PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Danny Johnston (ranked 4707 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Cascio (ranked 4585 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnston
vs
Cascio

215 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Danny Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joshua Cascio!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cascio shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cascio shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnston but Johnston pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cascio changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnston tries to avoid it but Cascio manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnston to the ground. Johnston escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Danny Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Cascio.

Johnston shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cascio's guard.
Cascio is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Cascio looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnston trying to control the position from guard on top but Cascio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cascio trying to control the position.

Cascio is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnston defends well.
Johnston wants to get up but he can't break Cascio's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cascio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cascio tries to sprawl but Johnston drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnston tries to stand and escape but Cascio is controlling the position.
Johnston not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston wants to stand but Cascio has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Nice strikes from Johnston there.
Johnston missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cascio is staying active underneath Johnston, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnston working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cascio wants to control but Johnston is keeping busy.
Johnston landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cascio wants to improve his position but Johnston is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cascio looking for submissions off his back.
Cascio should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Johnston slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Cascio tries to keep at a distance but Johnston has taken the fight into the clinch.
Johnston is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cascio is keeping busy.

Johnston pulls guard effortlessly.
Cascio must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cascio trying to control but Johnston is working from the bottom.

Johnston is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cascio trying to control but Johnston is working from the bottom.

Johnston throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Johnston looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Johnston dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Johnston is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cascio sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cascio fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnston avoids it really well and circles away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Johnston or perhaps it was just good defense by Cascio, which made it look bad.
Cascio fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cascio goes for a double leg but Johnston avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Johnston continues to drive forward.
Johnston appears to be looking for a big counter.
Danny Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Cascio.
Johnston shoots in but Cascio avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cascio fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Johnston. No joy for Cascio on that attempt.
Cascio looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cascio is breathing heavily.
Johnston shoots for a takedown but Cascio saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnston tries to close the distance and clinch but Cascio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnston looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston shoots in for a takedown but Cascio shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cascio unleashes a big counter combination but Johnston bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Cascio fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnston avoids it really well and circles away.

Cascio feints and as Johnston raises his hands in defense, Cascio changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnston is looking to stand back up but Cascio counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Johnston.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnston is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cascio pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnston looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Cascio has eaten all the pies!

Cascio is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnston has managed to free his arm - good work.
Johnston is refusing to be controlled, as Cascio sits in half guard.
Cascio winds up and cracks Johnston with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnston gets full guard.
Cascio lands a couple of digs.

Johnston working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Cascio has passed into half guard!
Johnston is not content to let Cascio control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cascio is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnston is just riding it out for now. Cascio eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Cascio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Johnston stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnston wants it to stay on the feet.

Johnston has managed to clinch.
Cascio is trying to drag Johnston to the mat but Johnston just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Johnston is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Cascio can't fight it off and eventually Johnston manages to take the fight to the floor. Cascio looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Johnston postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cascio isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Johnston stacks Cascio on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Johnston!
The referee asks Johnston politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Johnston prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
The referee asks Johnston politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Johnston prefers to stall for the moment though.
Cascio is looking to regain half guard here but Johnston keeps moving and retains side control.
Cascio is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Danny Johnston overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cascio avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnston.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cascio is trying to control but can't.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cascio can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cascio is concentrating on defense, preventing Johnston from advancing position.
Cascio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnston trying to control from half guard but Cascio is working away.
Cascio tries to get to full guard but Johnston has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Johnston moves into the clinch.

Cascio has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Johnston is trying to keep an underhook but Cascio manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Johnston is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnston looking for submissions off his back.
Johnston moves into full guard.
Johnston looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cascio is one step ahead there.
Cascio trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Cascio tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnston is retaining full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnston is on top in guard.

Cascio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cascio working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Johnston showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnston has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Johnston!