PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Wade North (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). North comes into the arena with Howl blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

North
vs
Johnson

185 cm
19
188 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Great elbows
Granite chin

Good low kicks
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Wade North!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Adam Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Glass and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

North rushes Johnson and presses him up against the ropes.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Johnson misses with the head strike.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but North is keeping busy.
North throws an elbow but it misses.
Johnson tries to stall but North uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by North as Johnson tries to tie him up.
Johnson is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and North has denied him.
North holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
North stalling against the ropes.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Johnson struggles to land a body shot inside as North controls his hands.
Johnson lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
North gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by North.
Johnson wants to stall.
Johnson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of North backwards.
Johnson lands a hook that snaps the head of North backwards.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by North.
Johnson is stalling here.
North throws an elbow but it misses.
Johnson blocks a body shot from North.
Johnson stalling against the ropes.
North lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
North pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
North is pushing Johnson up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Johnson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
North throws an elbow but it misses.
Johnson misses with some punches.
Johnson pushes North back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
North lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A body shot lands from Johnson.
Johnson lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson scores with a nice hook to the head.

It looks like Wade North has been cut.
North wants to stall.
North tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
North stalling in the clinch but Johnson improves position.
Johnson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike from North.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
North blocking some punches.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by North.
With the fighters up against the ropes, North throws an elbow but misses.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but North is keeping busy.
North dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Johnson takes an elbow to the temple.
North throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
North looks to throw an elbow but misses.
North blocks an uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from North.
North misses with an elbow strike.
Johnson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the fighters up against the ropes, North throws an elbow but misses.
Johnson misses with the head strike.
North creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by North as Johnson tries to tie him up.
North looking to slow down the pace here.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but North is keeping busy.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by North.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as North tries to tie him up.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johnson working aggressively here.
Johnson lands a right hand that snaps the head of North backwards.
Johnson is struggling to control the position.
Johnson wants to stall.
Johnson dodges an elbow strike from North.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wade North's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

North closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the ropes.
North blocking some punches.
North throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by North.
North is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now North has his back to the ropes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
With the fighters up against the ropes, North throws an elbow but misses.
North is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now North has his back to the ropes.
North lands an elbow inside that Johnson shrugs off.
North throws an elbow but it's blocked.
North comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
North taking a breather.
I was talking to North's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Johnson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
North misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson looking to slow down the pace here.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
North throws an elbow but it misses.
Come on North - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Johnson'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.
North is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
North comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
North lands an elbow inside.
Still in the clinch, Johnson scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
North pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
North throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by North.
North throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
North is trying to stall.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike.
Johnson working aggressively here.
North is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Johnson takes an elbow to the forehead.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Johnson.
Johnson blocks the elbow strike.
North stalling in the clinch but Johnson improves position.
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with North's elbow.
Johnson avoids the elbow strike from North, against the ropes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson looking to stall.
North blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Johnson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
North misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
North misses with an elbow over the top.
North lands an elbow that stopped Johnson in his tracks for a moment.
A right hand to the body from Johnson.
Johnson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by North.
A nice left hand lands by Johnson.
North is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now North has his back to the ropes.
Adam Johnson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
North lands an elbow inside that Johnson shrugs off.
North lands a damaging elbow.
With the fighters up against the ropes, North throws an elbow but misses.
Johnson pushes North back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
North pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, North just misses with a elbow thrown towards Johnson's brow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Johnson blocks the elbow strike.
North creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
North misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson dodges an elbow strike from North.
Still in the clinch, Johnson scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson lands an uppercut.
North lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Johnson.
North looking to slow down the pace here.
Johnson swings wildly with an uppercut but North uses good head movement to avoid it.
North lands an elbow inside that Johnson shrugs off.
North blocks a punch to the side of the head.
North tries to stall but Johnson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by North.
A nice glancing elbow lands by North.
North slows down the pace here.
North is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now North has his back to the ropes.
Johnson tries a body shot but North blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wade North dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wade North's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Johnson looks to throw the jab but North is out of range.

North fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the ropes.
North is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now North has his back to the ropes.
Johnson misses with the head strike.
Johnson avoids a wild elbow strike from North.
North blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
North throws an elbow but it's blocked.
North comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A nice right hand lands inside from Johnson.
North struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Johnson is trying to stall.
Johnson'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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
North wants to stall.
Johnson pushes North back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johnson lands with a right to the head.
Nice elbow from North.
Johnson looking to slow down the pace here.
Johnson swings wildly with an uppercut but North uses good head movement to avoid it.
North slows down the pace here.
North misses with an elbow strike.
Johnson avoids the elbow strike from North, against the ropes.
North looks to throw an elbow but misses.
North doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by North.
Johnson wants to stall.
North lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
North comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Johnson takes an elbow to the forehead.
North comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Johnson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Johnson works on North's body with a couple of short punches.
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!
With the fighters up against the ropes, North throws an elbow but misses.
North blocks an uppercut.
North tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by North.
North lands an elbow inside that Johnson shrugs off.
Johnson lands a nice uppercut.
North misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson controlling the action here for a moment.
Stalling in the clinch from North.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by North.
Johnson lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson misses with a hook from the clinch.
North is trying to stall.
Johnson tries a body shot but North blocks it.
North lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but North is keeping busy.
Johnson lands with a left to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as North tries to tie him up.
North working aggressively here.
North can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Johnson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
North is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Johnson is keeping busy.
North is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now North has his back to the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
North leaning against his opponent.
Still in the clinch, Johnson scores with a nice short uppercut.
North content to slow the pace in the clinch.
North has Johnson pushed against the ropes.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Wade North.
North on the wrong end of a nice jab.

North rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson lands with a left to the head.
North tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson stalling in the clinch but North improves position.
Johnson misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the ropes, North throws an elbow but misses.
North tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
North blocks a punch to the side of the head.
North lands an elbow inside that Johnson shrugs off.
North comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by North.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Adam Johnson.
Well Johnson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

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