PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Phil Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Terrell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnston
vs
Terrell

180 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Phil Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Richard Terrell!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston tries to clinch but Terrell moves out of range.
Johnston tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Terrell swivels and escapes.
Terrell wants to slow Johnston down by chopping away at his legs.
Johnston throws a right hand that Terrell ducks under and follows up with a left that Terrell also avoids with ease.
Johnston is looking to clinch.

Terrell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Terrell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Terrell is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Terrell tries to break the clinch but Johnston is controlling the position.

Johnston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Terrell does no damage.
Johnston with a poor takedown

and Terrell moves into the clinch.

Terrell is trying to trip Johnston. He has hold of a leg but Johnston is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Terrell persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Johnston working a defensive guard here.
Johnston will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Terrell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnston is keeping the position for now.
Johnston working a defensive guard here.
Terrell is pushing down on Johnston's leg trying to pass to half guard. Johnston is fighting to maintain full guard but Terrell has managed to sneak the leg through.

Terrell is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Johnston sees it coming and defends easily.
Johnston trying to control here.
Johnston is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Terrell is looking for a kimura but Johnston is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Terrell to get the leverage.
Terrell wants to pass the guard but Johnston is defending well.

Terrell is working for a submission of some sort.
Terrell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Terrell scoring with strikes but Johnston is staying in there.
Johnston bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Johnston looking to pass the guard.
Johnston controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston looking to sit in guard and control but Terrell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johnston keeping moving, preventing Terrell from controlling successfully.
Terrell cracks Johnston with a solid left hand.
Johnston being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Terrell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnston swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Terrell dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Terrell closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Johnston's guard.

Johnston has his feet on Terrell's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Johnston shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Terrell as he jumps to the side.
Terrell wants to counter the offense by Johnston and move into the clinch position.
Terrell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Terrell scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Terrell is staying tight to Johnston's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Terrell is looking to take a break and control but Johnston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Terrell wants to stand but Johnston has his arm trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Terrell creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Johnston struggling a bit here.
Terrell landing a few strikes.
You can see the frustration on Johnston's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnston takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Richard Terrell has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston gets back to half guard.
Terrell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnston is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Terrell seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Johnston trying to hold on to Terrell's head to control him but Terrell postures up.
Johnston gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Terrell cracks Johnston with a solid left hand.

Johnston escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Terrell gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnston keeping moving, preventing Terrell from controlling successfully.
Terrell slips nicely into half guard.
Terrell trying to mount his opponent but Johnston defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Terrell in particular looking to stall.
Johnston wants to control but Terrell is keeping busy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Terrell shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johnston's guard.

Johnston has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Terrell off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Johnston throws a body punch but Terrell moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Terrell stuffs the takedown.
Johnston changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Terrell tries to avoid it but Johnston manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Terrell to the ground. Terrell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnston moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromTerrell.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Johnston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnston fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Richard Terrell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Terrell connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Johnston momentarily.
Johnston paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Terrell throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Johnston was covering up waiting for the punch and Terrell finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Terrell tries to stand but Johnston is controlling from the bottom.
Terrell passes Johnston's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnston is looking to improve his position.
Terrell takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston pushes Terrell off looking to stand but Terrell dives back in and keeps control.
Johnston is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnston missing with punches from the bottom.
Terrell winds up and cracks Johnston with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Terrell working over Johnston with some ground and pound. Johnston looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Terrell seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johnston wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Terrell trying to control the action but Johnston is working from the bottom.
Terrell sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Johnston throws a head kick but Terrell moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Terrell shoots in and bounces Johnston off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Terrell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Terrell is in close to Johnston's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Johnston tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Terrell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Johnston is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Terrell is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Johnston is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Terrell is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Terrell closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Johnston's guard.
Johnston wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Terrell manages to pass to side control.
Phil Johnston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Richard Terrell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Terrell wants to stand but Johnston has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Terrell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Terrell 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Richard Terrell!
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Richard Terrell!
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight for Richard Terrell!

Richard Terrell wins by unanimous decision!