs counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Joe Hughs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarik Johnson.
Johnson with a poor takedown

and Hughs counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hughs working the head and body with strikes.
Hughs missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson manages to get to full guard.
Hughs knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hughs with a nice head shot there.
Hughs pushes down on Johnson's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hughs pulls his head out easily.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
Hughs not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson is pressing down on Hughs's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hughs postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Hughs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hughs manages to get himself to full guard.

Johnson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hughs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Johnson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hughs has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Johnson but great work by Hughs.
Tarik Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hughs wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Johnson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hughs pulls his head out easily.
Johnson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Johnson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Hughs uses it to pass to side control.
Johnson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hughs keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Johnson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Johnson is working for a submission of some sort.
Hughs is in trouble now - Johnson has advanced to mount!

Johnson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hughs is now in Johnson's guard. A big mistake from Johnson there, giving up the dominant position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hughs postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson's brow.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hughs doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hughs manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hughs postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tarik Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Hughs.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Hughs sprawls well.
Hughs lands a body shot.
Johnson shoots and misses

and Hughs counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hughs pulls his head out easily.
Hughs scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are battling for position here. Johnson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hughs working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hughs is one step ahead there.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Hughs defends easily.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Johnson has an active guard here but Hughs has managed to pass into half guard.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Hughs has control of the leg.
Joe Hughs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughs takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hughs thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.
Hughs sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hughs.

Hughs wants to work for an arm triangle but Johnson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hughs looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hughs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hughs throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.
Hughs throwing strikes but missing.
Hughs connects with a couple of short punches.

Johnson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hughs doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hughs manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hughs sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Johnson's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
Hughs thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.
Hughs lands strikes from half guard.
Hughs lands with a punch from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard.
Hughs sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hughs pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Hughs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tarik Johnson!