PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Demitrious Johnson (ranked 8513 p4p, 312 weight class) and Li Lianjie (ranked 5481 p4p, 253 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Li Lianjie was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Johnson
vs
Lianjie

156 cm
26
140 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

168 cm
27
143 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid 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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demitrious Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Li Lianjie!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lianjie throws a head kick that misses.
Lianjie connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lianjie looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Lianjie dives in and grabs Johnson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes down on Lianjie's head and hops out.

Lianjie moves into the clinch.
Johnson looking to slow down the pace here.
Johnson trying to stall but Lianjie improves his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson is looking for a takedown.
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lianjie gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demitrious Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lianjie is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Johnson to the mat. Johnson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Johnson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lianjie looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lianjie wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.
Lianjie really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lianjie trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lianjie is pulling down on Johnson's head to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Lianjie counters with a one-two to the body.
Lianjie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lianjie fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a takedown
and Lianjie counters with a one-two to the body.
Johnson leaves Lianjie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Johnson swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Lianjie counter with a right hand.
Lianjie connects with a single shot there.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Lianjie sprawls well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lianjie counters with a low kick, right behind Johnson 's knee.
Lianjie works Johnson's body with a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Lianjie dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lianjie forces Johnson back against the cage and clinches.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lianjie is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Johnson tries to score a body lock takedown but Lianjie shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lianjie is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demitrious Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson letting Lianjie take a breather here.

Lianjie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lianjie lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Demitrious Johnson has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lianjie looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Lianjie fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lianjie circles away.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lianjie counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Lianjie to acknowledge the strikes.

Lianjie looking to score a takedown here. Johnson is defending well but Lianjie drives through and ends up in Johnson's guard.

Lianjie gets to his feet - Johnson follows without any prompting.
Johnson goes for a double leg but Lianjie avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lianjie continues to drive forward.
Lianjie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Johnson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lianjie sprawls well initially but Johnson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Johnson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lianjie is looking to escape.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lianjie defending well though.
Johnson trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lianjie's head.
Lianjie is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Johnson drops back looking for a leg! Lianjie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lianjie manages to kick Johnson off! Johnson jumps back into Lianjie's guard.
Johnson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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.
Johnson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Johnson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Lianjie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Demitrious Johnson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Lianjie, which made it look bad.
Lianjie throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson tried to counter with a leg kick but Lianjie avoided it.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lianjie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Lianjie instigates a clinch.
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lianjie avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demitrious Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lianjie manages to break the clinch.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lianjie is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Lianjie circles away and we're back to standing.
Lianjie is looking for the big counter here.
Lianjie misses with a two punch combination.
Demitrious Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lianjie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Lianjie drives through with a takedown into Johnson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Johnson is trying to keep Lianjie in close.
Lianjie being controlled here momentarily.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Lianjie pushes his legs off easily.
Lianjie looking to pass the guard.
Lianjie would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lianjie looking to pass the guard.
Li Lianjie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Lianjie has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnson is proving hard to escape from.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Johnson working for a triangle but Lianjie defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson pulls Lianjie in close to prevent any damage.
Lianjie wants to stand and escape but instead Johnson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Johnson stands up and waves to Lianjie to follow him.
Lianjie throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lianjie lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Lianjie gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Lianjie.
Johnson is looking to counter the offense by Lianjie and move into the clinch.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lianjie as he jumps to the side.
Lianjie tries to counter by closing the distance.
A punch lands to the side of Johnson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Lianjie.

And that's the end of the fight!
Li Lianjie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lianjie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Li Lianjie!