PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bob Johnson (ranked 3248 p4p, 166 weight class) and Denny Young (ranked 22524 p4p, 336 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Young

162 cm
21
135 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

170 cm
21
120 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Juggernaut And Gladiators

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Bob Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Denny Young!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Johnson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Johnson.
Johnson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Johnson throws a body punch but Young moves out of range.
Young slips a straight right by Johnson.

Young shoots in and bounces Johnson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Young postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Young is having none of it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Young's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Young throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Young pushing down on Johnson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Young on the ground.
Johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Young not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Young winds up and cracks Johnson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Young landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to kick Young off but Young keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Young seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.
Johnson pushes Young off looking to stand but Young dives back in and keeps control.
Young thows a huge punch but Johnson dodges it nicely.
Johnson is looking to escape.

Young is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Young throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Young scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Johnson keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Young not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard.
Young tries to pass to full mount but Johnson defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to kick Young off but Young keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Young is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Young to get the leverage.
Johnson is looking to escape.
Young has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Young works his way into side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Johnson taking a bit of punishment here - Young scoring with strikes.
Johnson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Young asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Johnson wants to control but Young postures up.

Young looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Young postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Young tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Young has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Johnson stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.

Young wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Johnson, who protects the arm well.
Johnson is looking to reverse the position.
The ground and pound from Young seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Young in side control, throwing shots but Johnson defends.
Young throws a strike aimed at the side of Johnson's head but Johnson avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Young.
An elbow from Young crashes against the mat.
Young postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Johnson pushes Young away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Young gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Young fails to land a wild elbow strike.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Young working the ground and pound from side control.
Johnson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johnson tries to get out of the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Young.
Young working away.
Johnson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Young is controlling well.
Johnson is controlling Young's trapped leg to prevent Young from advancing to side control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Young connects with a nice short shot to Johnson's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Young fails to land the takedown.
Young gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnson.
Johnson scores with a hook to the body. Young takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Young tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Johnson lands a shoulder strike.
Johnson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Johnson clinches.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the body.
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Young has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnson down to the mat. Johnson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Good exchange - Johnson coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Johnson is working Young over against the cage.
Young wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Young gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Johnson has momentary wrist control but Young slips an elbow through the middle.
Young is breathing heavily.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Young.
Young is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Young preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Young accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Young working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Young trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson 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.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Young drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Young jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Johnson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Young throws an elbow that misses. Johnson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Young's guard. Nice move by Johnson!

Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Young looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Young working a defensive guard here.
Young tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johnson sitting in guard here, content to control.
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.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Young 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 stalling in the full guard.
Young has a closed guard, preventing Johnson from standing up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Good shot there by Johnson.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Young manages to avoid it.
Young staying out of range there.
Johnson lands a nice hook to Young's body. Young takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Young throws a left and a right that both miss
and Johnson counters with a right hand to the body.
Johnson catches Young with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Young goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Denny Young is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Young drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Johnson gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young wants a takedown but no success here.
Bob Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denny Young.
Young takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Young misses with a body punch.
Johnson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Young goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Johnson lands with a nice body punch.
Johnson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Young is rocked!
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Young is still on wobbly legs! Can Johnson finish him?
Young on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Johnson cracks Young with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Young! Johnson dives in looking to finish! Young is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bob Johnson!
During a confident post fight interview, Bob Johnson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.