PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joey Johnson (ranked 3462 p4p, 413 weight class) and Damien Ortega (ranked 3345 p4p, 401 weight class). Johnson comes into the arena with Welcome to the jungle blaring out of the sound system. Ortega is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Action. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Johnson
vs
Ortega

185 cm
21
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
207 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)
Freebok (85% Laundry)

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damien Ortega!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice cross by Johnson.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ortega is not content to let Johnson control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ortega can do anything to dispel that myth.
Johnson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Johnson moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Ortega tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Ortega's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ortega is not content to let Johnson control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson working away.
Ortega is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ortega is controlling Johnson's trapped leg to prevent Johnson from advancing to side control.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ortega does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two 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 is thwarting Ortega's attempts to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ortega closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.
Ortega shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
An attempted straight right counter from Johnson misses the target.
Ortega shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Joey Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Ortega.
Johnson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ortega drives through with a takedown into Johnson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Johnson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stays in close to Ortega's body and controls the position.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Ortega keeps moving.
Ortega keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson controlling from the top position.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Ortega.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Ortega keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ortega is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ortega is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ortega has Johnson pulled in close to control his posture.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Ortega is retaining full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ortega has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Johnson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ortega throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
It looked like Johnson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Ortega shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Johnson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Johnson kicks Ortega off and gets to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ortega closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Johnson did well to prevent Ortega getting side control.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Johnson is trying is best to control the position here.
Ortega is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Johnson controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Ortega there.
Ortega lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson trying to hold on to Ortega's head to control him but Ortega postures up.
Ortega looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Johnson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Ortega is controlling well.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ortega can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ortega working the head and body with strikes.
Ortega wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
Ortega working over Johnson with some ground and pound. Johnson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ortega lands strikes from half guard.
Johnson wants to control but Ortega is keeping busy.
Nice strikes from Ortega there.
Ortega prevents Johnson from standing back up.

Johnson kicks Ortega off and gets back to his feet.
Ortega has his takedown stuffed
and Johnson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Joey Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ortega closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Ortega pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson throws a big counter combination but Ortega scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Ortega looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Ortega persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Joey Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Ortega.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortega shoots and misses
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.
Ortega is breathing heavily.
Nice jab there from Johnson.
Ortega dives in for a single leg takedown but Johnson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
It looked like Johnson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Johnson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ortega.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Ortega doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ortega tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.

Johnson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Johnson throws a strike but Ortega avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ortega pulls Johnson in to control the position.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Ortega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joey Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ortega not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnson trying to control but Ortega is working from the bottom.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Ortega working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey 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!

Ortega tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Johnson defends well and Ortega ends up having to push Johnson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ortega shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Johnson sprawls well. Johnson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ortega gets slowly back to his feet.
Ortega has his takedown stuffed
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Joey Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Ortega.
Ortega shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnson lands with a nice body punch.
Johnson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ortega shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortega tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.

Johnson feints and as Ortega raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ortega takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ortega manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Johnson has Ortega in his guard.

Johnson is trying to control the position but Ortega postures up.
Johnson pulls Ortega in close to prevent any damage.
Johnson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Ortega postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ortega manages to get himself to full guard.

Ortega pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Ortega gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ortega's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnson has momentary wrist control but Ortega slips an elbow through the middle.

Johnson working for a triangle but Ortega defends it easily.
Johnson has momentary wrist control but Ortega slips an elbow through the middle.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ortega is aware though and is defending well.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ortega connects with a couple of short punches.
Ortega scoring with some ground and pound.
Ortega with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ortega lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Joey Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ortega stands up over Johnson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ortega keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ortega.
Ortega is working Johnson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johnson controlling Ortega's posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ortega landing with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Johnson!
A relieved looking Joey Johnson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Damien Ortega stepped up to the mic, saying 'Good Win'.