PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alistair Cushing (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alistair Cushing has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mike Johnson's chin.

Johnson
vs
Cushing

176 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alistair Cushing!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cushing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Cushing thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cushing working away.
Johnson is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Johnson trying to remain calm as Cushing controls from the top position.
Cushing working away.
Cushing controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cushing has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Cushing feints and as Johnson raises his hands in defense, Cushing changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cushing is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
I looks like Cushing might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cushing wants to stand but Johnson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Cushing tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alistair Cushing just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cushing stands up and waves to Johnson to follow him.
Cushing lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Cushing tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Cushing tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Cushing dominated that round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cushing moves into the clinch.
A body shot lands from Cushing.
Cushing lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cushing is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johnson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cushing with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Cushing's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Crunch! Cushing slams his shin into Johnson's torso.

Cushing closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cushing lands in his opponent's guard.
Johnson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Cushing puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson won't allow Cushing to pass to mount.
Cushing not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cushing prevents Johnson from improving his position.

Cushing seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Johnson is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Alistair Cushing!