PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Borhan Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eddie Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson has chosen Eminem - Not Afraid as his entrance music. Eddie Johnson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Khan
vs
Johnson

174 cm
29
186 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

187 cm
27
190 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Borhan Khan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eddie Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Khan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Khan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Khan stops Johnson from getting back to his feet.

Khan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Khan is controlling him well.
Khan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Khan seems to be looking for submissions.
Khan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Khan.
Khan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Khan has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Johnson works to full guard.
Johnson wants to stand but Khan is controlling the position.
Khan advances position into side control!
Johnson told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan misses with the ground and pound.

Khan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Khan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johnson has escaped the position, nice work there.

Khan tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Khan asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Khan trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Khan sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Johnson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Johnson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Khan thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Johnson prevents Khan from improving position.

Khan goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Johnson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Khan's guard! Nice work there by Johnson!
Johnson postures up.

Khan has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Johnson is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Khan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Khan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Khan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Khan misses with a takedown
and Johnson counters with a left and a right that stings Khan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Borhan Khan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Khan is avoiding it.
Khan tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Khan shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Khan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Johnson connects with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson tries a knee to the head but Khan blocks it.
Johnson lands a knee to the head.
Johnson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson connects with a knee to the head.
Johnson misses with a knee to the head.
Khan wants a takedown.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Khan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Johnson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Khan is trying to drag Johnson to the mat but Johnson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Johnson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Johnson clinches.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson lands a knee to the head.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Johnson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Johnson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson misses with a knee strike.
Johnson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Eddie Johnson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khan wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
Johnson with a knee to the head.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnson misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Johnson.
Johnson scores with a knee to the head.
Khan is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Johnson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Khan lands a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Khan drops back, looking for a kneebar! Johnson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Johnson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Johnson!

Khan tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.
Johnson working away.

Johnson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Khan to his feet.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson scores with a head kick. Khan tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Khan shoots in looking for a takedown but Johnson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Khan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson lands with a kick to the temple. Khan shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Khan goes for a double leg but Johnson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Johnson continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Borhan Khan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khan misses with a takedown attempt
and Johnson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Khan is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Khan is rocked!
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Khans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Oh Khan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Johnson drops Khan with a straight right hand, right on the button! Johnson follows him down to the mat and pounds him out with hammerfists until the referee jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Eddie Johnson!
After winning the bout, Eddie Johnson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.