PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Embree (ranked 4429 p4p, 0 weight class) and Davon Jonhson (ranked 4615 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Embree
vs
Jonhson

180 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matthew Embree!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Davon Jonhson!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Michael Johnstone and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Embree stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Embree wants it to stay on the feet.
Embree feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Embree throws a nice looking combination but Jonhson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Embree fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jonhson avoids it really well and circles away.
Embree fails with an attempt to clinch.

Jonhson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Embree, pushing him back against the cage.
Embree wants to take the fight to the mat but Jonhson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Embree throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jonhson jumps guard but Embree turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Embree breaks the clinch.
Embree throws a head kick but Jonhson moves out of range.
Embree misses with a few strikes there.
Jonhson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Embree defends it well.

Embree gets a clinch.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jonhson pushes Embree up against the cage in a clinch.

Embree manages to break the clinch.
Embree goes for a double leg but Jonhson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jonhson continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Embree. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Embree as Jonhson shoots in.
Embree goes for a double leg but Jonhson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jonhson continues to drive forward.
Embree leaves Jonhson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jonhson falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Embree counter with a right hand.
Embree throws a head kick that misses.
Embree tries to clinch there but Jonhson circles away.
Jonhson closes the distance and clinches up with Embree, looking for a takedown. Jonhson pushes Embree against the cage but Embree circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Embree swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jonhson looks for a takedown but Embree sprawls well.

Jonhson closes the distance and clinches.
Embree is looking for a takedown.
Jonhson is trying to drag Embree to the mat but Embree just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Embree jumps into guard, dragging Jonhson to the mat.
Jonhson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Embree's guard.
Embree knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jonhson on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Embree pushes Jonhson off but Jonhson dives into side control.
Embree is letting Jonhson control him for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Embree struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Embree is trying to improve his position.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

That's four 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.
Embree can't do much from the bottom here.
Jonhson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Jonhson tries to stand but Embree is controlling his head.
Embree struggling a bit here.
Embree is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jonhson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

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.

That was a close round but I would say that Matthew Embree will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

No luck for Jonhson with that takedown attempt.
Embree tries for a takedown but Jonhson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Embree fails with the takedown.
Jonhson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Embree as he avoids it easily.
Embree fails with a takedown attempt.
Jonhson was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Embree. 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.
Jonhson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Embree fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jonhson shoots in but Embree avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Embree misses the shot to the body.

Jonhson darts in and clinches Embree up against the cage.
Come on Embree - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Embree throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Embree fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jonhson tries to score a body lock takedown but Embree shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Jonhson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Embree wants to get up but he can't break Jonhson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Embree preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Embree trying to control the position from guard on top but Jonhson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jonhson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Embree can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Embree accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jonhson wants to stand up but Embree is controlling him.
Jonhson working a defensive guard here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Jonhson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Embree moves into range and clinches up with Jonhson.
Embree tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jonhson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Embree wants a takedown.
Embree holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Embree breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Embree moves into the clinch successfully.

Embree escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Embree throws a low kick, looking for Jonhson's leg but Jonhson calmly moves out of range.
Embree tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jonhson has his takedown stuffed
and Embree counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Embree gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Embree lands a nice uppercut.
Embree is trying to pull guard but Jonhson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Jonhson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Embree uses from the top position.
Jonhson looking for a sweep. Not yet Jonhson, not yet.
Embree has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Embree trying to control the position from guard on top but Jonhson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Embree loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jonhson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jonhson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jonhson trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Embree dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jonhson blocks a head kick by Embree.
Jonhson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Embree backs up against the cage.

Jonhson moves into range and clinches up with Embree.
Embree is trying to pull guard but Jonhson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Embree has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Jonhson after a bit of a struggle.
Embree drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jonhson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Embree. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Embree tries to score a body lock takedown but Jonhson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Embree breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Jonhson gets a clinch.
Jonhson jumps guard but Embree turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Embree tries to land knees in the clinch but Jonhson avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Embree misses with a punch to the body.
Jonhson tries to circle away but Embree has him pinned against the cage.
Jonhson dodges an elbow strike from Embree.
Jonhson prevents the takedown attempt.
Embree jumps guard but Jonhson stands there with Embree around his waist. Embree gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jonhson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Embree breaks from the clinch.

Jonhson has closed the distance and engaged Embree in a clinch.
Jonhson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Embree to keep the fight standing.
Davon Jonhson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Jonhson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jonhson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jonhson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Embree trying to control but Jonhson is working from the bottom.
Jonhson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jonhson looking for a sweep. Not yet Jonhson, not yet.
Jonhson trying to keep a closed guard but Embree is proving a slippery customer.
Jonhson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Jonhson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jonhson is still trying to improve position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Embree fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jonhson avoids it really well and circles away.
Jonhson lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Jonhson fails to land the takedown.
Embree shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jonhson but Jonhson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jonhson wants to counter the offense by Embree and move into the clinch position.

Embree fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Jonhson sprawls well initially but Embree persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jonhson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Jonhson is positioning himself well to prevent Embree advancing to mount.
Jonhson manages to get to full guard.
Jonhson wants to get back to his feet but Embree is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jonhson wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Davon Jonhson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Embree has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Embree!