PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Johnson (ranked 4934 p4p, 4351 weight class) and Malcolm Merlyn (ranked 0 p4p, 513 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Merlyn

182 cm
24
210
2 - 1 - 0

184 cm
25
217
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Malcolm Merlyn!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Lou da Vinci and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Merlyn takes one to the side of the head.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice jab.

It looks like Josh Johnson has been cut.
Merlyn keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Merlyn misses with a body shot.
Merlyn connects with a body shot that sends Johnson's belly button to the back.
Merlyn throws a predictable looking body shot

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Merlyn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Merlyn swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Johnson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Merlyn.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Merlyn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merlyn.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Merlyn counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Merlyn throws a body shot but no joy.
A combination from Merlyn does no damage.
Merlyn misses with a double jab.
Johnson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Merlyn.
Merlyn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnson was well out of range. Poor timing from Merlyn.
Johnson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Merlyn throws out the jab.
Merlyn lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Merlyn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Johnson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Merlyn fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Johnson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A combination from Merlyn does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Merlyn misses

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Merlyn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Merlyn is trying to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling him.

Merlyn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Merlyn gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Johnson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Johnson prevents Merlyn from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Merlyn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Johnson instigates a clinch.

Merlyn pulls guard successfully.
Johnson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Merlyn wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson controlling from the top position.

Merlyn scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson clinches with his opponent.
Johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Merlyn's efforts to push away.
Johnson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Merlyn just stands there and leans against the cage.

Merlyn breaks the clinch.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Merlyn as he jumps to the side.
Merlyn looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice cross by Merlyn.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Merlyn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Josh Johnson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson slips a straight right by Merlyn.
Merlyn swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Merlyn lands an overhand right.
Merlyn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A jab lands there for Merlyn.
Merlyn cracks Johnson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Merlyn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Johnson tries to counter with a takedown but Merlyn is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlyn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Merlyn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A slow jab from Merlyn misses its intended target.
Merlyn throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Merlyn walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Merlyn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Merlyn.
Merlyn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Merlyn throws a shot to the body.
Merlyn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Merlyn jabs at Johnson's body.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Merlyn, pushing him back against the cage.
Merlyn tries to circle away but Johnson has him pinned against the cage.

Merlyn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merlyn is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Johnson rather than just go for the knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlyn with a hook.
Nice takedown defense from Merlyn. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
A nice side step and Merlyn releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merlyn misses with a double jab
and Johnson counters with a one-two to the body.
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!
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Merlyn counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Merlyn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jab by Merlyn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merlyn. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Merlyn just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Merlyn sprawls well. Merlyn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Merlyn misses the target.
Merlyn with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Merlyn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fighters circling - Merlyn throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johnson slips under a jab.
Merlyn lands a slapping body shot.
Nice jab there from Merlyn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlyn misses with a looping right.

Johnson rushes Merlyn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Merlyn.

Merlyn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Malcolm Merlyn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Merlyn scores with the left hand. Johnson knows he should have avoided that one.
Horrible takedown attempt by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Merlyn, which made it look bad.
Johnson shoots in but Merlyn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Merlyn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Josh Johnson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A head kick by Johnson misses
and Merlyn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Merlyn throws a body shot but no joy.
As Merlyn looks to move away, Johnson throws a big counter combo but Merlyn just gets out of the way.
Johnson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Merlyn throws a shot from downtown. Johnson moves away and avoids it.
Merlyn throws a right hand that misses
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Merlyn misses with a wild combination.
Johnson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Merlyn gets tackled into the cage by Johnson. Johnson maintains the clinch.

Merlyn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Merlyn misses with a right hand
and Johnson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlyn will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Merlyn is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Johnson with a body shot.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Merlyn is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Johnson with a body shot.
Merlyn avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Merlyn throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Merlyn.
Merlyn throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Merlyn uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with Merlyn.
Merlyn is trying to push Johnson away but Johnson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Johnson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Merlyn with a hook.
Merlyn misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Johnson counters with a series of strikes. Merlyn will be more careful next time no doubt.
Merlyn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merlyn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Merlyn pinned against the cage. Merlyn gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Merlyn lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Johnson at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlyn lunges at Johnson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Johnson's hand.
Merlyn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Merlyn ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Merlyn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Merlyn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Merlyn shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Merlyn fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Johnson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Merlyn.
Malcolm Merlyn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Merlyn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Merlyn misses with a wild body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merlyn has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Johnson with a poor takedown
enabling Merlyn to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Merlyn counters with a nice uppercut.
Josh Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malcolm Merlyn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Good shot there by Merlyn.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malcolm Merlyn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Merlyn 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malcolm Merlyn!