PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Uestus Johnston (ranked 2634 p4p, 3842 weight class) and Jose Pacheco (ranked 308 p4p, 428 weight class). Johnston comes to the cage accompanied by Clint Eastwood- Gorillaz. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnston
vs
Pacheco

180 cm
26
157
15 - 9 - 0

178 cm
46
140
15 - 29 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Uestus Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 29 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose Pacheco!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Pacheco misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Johnston misses its target.
Pacheco doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnston circles away.
Pacheco drops his hands momentarily and Johnston takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Johnston's jab looks to have found its range, popping Pacheco under the eye.
Johnston connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Pacheco on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Pacheco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnston swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnston avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johnston blocks a jab.
Johnston works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Johnston connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Johnston dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've been told by Johnston's head coaches at Shut Up & Train! {$1000} that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnston lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pacheco at a distance.
Johnston scores with a jab to the body.
Johnston tests Pacheco's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Johnston fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Pacheco on the side of the head.
Johnston tests Pacheco's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Johnston swats away the attempt to clinch by Pacheco.
Pacheco takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Johnston jabs Pacheco to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston cracks Pacheco with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Pacheco takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pacheco looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pacheco tries to score with a low kick but Johnston moves his leg out of the way.
Johnston stuns Pacheco with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Pacheco takes a jab right on the kisser.
Johnston scores with a nice strike.
Pacheco moves in looking to clinch but Johnston pushes him off.
Pacheco fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnston dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pacheco on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Johnston lands with a good body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pacheco takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Uestus Johnston is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A cross from Johnston lands.
Johnston lands a right hook to the body.
Johnston stuns Pacheco with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Pacheco scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Pacheco takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Johnston is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Johnston scores with a hook to the body. Pacheco takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Johnston listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Pacheco has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Pacheco there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston scores with the left hand. Pacheco knows he should have avoided that one.
Johnston cracks Pacheco with an open hand slap.
Johnston jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Johnston bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pacheco has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Pacheco on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Pacheco has taken the fight to the clinch.
Johnston slowing the pace effectively.
Johnston holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Johnston gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Pacheco tries to land knees in the clinch but Johnston avoids the damage to the body.
Pacheco jumps guard but Johnston stands there with Pacheco around his waist. Pacheco gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Johnston leaning against his opponent.
Johnston slows down the pace here.
Stalling in the clinch from Johnston.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Johnston for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Uestus Johnston.
Pacheco looks to land a left hand but Johnston moved out of range nicely.
Pacheco takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Johnston jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Pacheco misses with a hook.
Pacheco walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Pacheco tries to clinch there but Johnston circles away.
Pacheco swings for the body but Johnston moves out of range.
Pacheco has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Pacheco throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pacheco on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Johnston lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Pacheco is rocked!
Uestus Johnston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnston lands with a nice body punch.
Pacheco is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Johnston keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pacheco looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Pacheco being controlled here momentarily.
Pacheco trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnston looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnston, not yet.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Johnston looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Johnston can't keep his opponent in guard - Pacheco advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston controlling the position for now.
Pacheco wants to take a breather but Johnston is having none of it.
Johnston keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johnston knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pacheco on the ground.
Johnston controlling the position for now.
Johnston wants to improve his position but Pacheco is controlling well.
Johnston is doing well to control the position and prevent Pacheco from advancing to side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnston is staying active underneath Pacheco, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Pacheco throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnston holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Pacheco thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnston's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Uestus Johnston dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pacheco throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Pacheco moves into the clinch successfully.
Johnston taking a breather.
Pacheco has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Johnston avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Johnston takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Johnston is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Johnston is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Pacheco has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Johnston after a bit of a struggle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Uestus Johnston.
Pacheco throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pacheco misses with a wild body shot.
Johnston throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Pacheco tries to clinch up.
Johnston scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pacheco doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd cheers as Johnston lands an impressive looking overhand right. Pacheco doesn't seem phased though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacheco takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pacheco.
Uestus Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Pacheco.
Johnston lands with an overhand left.
Jose Pacheco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pacheco takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Pacheco looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnston is just out of range.

Pacheco drives through and clinches with Johnston against the cage.
Johnston stalling the fight.
Come on Johnston - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Pacheco has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Johnston after a bit of a struggle.
Johnston slows down the pace here.
Johnston stalling.
Johnston seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Johnston is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pacheco can do to turn this around?
Pacheco wants to take the fight to the mat but Johnston manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Pacheco tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johnston smiles and moves away.
Johnston catches Pacheco with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco wants to clinch.
Johnston was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Johnston lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Johnston.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pacheco takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Johnston stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Pacheco looks for a takedown but Johnston sprawls well.
Johnston jabs Pacheco to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Pacheco walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A cross from Johnston lands.
Johnston throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pacheco stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A cross from Johnston lands.
Pacheco is still on wobbly legs! Can Johnston finish him?
Pacheco on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Pacheco looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pacheco seems to have recovered his senses.
Pacheco jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Danga de danga de dang - Johnston scores with a four punch combination!
Johnston moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Johnston connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pacheco. Pacheco circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pacheco tries to clinch up but Johnston circles away and keeps his distance.
Pacheco walks into a left hand.
Johnston dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnston connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pacheco. Pacheco circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A jab lands there for Johnston.
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!
Pacheco shoots in for a takedown but Johnston shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnston punishes Pacheco's body with a nice straight punch.
Pacheco is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Johnston.
A left and a right from Johnston both land. Nice combination.
Pacheco tries to clinch but Johnston moves out of range.
Pacheco misses with a hook. Johnston ducked under it nicely.
Johnston dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnston stuns Pacheco with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Johnston scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco tries to score with a low kick but Johnston moves his leg out of the way.
Johnston scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Johnston lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Johnston lands a slapping body shot.
Johnston lands a nice looking body shot.
Johnston with a hook.
Pacheco takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pacheco tries to clinch but Johnston is having none of it.
Johnston lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Johnston showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pacheco.
It looked like Johnston wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Pacheco wants to clinch up but Johnston keeps it at a distance.
Jab from Johnston.
Johnston throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Pacheco darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Pacheco is breathing heavily.
Johnston is not content to let Pacheco control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Uestus Johnston dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnston swats away the attempt to clinch by Pacheco.
Johnston was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Pacheco misses with a looping right.
Johnston misses with a two punch combination.
Pacheco looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Pacheco misses with the combination.
Johnston feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Pachecos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Pacheco is looking to clinch but Johnston is avoiding it.
Pacheco shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johnston defends it nicely.
Johnston slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Uestus Johnston is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pacheco throws the left hand but Johnston avoids the punch easily.
Johnston goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Johnston bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pacheco's head backwards.
Donk. Johnston catches Pacheco right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston connects with a looping right hand.
Pacheco is looking to clinch but Johnston is avoiding it.
Johnston was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A shot to the liver by Johnston. Beautiful body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Johnston darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Johnston's jab looks to have found its range, popping Pacheco under the eye.
Pacheco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnston scores with the left hand. Pacheco knows he should have avoided that one.
Pacheco looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Johnston bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Donk. Johnston catches Pacheco right on the button with a cross.

Pacheco fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnston, pushing him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnston prevents a takedown attempt there.
Johnston stalling the fight.
Johnston looking to stall.
Pacheco has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Johnston after a bit of a struggle.
Uestus Johnston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Pacheco.

Pacheco has picked Johnston up - he's going for a ride! Pacheco dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Pacheco looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Pacheco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pacheco thows a huge punch but Johnston dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is trying to control but can't.
Jose Pacheco has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnston holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Johnston is trying to maintain the position but Pacheco is very close to passing his half guard.
Pacheco throwing shots but Johnston is blocking nicely.
Johnston tries to roll over but Pacheco keeps him under control.
Pacheco wants to take a breather but Johnston is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnston is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pacheco is trying to work for a kimura but Johnston is defending well.

Pacheco is working for a kimura but Johnston is defending it quite comfortably.
Johnston works his way to full guard. Good work.
Johnston is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pacheco being controlled here momentarily.
Jose Pacheco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Pacheco is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnston has wrist control.
Pacheco tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnston is retaining full guard.
Johnston is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Johnston controlling the action here.
Pacheco is looking for a sweep. Johnston is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnston controlling the action here.
Pacheco wants to get back to full guard.
Pacheco flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uestus Johnston showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnston, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Uestus Johnston!
A determined Uestus Johnston didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!