PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Johnston (ranked 3178 p4p, 291 weight class) and Zibi Kaufer (ranked 5112 p4p, 385 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnston
vs
Kaufer

170 cm
25
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zibi Kaufer!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Johnston or perhaps it was just good defense by Kaufer, which made it look bad.
Johnston lands with a straight right. Kaufer didn't see that one coming.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Johnston, as that shot connected.
Kaufer tries to clinch there but Johnston circles away.

Johnston rushes Kaufer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kaufer is trying to break free.
Kaufer has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Johnston avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Johnston has Kaufer pressed against the cage, preventing Kaufer from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kaufer pulls guard.
Johnston wants to pass the guard but Kaufer is keeping the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnston's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnston will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaufer has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Johnston has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kaufer has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Johnston is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Kaufer pulls guard successfully.
Johnston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kaufer is keeping the position for now.
Johnston trying to control the position from guard on top but Kaufer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaufer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kaufer pulls Johnston in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kaufer has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Johnston has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Johnston is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kaufer pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Johnston breaks the clinch.

Johnston throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kaufer was covering up waiting for the punch and Johnston finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Kaufer wriggles free and stands up.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Johnston shoots in for a double leg but Kaufer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Johnston. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kaufer as he avoids it easily.
Kaufer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kaufer changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnston tries to avoid it but Kaufer manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnston to the ground. Johnston escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kaufer dives in and grabs Johnston's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnston pushes down on Kaufer's head and hops out.
Johnston throws a head kick that misses.
Kaufer circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kaufer counters with a left to the body.
Kaufer doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Johnston counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Johnston.
Kaufer drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnston fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnston's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kaufer avoids the head kick by Johnston.
Johnston defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kaufer.

Johnston scores with a takedown into Kaufer's guard.
Johnston tries to free his leg and advance position but Kaufer is retaining full guard.
Johnston wants to control from the top but Kaufer keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zibi Kaufer will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Johnston is pressed up against the cage. Kaufer has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnston down to the mat. Johnston avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
John Johnston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnston thuds a left hand into Kaufer's body.
Johnston changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kaufer tries to avoid it but Johnston manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kaufer to the ground. Kaufer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Johnston feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Kaufer kicks Johnston off and gets to his feet.
Kaufer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnston sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kaufer somewhat.
Kaufer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
John Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zibi Kaufer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaufer slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnston, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kaufer leaves Johnston with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kaufer tries to counter with a clinch but Johnston shakes him off and moves away.
Kaufer throws a head kick but Johnston moves out of range.
As Kaufer looks to move away, Johnston throws a big counter combo but Kaufer just gets out of the way.
Kaufer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kaufer shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Johnston eats them both and turns towards Kaufer to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Johnston closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnston lands in his opponent's guard.

Kaufer scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnston is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Johnston scores with a three punch combo!
Kaufer tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Johnston defends well and Kaufer ends up having to push Johnston into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kaufer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnston avoids it really well and circles away.
Kaufer is breathing heavily.
No luck for Johnston with that takedown attempt.

Kaufer gets a clinch.
Johnston trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston prevents the takedown attempt.

Johnston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Johnston gets a clinch.
Kaufer prevents a takedown attempt there.
Johnston stalling in the clinch.
Come on Johnston - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Johnston.
Kaufer is trying to force a seperation but Johnston has the dominant position.
Kaufer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Johnston changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kaufer fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kaufer pushes Johnston up against the cage in a clinch.

Johnston's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnston misses with a takedown attempt - Kaufer sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Kaufer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnston drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Kaufer pulls guard effortlessly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zibi Kaufer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Johnston tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnston tries to close the distance and clinch but Kaufer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kaufer closes the distance and clinches.

Kaufer gets control of Johnston's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kaufer will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Johnston missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnston trying to control but Kaufer is working from the bottom.
Zibi Kaufer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kaufer has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kaufer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnston can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston throws an elbow that misses. Kaufer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnston's guard. Nice move by Kaufer!

Johnston wants to sweep here but Kaufer controlling him for the moment.

Kaufer gets to his feet. Johnston looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Kaufer shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnston tries to sprawl out of it but Kaufer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Johnston manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnston is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaufer has his takedown stuffed
and Kaufer takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnston lands a high kick!
Kaufer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnston but Johnston pushes him off and we're back to square one.
John Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zibi Kaufer.
Kaufer misses with a low kick as Johnston jumps back.

Johnston forces Kaufer back against the cage and clinches.
Kaufer is looking to take this one to the mat.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kaufer.

Johnston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnston fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston shoots in for a takedown but Kaufer shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kaufer lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Johnston drives through with a takedown into Kaufer's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Kaufer has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Johnston off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kaufer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johnston defends it nicely.
As Kaufer looks to move away, Johnston throws a big counter combo but Kaufer just gets out of the way.
John Johnston is winning the standup battle so far.

Johnston gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kaufer wants to break free but Johnston has control.
John Johnston has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kaufer lands with a light punch inside.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Johnston breaks from the clinch.
Johnston shoots in but no luck this time.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Johnston, right into the meat.

Kaufer moves into the clinch.
Johnston fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Johnston breaks from the clinch.
Kaufer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnston pinned against the cage. Johnston gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnston throws a quick counter head kick but Kaufer was just out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zibi Kaufer.
I've got Kaufer winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Zibi Kaufer!