PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Birchack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demitrious Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Demitrious Johnson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Birchack
vs
Johnson

159 cm
23
138 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

156 cm
23
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anthony Birchack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demitrious Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Birchack is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Birchack looking for submissions off his back.
Birchack throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Birchack tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birchack knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Birchack gets full guard.
Birchack striking from his own guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birchack doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Birchack looking for a sweep. Not yet Birchack, not yet.
My spies in Johnson MMA inform me that Johnson has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Birchack is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Birchack throws his legs up looking for a submission but Johnson uses it to pass to side control.
Birchack is trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Birchack is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Birchack looking for a sweep but Johnson has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Johnson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Birchack is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birchack is trying to reverse the position but instead Johnson has taken his back - oops!
Johnson struggling to keep hold of the position.
You can see the frustration on Birchack's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Birchack fending off the submission attempt from Johnson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Birchack tries to break free.
Birchack has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Johnson.
Birchack tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Birchack is wriggling around trying to escape.
Johnson tries to control but Birchack wriggling away.
Birchack flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Birchack gets back to half guard.
Birchack wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Birchack is working hard here to advance position.
Birchack moves into full guard.
Birchack wants to improve his position but instead Johnson has moved into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to take a breather but Birchack is having none of it.
Birchack wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Birchack is defending well.
Birchack punching from the bottom.
Birchack works his way to full guard. Good work.
Birchack wants to hit a switch here but Johnson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Birchack there!
Birchack keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Johnson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Birchack is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Birchack tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birchack works his way to full guard. Good work.
Birchack looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Birchack working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Birchack looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Johnson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Birchack is looking to improve his position.
Johnson blocks the strikes from Birchack.
Birchack wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Johnson blocks the strikes from Birchack.
Birchack throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Birchack regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Birchack.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Birchack striking off his back but it's not causing Johnson any problems.
Demitrious Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Birchack is on top in guard.

Birchack lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Birchack throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson controlling the position.
Birchack lands a couple of digs.
Birchack chips away with some ground and pound.
Birchack throwing strikes but missing.
Birchack keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.

Johnson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birchack missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Johnson has his foot on Birchack's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Birchack works his way back into a safe position though.
Birchack lands a couple of digs.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Birchack wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Birchack lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Johnson has momentary wrist control but Birchack slips an elbow through the middle.
Birchack working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Birchack lands a couple of elbows.
Birchack postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson's brow.
Johnson controls Birchack momentarily but Birchack frees himself.
Birchack has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has momentary wrist control but Birchack slips an elbow through the middle.
Birchack connects with a couple of short punches.

Johnson has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Birchack doesn't defend quickly enough and Johnson has managed to lock this one up! Can Birchack escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Johnson on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Demitrious Johnson!