PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Genderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rick Johnson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Genderson
vs
Johnson

184 cm
18
194 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dan Genderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Johnson!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Genderson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Genderson trying to control here.
Johnson looks to land a strike but Genderson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Genderson working a defensive guard here.
Johnson throws a strike but Genderson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Genderson throws and elbow that misses. Johnson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Genderson's guard. Nice move by Johnson!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson postures up in Genderson's guard and throws a big left but Genderson blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson lands a couple of elbows.
Genderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Genderson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Genderson kicks Johnson off and gets to his feet.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Genderson to regain full guard.
Genderson pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.
Genderson wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Genderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Genderson has wrist control.
Genderson looking for a sweep. Not yet Genderson, not yet.

Genderson pushes Johnson off and scrambles back to his feet.
Genderson misses with a looping left.
A combination from Genderson does no damage.
Genderson throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Johnson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Genderson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Genderson shoots and misses

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Genderson won't be happy with that.
Genderson is breathing heavily.
Johnson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Genderson parries the strikes from Johnson easily there. Johnson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Genderson to escape.
Johnson is working Genderson over with some ground and pound from side control.
Johnson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Genderson dodges the ground and pound from Johnson.
Johnson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Johnson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Johnson in side control, throwing shots but Genderson defends.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Genderson's guard.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Genderson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Genderson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Genderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rick Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Genderson's head.
Johnson won't allow Genderson to sweep him here.
Johnson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Genderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson forces his way into half guard.
Johnson looks to land a strike but Genderson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.
Johnson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Genderson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson stands up over Genderson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Johnson stands up over Genderson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Johnson stands up and waves to Genderson to follow him.
Genderson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Genderson dodges it nicely.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Johnson looks to land a strike but Genderson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Johnson landing some decent shots from guard.
Johnson landing with the ground and pound.
Genderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Genderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Genderson has wrist control.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnson postures up in Genderson's guard and throws a big left but Genderson blocks it.
Johnson throws a strike but Genderson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Genderson trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Johnson throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Genderson postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson tries to strike from the bottom.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Genderson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Genderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Johnson 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Johnson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Genderson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ground and pound from Johnson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Johnson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Genderson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Genderson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Genderson is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Genderson down to the mat. Genderson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Johnson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Johnson.
Johnson landing strikes.
Genderson wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson in side control, throwing shots but Genderson defends.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Johnson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Genderson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Johnson throws an elbow but Genderson slips to the side and avoids it well.
Genderson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Johnson.
Genderson wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Genderson closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Genderson taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but Genderson defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Genderson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
Genderson taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Genderson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Genderson is trying to control but can't.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks to land a strike but Genderson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Johnson landing with the ground and pound.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Genderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Genderson's brow.
Dan Genderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Genderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Johnson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Genderson did well to prevent Johnson getting side control.
Genderson is looking to improve his position.
Genderson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rick Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Genderson defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson 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 Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Johnson!