PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tarik Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Cronos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cronos has chosen Sandstorm as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Johnson
vs
Cronos

184 cm
34
155 lbs
23 - 17 - 1

178 cm
36
145 lbs
32 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 160$)
Voodoo Nutrition

Urban Fighter

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 23 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Tarik Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jose Cronos!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Cronos has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Johnson slips a jab from Cronos.
Johnson moves into range and connects with a jab.
A big right from Cronos misses.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Cronos, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Cronos against the cage but Cronos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cronos takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cronos sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johnson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Cronos misses with a double jab.

Cronos closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Johnson to the mat! Johnson manages to get full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Cronos won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
Johnson 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.
Johnson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Johnson trying to control but Cronos is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands a couple of digs.
Johnson won't allow Cronos to get back to his feet.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cronos trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Cronos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.

Johnson keeping moving, preventing Cronos from controlling successfully.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nice strikes from Johnson there.
Johnson prevents Cronos from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cronos wants to control the action here but instead Johnson manages to pass to full mount!
Cronos manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Cronos is looking to improve his position.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson throws a strike but Cronos avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Johnson won't allow Cronos to get back to his feet.
Johnson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Cronos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johnson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cronos wants to stand and escape but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson postures up.
Johnson won't allow Cronos to sweep him here.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Cronos keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnson cracks Cronos with a solid left hand.
Cronos controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.

Cronos manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the body.
Johnson tried to score with a low kick but Cronos checks it.
A nice side step and Cronos releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cronos is looking for the big counter here.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Cronos drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Johnson defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Johnson. No joy for Cronos on that attempt.
A combination from Cronos does no damage.
Cronos misses with a hook.
Johnson throws a big counter combination but Cronos scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson clobbers Cronos with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Cronos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cronos bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cronos counters with a nice body shot.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cronos is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Cronos staying out of range there.
That kick from Johnson tenderised Cronos's leg. Cronos is trying to keep his angry face on.
Johnson misses with a right hand
and Cronos makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarik Johnson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cronos misses with a series of wild punches.
Cronos catches Johnson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Left hook, right uppercut from Cronos.
Cronos listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Johnson thows a leg kick but Cronos checks it
and Cronos counters with a straight right hand.
Cronos's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Johnson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cronos scrambles back to his feet.
Johnson throws an off balance right hand
and Cronos counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
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!
Cronos slips a straight right by Johnson.
Cronos slips under a jab.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cronos circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson throws a poor cross that misses
and Cronos counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Johnson throws a combination that misses
and Cronos cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cronos.
Cronos moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Cronos lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Johnson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cronos throws a combination. Johnson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Johnson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cronos counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cronos takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cronos throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johnson connects with a single shot there.
Johnson misses with a body shot
and Cronos counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. Cronos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cronos let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Johnson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Johnson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cronos napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cronos managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Johnson.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cronos keeps working.
Johnson cracks Cronos with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Cronos is looking to reverse the position.
Johnson trying to control the action but Cronos is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cronos is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Johnson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cronos manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cronos is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tarik Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Cronos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cronos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cronos controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Cronos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cronos has momentary wrist control but Johnson slips an elbow through the middle.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. Cronos uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Cronos!

Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cronos is one step ahead there.
Cronos trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Cronos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson is striking but Cronos is not phased and passes to half guard.
Cronos is keen to just control but Johnson is a slippery customer.
Johnson trying to control but Cronos postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Cronos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cronos's waist but Cronos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Cronos darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A combination from Cronos does no damage.
Johnson throws a poor cross that misses
and Cronos cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Cronos gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Johnson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cronos tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cronos keeps working.
Johnson prevents Cronos from escaping the position.
Cronos tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cronos is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Johnson off and has taken his back!
Johnson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Cronos's guard. Nice work there by Johnson.

Cronos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.
Cronos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cronos trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Cronos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cronos is looking to stand up but Johnson isn't so interested in that idea.
Cronos wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a couple of elbows.
Cronos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cronos might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Johnson haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Johnson scoring with punches to the head and body.

Cronos 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.
Cronos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cronos keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Cronos controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Johnson connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Cronos is working from the bottom.
Johnson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Cronos 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 scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Cronos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cronos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Cronos has wrist control.
Cronos is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cronos blocks the strikes from Johnson.
Cronos is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.

Cronos wants to work for an arm triangle but Johnson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Cronos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johnson defends it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tarik Johnson.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tarik Johnson!
Tarik Johnson very nearly forgot to thank Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 160$) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.