PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rex Tiger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Johnson
vs
Tiger

179 cm
18
188 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

179 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rex Tiger!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tiger shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Johnson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tiger controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Tiger lands a couple of elbows.

Tiger is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tiger controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tiger is one step ahead there.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Tiger thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tiger controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tiger trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tiger.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tiger thuds a left hand into Johnson's body.

Tiger feints and as Johnson raises his hands in defense, Tiger changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing Tiger from standing up.

Tiger gets to his feet - Johnson follows without any prompting.

Tiger scores a takedown into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tiger wants to finish this one by submission but Johnson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Tiger.
Tiger controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Tiger controlling the position easily from mount.
Tiger looking to finish Johnson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Johnson!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Tiger dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Tiger closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Johnson did well to prevent Tiger getting side control.

Tiger decides to return to a standing position.
Tiger throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Johnson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tiger tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
Tiger wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Tiger from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.
Tiger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tiger is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tiger throws a big right hand that misses.

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.
Tiger controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Johnson is trying to keep Tiger in close.
Tiger is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Tiger passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to stand.
Tiger is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Tiger stands up and beckons Johnson to join him on the feet.
Chris Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tiger.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tiger trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson regains half guard there - taking advantage of Tiger's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Tiger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.

Tiger breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Chris Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Johnson. No joy for Tiger on that attempt.
Tiger connects with a jab.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Tiger closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tiger moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tiger decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tiger trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Johnson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A jab lands there for Johnson.

Tiger is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Johnson's half guard.

Tiger is working for a submission of some sort.
Johnson wants to control but Tiger is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiger seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Johnson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tiger tries to pass to full mount but Johnson defends it.
Johnson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tiger scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson pushes Tiger off looking to stand but Tiger dives back in and keeps control.
Tiger not doing much here.
Tiger takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Still in half guard, Tiger seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Johnson trying to control but Tiger postures up.
Tiger tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Johnson.
Tiger wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard.
Chris Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rex Tiger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tiger controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rex Tiger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tiger 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rex Tiger!