PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Everett Covington (ranked 1772 p4p, 22299 weight class) and John Johns (ranked 238 p4p, 493 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Covington
vs
Johns

177 cm
30
169
8 - 3 - 0

178 cm
28
155
4 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

Seventh Circle Clothing
Brooklyn Threads

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Everett Covington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Johns!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Covington manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Johns on his heels. He'll look to pass Johns's guard now, I'm sure.

Covington drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Johns dives on top into guard.

Covington keeping full guard, as Johns tries to pass.
Covington trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johns trying to control the position from guard on top but Covington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Covington trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Johns stopping the sweep attempt from Covington.
Johns throws a strike but Covington rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Covington is looking to work some ground and pound but Johns has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Covington throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johns wants to sweep here but Covington controlling him for the moment.
Covington engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Johns is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Covington wants to control but Johns is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Covington tries to roll over but Johns keeps him under control.
Johns wants to control but Covington is keeping him busy.

Covington actively working from the bottom here.
Covington landing small, sideways elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johns seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Covington does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Covington is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at California Top Team, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Johns wants to free his trapped foot but Covington is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Covington regains full guard. Nicely done.
Johns stands and throws Covington's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Covington tries to buck Johns off but Johns is having none of it.
Covington is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Johns off and has taken his back!
Johns trying to control the action but Covington just sinks the hooks in.
Covington lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Johns is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Covington is punishing Johns with strikes - can he finish him?!
Johns felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns wants to escape the position.
Covington lands punches and elbows.
Covington gets his hands free as Johns looks to control.
Johns is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Covington is staying active.
Johns is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Covington off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Johns is in bad spot here.
Covington is not going to allow Johns to sit and survive in this position.

Covington looking for the choke from the back.
Even with his hooks in, Covington manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Johns can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johns covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Covington is hanging on to Johns's back as he tries to escape.
Covington has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Covington softening up his opponent with strikes here.

Covington is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Johns wants to control his opponent's hands but Covington gets his hands free.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johns is trying to break free.
Johns covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
You can see the frustration on Johns's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Johns staying busy and making it hard for Covington to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Everett Covington dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Johns fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Covington gets a double leg takedown into Johns's guard.
Covington wants to control from the top but Johns keeps moving.
Johns looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johns wants to improve his position but instead Covington has moved into half guard.
Covington is keen to just control but Johns is a slippery customer.
Johns is looking for a sweep. Covington is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johns on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Covington landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Johns is trying to maintain the position but Covington is very close to passing his half guard.
Covington wants to pass the guard but Johns is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Covington is working for a submission of some sort.
Covington prevents Johns from improving his position.
Johns keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Covington wants to take a breather but Johns is having none of it.
Johns wants to improve his position but Covington is controlling well.
Covington not doing much here.
Covington throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Covington trying to control the action but Johns is working from the bottom.
Johns is positioning himself well to prevent Covington advancing to mount.
Covington lands with a punch from half guard.
Covington slips a nice elbow through Johns's hands, connecting with Johns's forehead.
Covington landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Covington winds up and cracks Johns with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Covington wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johns keeps working.
Johns trying to control but Covington postures up.
Covington sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johns defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Johns makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johns.
Everett Covington overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Covington stands and throws Johns's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Johns being controlled for a moment.
Johns takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johns is trying to escape the position but Covington is controlling the position.
Covington seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Johns for as long as he can get away with.
Johns is looking to reverse the position.
Covington throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Covington misses with the ground and pound.
Johns is trying to control Covington's posture but Covington avoids it.

Covington wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Johns, who protects the arm well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Covington thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Everett Covington dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Covington swings for the body but Johns moves out of range.
Covington throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johns misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Covington.
Johns jabs Covington right on the nose. Covington blinks but takes it well.
Johns dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Covington takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Johns misses with a left hand
and Covington counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Covington looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johns shoots in for a takedown but Covington shows good takedown defense.
Covington tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Johns manages to circle out of the way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Covington gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Covington shoots in looking for a takedown. Johns tries to sprawl out of it but Covington keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Johns manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Covington slips under a jab.
John Johns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johns throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Covington counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Covington throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A low kick from Johns is predictable there

and Covington counters with a shoot takedown. Johns fights it but they end up in guard.
Johns working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Covington.
Covington trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Covington in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Covington works over Johns with some ground and pound from guard.
Johns is trying to keep Covington in close.
Covington tries to free his leg and advance position but Johns is retaining full guard.
Covington postures up.
Johns keeping moving, preventing Covington from controlling successfully.
Johns working a defensive guard here.
Everett Covington is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johns keeping moving, preventing Covington from controlling successfully.
Covington postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Covington slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Covington tries for a kimura but Johns is defending well.
Johns struggling a bit here.
An elbow from Covington crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns wants to control but Covington postures up.
Covington wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johns keeps working.
Covington is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johns can do to turn this around?
Johns tries to buck Covington off but Covington is having none of it.
Johns is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Covington's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Covington trying to control the action but Johns is working from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Covington seems content to control.
Johns is concentrating on defense, preventing Covington from advancing position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Johns with a jab.

Covington gets a clinch.
Covington stops a takedown attempt from Johns.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johns has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Covington clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Covington looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Johns trying to control momentarily.

Johns looking for the RNC.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Johns has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Johns takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A lull in the action here.
John Johns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Covington tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Johns.
I think Covington has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Everett Covington!
Our winner, Everett Covington, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.