PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleon Johnson (ranked 4905 p4p, 535 weight class) and Damien Ortega (ranked 4372 p4p, 501 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Ortega's choice of entrance music: Action. Damien Ortega struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 206.8lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Cleon Johnson had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Johnson
vs
Ortega

192 cm
26
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
213 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear
Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Cleon Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damien Ortega!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortega fails to land with a series of punches.
Ortega looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Johnson throws a right and a left that Ortega avoids nicely.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ortega.

Ortega closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Johnson pushes Ortega away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ortega gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ortega counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ortega.
Johnson is wriggling around but Ortega manages to pass to half guard.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ortega on the ground.

Ortega prevents Johnson from standing back up.
Ortega is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ortega lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ortega is looking for a kimura here.
Ortega is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Johnson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ortega scores with a couple of nice shots.
Johnson looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Johnson is refusing to be controlled, as Ortega sits in half guard.
Johnson pushes Ortega off looking to stand but Ortega dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ortega is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortega not doing much here.
Ortega seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ortega lands with a punch from half guard.
Johnson is looking to escape.
Ortega is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ortega working the head and body with strikes.
Ortega has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ortega throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.

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.
Ortega takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Johnson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Ortega moves out of range of the body kick from Johnson.
Ortega throws out a counter right but Johnson avoids it with no problem.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Johnson checks a leg kick.
It looked like Johnson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ortega.
Johnson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Johnson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ortega tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ortega somewhat.
Cleon Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Ortega.
Johnson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Johnson lands a two punch combo.
Ortega fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleon Johnson 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.

Johnson swinging wildly here.
Despite the aggression on Ortega's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Ortega sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Ortega throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Johnson counters with a left and a right that stings Ortega.

Ortega shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ortega was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ortega wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Ortega is chipping away with strikes.
Ortega works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Damien Ortega has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ortega lands a nice forearm strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortega is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ortega working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ortega scores with a couple of short elbows.
Johnson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ortega asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Ortega lands an elbow.
Johnson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's two 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.
Johnson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Ortega looks up at the clock and then as Johnson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ortega smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Ortega stands up.

Ortega shoots in and gets a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Ortega postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Ortega scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ortega lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ortega throws a big right hand that misses.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ortega sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Johnson's guard.
Johnson is looking to get back to is feet but Ortega passes into side control.

Ortega is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ortega working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortega in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Ortega tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ortega has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ortega misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Ortega works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Ortega cracks Johnson with a big right hand but Johnson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ortega has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Ortega is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Ortega showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Johnson throws a head kick that misses

and Ortega counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.
Ortega trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson wants to stand but Ortega is controlling the position.
Ortega keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortega forces his way into half guard.
Ortega winds up and cracks Johnson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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. Ortega connects with a nice short shot to Johnson's temple.
Ground and pound from Ortega.
Ortega lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ortega lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ortega working over Johnson with some ground and pound. Johnson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Ortega manages to mount him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortega working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Johnson wants to try and get back to his feet.
Ortega looking to finish Johnson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Johnson!
Ortega scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ortega working Johnson over with strikes here.
Johnson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Ortega has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnson squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortega in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Ortega pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ortega raining down hammerfists from mount.
Ortega landing strikes from the mount.
Ortega landing shots from mount.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ortega cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Johnson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortega looking to finish Johnson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Johnson!
Ortega is landing with some decent strikes but Johnson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Ortega working Johnson over with strikes here.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Ortega lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson is trying to stand up.
Ortega looking to finish Johnson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Johnson!

And that's the end of the fight!
Damien Ortega comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ortega has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:29
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damien Ortega!
Damien Ortega seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.