PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Keith Young (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Johnston has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Keith Young's chin.

Young
vs
Johnston

202 cm
19
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

160 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Keith Young!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Johnston!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Damien Edna and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston digs a good hook to Young's body.
Johnston shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Young counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Young content to control rather than advance.
Johnston regains full guard. Nicely done.
Young controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Keith Young has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Johnston enables Young to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Johnston manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Young has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston wants to get back to his feet but Young is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Johnston being controlled here, momentarily.
Johnston is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Keith Young.
Johnston doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Young holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Young manages to break the clinch.
Johnston lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Young really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Young changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Johnston looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Johnston manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Young is looking to escape.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Young flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Young is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnston passes to side control.
Young is trying to buck Johnston off.
Young is breathing heavily.
Johnston wants to stand but Young is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Young tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Johnston wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Young tries to escape but Johnston is in control.
Young knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnston on the ground.
Johnston trying to control the action but Young is working from the bottom.
Young is pushing Johnston's head away, looking to escape. Johnston manages to hold on to the position though.
Johnston is looking to take a break and control but Young is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnston lands a few punches from side control.
Johnston tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Johnston tries to stand but Young is controlling his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is looking to take a break and control but Young is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnston is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Young is looking for a sweep.
Young is working hard here to advance position.
Young is trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Johnston decides to stand up, so the ref orders Young to his feet.
Johnston feints a jab promting Young to slip. Johnston then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Young slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Keith Young will probably get the nod.
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.

Johnston throws a right hand that Young ducks under and follows up with a left that Young also avoids with ease.
Johnston with a poor takedown

and Young counters by clinching up.

Young has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Johnston is trying to keep an underhook but Young manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Johnston trying to hold on to Young's head to control him but Young postures up.
Johnston is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Young scores with a couple of nice shots.
Young throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Young takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Johnston tries to roll over but Young keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Young decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Young keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnston.
Johnston smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Johnston looks to land a combination but Young avoids it well.
Johnston misses with a takedown

and Young counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Keith Young overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnston is breathing heavily.
Young missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Young showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Johnston is working an open guard so Young takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

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

Johnston gets tackled into the cage by Young. Young maintains the clinch.
Young's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Young seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Johnston tries to pull guard but Young holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnston drops back down to his feet.
Keith Young has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Johnston.
Young effectively controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Keith Young.

Young fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Johnston sprawls well initially but Young persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Young content to control rather than advance.
Johnston wants to get back to his feet.
Young looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Young missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnston avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Young.
Johnston is looking for a sweep. Young is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Young is trying to work for a kimura but Johnston is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Young is controlling the pace.
Young will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Johnston wants to improve his position but Young is controlling well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Young is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Keith Young just wasn't active enough.
Johnston scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Young dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Young stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Young wants it to stay on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Johnston or perhaps it was just good defense by Young, which made it look bad.

Young looking to score a takedown here. Johnston is defending well but Young drives through and ends up in Johnston's guard.
Young looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Young's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Young has gone for a leg lock! Johnston slips out almost immediately though and dives into Young's guard.
Young keeping moving, preventing Johnston from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young 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.
Johnston wants to stand but Young is controlling his posture from full guard.
Johnston takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Young manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnston manages to get himself to full guard.
Young is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Keith Young.
Johnston pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Young back to the cage. Johnston follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Keith Young has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Johnston.

Johnston tries to keep at a distance but Young has taken the fight into the clinch.
Young is stalling here.

Young escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alex Johnston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Young clinches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Johnston goes for a takedown in the clinch but Young prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Come on Young - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Young manages to break the clinch.

Young shoots in and bounces Johnston off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Young stays in close to Johnston's body and controls the position.
Johnston wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Young not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Young has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Keith Young wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Johnston gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Young counters by moving into the clinch.
Young prevents Johnston from breaking the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Young - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Young's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnston fails to land with a series of punches.
Alex Johnston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keith Young is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Young closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith Young showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Young, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keith Young!