PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dixie Small (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarik Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Small
vs
Johnson

167 cm
23
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

184 cm
30
155 lbs
19 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dixie Small!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Tarik Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Small checks it well.
We've been informed that Johnson has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Small counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Small to acknowledge the strikes.
Small fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Small has been working on his boxing with his coaches at LOD: Fight Club in the buildup to the fight.
Small misses with a straight left.
Johnson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Small feinted with a counter takedown.
Small ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.

Small shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Johnson is trying to defend but Small finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Johnson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Johnson lands a decent shot there.
Small stands up over Johnson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Small tries to pass.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Small won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Small trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Small controls from within his opponent's guard.
Small lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Small lands a couple of digs.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Small connects with a couple of short punches.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Small from controlling successfully.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Small stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Small stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Small preventing the sweep.
Small makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Johnson controls Small momentarily but Small frees himself.
Small scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Small content to stall in guard here.
Small makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Johnson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Small stands up over Johnson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Small controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnson working for a triangle but Small defends it easily.
Small with a flurry of punches that miss.
Small keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Small postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Small defends it easily.
Small stands up over Johnson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Small chips away with some ground and pound.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Small is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Small lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Small preventing the sweep.
Small stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Small doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Small manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Small controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Johnson has momentary wrist control but Small slips an elbow through the middle.

Johnson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Small defends well.
Small wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Small landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dixie Small dominated that round.
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.

Small scores with the left hand. Johnson knows he should have avoided that one.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Small to regain full guard.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Small looking to control but Johnson passes into half guard.
Small trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Small is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Small's head.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Small gets back to full guard.
Small keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Johnson works over Small with some ground and pound from guard.

Small escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Johnson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Small is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.
Johnson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson postures up in Small's guard and throws a big left but Small blocks it.
Johnson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Small.
Johnson stands up over Small, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Small might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Johnson lands a couple of digs.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Small is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Small.
Johnson is working Small over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Small.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Small looking to control.
Small tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Small is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson postures up in Small's guard and throws a big left but Small blocks it.
Johnson pushes down on Small's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Small's head.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Small is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarik Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Small sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson walks into a stiff left hand from Small.
Small lands a really nice looking cross but Johnson seems unphased.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
A quick step to the side and Small tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson misses with a hook. Small ducked under it nicely.
Small swinging wildly here.
Johnson defending well as Small loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a jab to the body
and Small counters with a stiff right hand.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Dixie Small has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarik Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Small fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Small misses with a hook. Johnson ducked under it nicely.
Johnson lands a head shot.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Small sprawls well. Small wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Johnson throws a right hand that Small ducks under and follows up with a left that Small also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Small displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johnson throws out the jab.
Johnson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Small in his tracks.
Nice uppercut lands for Small. That snapped Johnson's head back.
Johnson misses with a straight left.
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!
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Small.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Small feinted with a counter takedown.
Small keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnson.
A right-left combo lands from Small.
Johnson dives in and grabs Small's left leg, looking for a takedown. Small pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson throws a hook but Small avoids it easily.
Small is looking to counter punch.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Small.
Good standup being displayed there by Johnson as he connects with a hook.
Small feints a jab promting Johnson to slip. Small then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Johnson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Small fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Small throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Small.
Johnson slips a jab from Small.
Small throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johnson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Small feinted with a counter takedown.
Johnson throws a jab but it's blocked by Small.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Small sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Johnson misses with a left hand
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice straight punches there by Johnson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Johnson.

Small drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.

Small has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Johnson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's four 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!
Small has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Johnson.
Small looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Small cracks Johnson with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Johnson from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Johnson is in bad spot here.
Small softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Johnson staying busy and making it hard for Small to control.
Small lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Small lands punches and elbows.

Johnson is rocked!
Small is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Small gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Small gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Small apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Johnson is still on wobbly legs! Can Small finish him?
Small lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Johnson takes a swing at Small's ribcage but misses.

Small drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.
Small wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Small has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Johnson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dixie Small showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Small has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dixie Small!
Dixie Small thanked the fans post fight for their support.