PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between CJ Johnson (ranked 1863 p4p, 2093 weight class) and Renat Dadasov (ranked 278 p4p, 308 weight class). CJ Johnson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Johnson
vs
Dadasov

183 cm
32
176
16 - 12 - 0

163 cm
29
155
13 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Voodoo Nutrition

EFC Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, CJ Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Renat Dadasov!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dadasov throws a head kick that Johnson semi-blocks.
Dadasov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Dadasov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson moves forwards but Dadasov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
A big left from Johnson misses.
Johnson misses with an uppercut
and Dadasov counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Dadasov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson connects with a body shot.
Johnson misses with an uppercut. Dadasov saw that one coming.
Dadasov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dadasov.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Dadasov shapes to counter with a head kick.
Johnson throws a hook but Dadasov blocks it.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.

Dadasov has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dadasov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dadasov prevents a body shot from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
Dadasov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnson's elbow.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Dadasov.
Johnson swings wildly with an uppercut but Dadasov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Dadasov.
Dadasov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dadasov tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Dadasov back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Dadasov as the two fighters clinch.

Dadasov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dadasov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Dadasov slips a straight right by Johnson.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Dadasov.
Dadasov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nice jab there from Johnson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dadasov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a hook.
Dadasov throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Dadasov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
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 misses with a shot to the body
and Dadasov counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Dadasov to acknowledge the strikes.
Johnson throws out a loose jab but Dadasov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good leg kick by Dadasov.
Johnson cracks Dadasov with a good jab.
Johnson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Johnson throws a jab but it's blocked by Dadasov.
Dadasov looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Dadasov blocks a jab.
Johnson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dadasov.
Johnson scores with a nice right hand.
Dadasov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Dadasov scores with a jab to the head.
Johnson staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a hook but Dadasov avoids it easily.
Dadasov is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Dadasov's coach down at EFC Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Dadasov's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Dadasov scoring well with a low kick there.
Dadasov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Johnson checks it well.
Dadasov throws a head kick that misses.
As Dadasov looks to move away, Johnson throws a big counter combo but Dadasov just gets out of the way.
Dadasov misses with a straight right.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johnson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Dadasov ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson misses with an uppercut. Dadasov saw that one coming.
Dadasov ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dadasov moves away.
Dadasov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dadasov.
Dadasov is looking for the big counter here.
Dadasov avoids the body shot from Johnson.
It seemed like Dadasov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dadasov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.
Johnson sizes up Dadasov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dadasov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dadasov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnson misses with a hook. Dadasov ducked under it nicely.
Dadasov tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Johnson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Dadasov counters with a nice uppercut.
Dadasov tries a head kick but it misses.
Dadasov staying out of range there.
A jab from Johnson does it's job there.
Johnson throws a jab when Dadasov was well out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson misses the jab.
Dadasov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Dadasov's shoulder, as Dadasov tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson lands with a nice body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that CJ Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dadasov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Johnson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Dadasov slips under a jab.
Nice jab there from Dadasov.

Dadasov closes the distance and clinches.
Dadasov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dadasov misses with a body punch.

Dadasov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson misses with a hook
and Dadasov counters with a stiff right hand.
Dadasov throws a head kick that half lands.

Johnson is rocked!
CJ Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.

Dadasov clinches up against the cage.

Dadasov manages to break the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dadasov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Johnson.
Oh Johnson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Dadasov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnson moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromDadasov.
Dadasov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Johnson gets tackled into the cage by Dadasov. Dadasov maintains the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Johnson.
Johnson seems to have got his legs back now.

Dadasov manages to break the clinch.
Good exchange - Johnson coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Dadasov is looking to clinch.
It looked like Johnson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Johnson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Dadasov avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a right hand
and Dadasov counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Johnson is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Dadasov clinches up against the cage.
Johnson presses Dadasov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Dadasov misses with a punch to the body.
Dadasov tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Dadasov back against the cage.
Johnson lands with a light punch inside.
Johnson pushes Dadasov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short left from Johnson.
A short uppercut from Johnson.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson swings wildly with an uppercut but Dadasov uses good head movement to avoid it.

Dadasov breaks from the clinch.
Renat Dadasov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Dadasov.
Dadasov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Dadasov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Johnson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Johnson throws a body shot but no joy.
Dadasov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Johnson throws a hook but Dadasov blocks it.
Dadasov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dadasov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1-2. Johnson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Johnson misses the jab.
Dadasov tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dadasov misses with a head kick.
Johnson misses the jab.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.
Dadasov fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dadasov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Dadasov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
A big right from Johnson misses.
Dadasov throws a head kick that misses.
Dadasov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dadasov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Johnson misses with an uppercut. Dadasov saw that one coming.
Dadasov moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnson looks to land a left hand but Dadasov moved out of range nicely.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Dadasov.
A nice leg kick from Dadasov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dadasov tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dadasov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson lands a right hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dadasov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Dadasov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dadasov tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Dadasov tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Johnson scores with a hook to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
Dadasov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Johnson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Dadasov.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
Dadasov misses with a body punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A left hand lands to the body for Dadasov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that CJ Johnson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson blocks a head kick by Dadasov.
The fighters circling - Johnson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dadasov looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.
A head kick by Dadasov misses
and Johnson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
Dadasov raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.
Dadasov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Dadasov lands an overhand right.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson throws the left hand but Dadasov avoids the punch easily.
Dadasov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dadasov was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnson.
Dadasov raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Dadasov wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Johnson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Johnson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Dadasov.
Dadasov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dadasov is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Dadasov throws a leg kick that is checked
and Johnson counters with a three punch combo that has Dadasov backing up. Dadasov nods at Johnson to acknowledge the strikes.

Dadasov closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Johnson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Johnson misses with the head strike.

Dadasov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson throws out a loose jab but Dadasov uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Dadasov misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Johnson misses the target.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Dadasov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson scores with a hook to the body. Dadasov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Dadasov ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Dadasov is looking for the big counter here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dadasov throws a lazy head kick
and Dadasov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dadasov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dadasov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dadasov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.
Dadasov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Dadasov tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Johnson lands the left hand.
Johnson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Dadasov under the eye.
Johnson throws a hook but Dadasov avoids it easily.
Johnson scores with a punch to the head.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Johnson misses with a hook. Dadasov ducked under it nicely.
Dadasov is looking to clinch.
Johnson throwing a counter right hand but Dadasov manages to avoid it.
Dadasov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dadasov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dadasov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Johnson cracks a nice hook into Dadasov's ribs.
Dadasov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Johnson loads up on a big right hand but Dadasov slips the punch.
Johnson takes a swing at Dadasov's ribcage but misses.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but Dadasov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dadasov misses with a punch to the body.
Dadasov can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Johnson lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson gets through Dadasov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Dadasov manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dadasov throws a good cross that connects.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
Dadasov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson throws a body shot but no joy.
Dadasov connects with a single shot there.
Dadasov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnson throws an off balance right hand
and Dadasov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Good shot there by Johnson.
Johnson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Dadasov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dadasov.
Johnson is looking to counter punch.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Dadasov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Johnson clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A jab from Johnson misses.
Dadasov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dadasov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Dadasov moves into the clinch.
Dadasov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Johnson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Dadasov.
Dadasov lands a body punch.
Dadasov tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Dadasov tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dadasov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnson's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dadasov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Dadasov controls the action.
Dadasov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dadasov lands a body punch.
Johnson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Dadasov tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Dadasov back against the cage.
Johnson misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson pushes Dadasov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Dadasov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Johnson misses with a left hand
and Dadasov counters with a nice leg kick.
Dadasov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dadasov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Dadasov.
Johnson is looking to counter punch.
Dadasov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.
Dadasov is looking for the big counter here.

Dadasov takes the fight into the clinch.
Johnson lands with a left to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to work over Dadasov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
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!

Dadasov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dadasov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Dadasov throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson throws out a loose jab but Dadasov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson throws a looping overhand right but Dadasov ducks down to avoid it.

Dadasov closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Dadasov tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Johnson working aggressively here.

Dadasov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson with a jab.
Dadasov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johnson throws out the jab.
Dadasov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Johnson misses with a looping right.
Dadasov looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Nice defenses there by Dadasov.
A nice inside leg kick there by Dadasov. That's going to slow Johnson down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Johnson lands the left hand.
Nice uppercut there from Johnson.
Dadasov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Dadasov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Dadasov.
Dadasov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Dadasov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnson.
CJ Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A jab from Johnson finds it's way through Dadasov's defenses.

Dadasov clinches with his opponent.
Dadasov struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Dadasov.
Renat Dadasov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
CJ Johnson has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Dadasov breaks the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dadasov ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dadasov tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Dadasov.
Johnson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
A big right from Dadasov misses.
Johnson thuds his right hand into Dadasov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Dadasov tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
A head kick misses from Dadasov.
Dadasov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Johnson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The crowd cheers as Johnson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Dadasov doesn't seem phased though.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Dadasov.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to CJ Johnson.
Well Johnson 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 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for CJ Johnson!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for CJ Johnson!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for CJ Johnson!

CJ Johnson wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, CJ Johnson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.