PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyson Driffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Warrior. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnson
vs
Driffin

176 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyson Driffin!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Driffin avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Driffin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.
Johnson misses with a looping left.
Johnson tries to clinch but Driffin is having none of it.

Johnson scores a takedown into full mount!
Driffin flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Driffin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Johnson is working for a guillotine from mount but Driffin frees his head quite easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Driffin holds on, trying desperately to control.
Johnson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Driffin wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Driffin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson punching from mount but Driffin doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Driffin is looking to get to half guard.
Johnson can't control as he wanted to and Driffin manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Driffin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnson's back!
Johnson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Johnson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Driffin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Driffin looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Driffin is landing with some decent strikes but Johnson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Driffin is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Johnson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Johnson!
Driffin looks gassed!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Driffin working for submissions but it's allowed Johnson to get to half guard.
Johnson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controlling the action here.
Driffin throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Driffin is trying to control but Johnson manages to pass to mount!
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Johnson unloads with some shots from mount but Driffin bucks and avoids them well.
Driffin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Driffin manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Driffin, under a barage of strikes from Johnson.
Driffin is trying to get back to full guard.
Johnson wants to stand up but Driffin is controlling the position.
Driffin keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Driffin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Driffin.
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 Ben Johnson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Driffin moves out of range of the strikes.
Driffin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Ben Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
Driffin takes one to the chin there.
A slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like Tyson Driffin has been cut.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Driffin's shoulder, as Driffin tries to avoid the shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Driffin defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.
Johnson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Driffin circles away easily

and Driffin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Driffin postures up.
Driffin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Driffin passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Driffin has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Johnson is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Driffin yanks on the arm and Johnson is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Driffin.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tyson Driffin!