PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Horowich (ranked 2056 p4p, 253 weight class) and Derek Johnson (ranked 2649 p4p, 308 weight class). Derek Johnson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Horowich
vs
Johnson

188 cm
26
188 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
182 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mark Horowich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Derek Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Daniel Franklin and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson instigates a clinch.

Horowich wants the takedown. Johnson is fighting it off but Horowich persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Johnson's guard against the cage.
Johnson controlling Horowich's posture.
Horowich definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Horowich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Horowich pushes his legs off easily.

Horowich is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Horowich got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Horowich has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Horowich tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Horowich drops back looking for a leg! Johnson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Johnson manages to kick Horowich off! Horowich jumps back into Johnson's guard.
Horowich advances position into side control!

Horowich looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Johnson manages to get back to half guard.

Horowich looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Horowich trying to mount his opponent but Johnson defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Horowich pulls his head out easily.
Johnson is pressing down on Horowich's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Horowich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Horowich trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Horowich looking to pass the guard.
Horowich trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Horowich pushes his legs off easily.
Horowich passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Johnson trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horowich wants to finish this one by submission but Johnson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Horowich.

Horowich is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Johnson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Johnson tries to reverse the position but Horowich maintains control.
Horowich pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Horowich throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Horowich takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Johnson tries to break free.
Johnson wants to control his opponent's hands but Horowich gets his hands free.
Johnson is really stuck here.
Johnson trying to control the action but Horowich just sinks the hooks in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Horowich is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Horowich has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Horowich is hanging on to Johnson's back as he tries to escape.

Horowich is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Johnson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Johnson for a finish.

Horowich has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Johnson trying to control the hands but Horowich won't let him.
Will Horowich go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Horowich looking to break Johnson's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Johnson remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Horowich will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Horowich working for a choke but Johnson is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Horowich tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.

Johnson pulls guard.

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

Horowich drops back looking for a leg! Johnson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Johnson manages to kick Horowich off! Horowich jumps back into Johnson's guard.

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horowich works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Horowich is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Horowich is trying to work for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Horowich prevents Johnson from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Horowich is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Horowich is very close to passing his half guard.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.

Horowich seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.

Horowich is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Horowich sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.

Horowich is working for a submission of some sort.
Mark Horowich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Horowich is looking for a kimura here.
Horowich is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.

Horowich looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Horowich is very close to passing his half guard.
Horowich is pressing down on Johnson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Johnson is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horowich is working for a submission of some sort.
Johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Horowich is working away from the top position though.
Horowich works his foot free and advances to mount.
Johnson is trying desperately to improve position.
Johnson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson tries to control the position but Horowich now has his back.

Horowich working for the choke.

Horowich is looking for the choke from the back position but Johnson is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Horowich is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Will Horowich go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Horowich is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Johnson has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Will Horowich go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Johnson trying to control the hands but Horowich breaks the grip.
Horowich is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Johnson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Horowich.
Johnson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson tries to hold on but Horowich postures up.
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Horowich dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Johnson pushes Horowich up against the cage in a clinch.

Johnson jumps guard and drags Horowich to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Horowich working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson trying to control the position.
Horowich sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Johnson's guard.

Horowich is trying to work for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Horowich pulls his head out easily.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson is looking to control Horowich's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnson avoid being mounted?
Johnson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Horowich's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Horowich's back!
Horowich rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Horowich looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Horowich actively working from the bottom here.

Horowich actively working from the bottom here.
Johnson is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Horowich reverses the position - he's now on top in Johnson's guard.
Horowich slips nicely into half guard.

Horowich is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Horowich passes the guard and advances to mount!

Horowich looking for a guillotine from mount but Johnson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to hold on but Horowich postures up.
Horowich wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.

Horowich has hold of Johnson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Johnson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Johnson working to try and regain half guard.
Horowich tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.

Horowich working for a submission but Johnson is keeping him at bay.
Johnson gets back to half guard.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.

Horowich is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Horowich to get the leverage.
Horowich throwing shots but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Horowich is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Horowich is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.

Horowich is looking for a kimura here.
Horowich is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.

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.
Horowich passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Johnson!

Horowich looking to isolate an arm here. Johnson doesn't see it coming and as Horowich extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Horowich!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mark Horowich!
Mark Horowich decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.