PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Zal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Icky Thump. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnson
vs
Zal

176 cm
30
159 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

170 cm
33
152 lbs
15 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Zal!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson jabs Zal right on the nose. Zal blinks but takes it well.
Johnson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Zal down.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Johnson. Zal shrugs it off though.
Johnson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zal throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Zal throws the left hand but Johnson avoids the punch easily.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the body.
Johnson throws out a powerful jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A slapping body kick lands there for Johnson.
Johnson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Crunch! Johnson slams his shin into Zal's torso.
Zal looks winded!
Zal takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Johnson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zal closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Johnson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Zal is rocked!
Johnson connects with a jab.
Zal is still on wobbly legs! Can Johnson finish him?
Johnson lands a nice shot to the body.
Zal throws a hook but Johnson blocks it.
Zal seems to have recovered his senses.
Zal has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Johnson.
Johnson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nick Zal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson scoring well with a low kick there.
Johnson is looking to wear down Zal with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Johnson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Zal on the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Johnson.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Zal.
Zal swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johnson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Zal throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Johnson.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Zal!
Zal is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Johnson is controlling him well.
Johnson trying to control the position but Zal is working away.

Johnson has hold of Zal's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Zal seems comfortable defending it but Johnson has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Zal is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Zal is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Johnson couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kevin Johnson!
Our winner, Kevin Johnson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.