PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vince Bartone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bartone
vs
Johnson

182 cm
19
163 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vince Bartone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Bruno Lombardi and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Bartone is looking to improve his position but Johnson isn't that keen on the idea.
Johnson trying to control but Bartone is having none of it.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Bartone to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson content just to control the position here.
Bartone keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johnson looking to control but Bartone is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Johnson prevents Bartone from getting the reversal.
Johnson landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartone really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Johnson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bartone hang on?
Bartone keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bartone is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bartone has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Bartone is wriggling around trying to escape.

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.
Bartone tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Bartone can't escape the position.
Johnson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bartone hang on?
Bartone is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson working the ground and pound effectively.
Bartone is working to get back to half guard.
Johnson controlling his opponent.
Johnson looking to control but Bartone is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Johnson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Bartone tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bartone slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bartone defending well though.

Johnson stands up from half guard.
Bartone doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bartone's guard now.
Bartone is breathing heavily.
Johnson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Johnson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

Bartone is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Johnson stands and steps away. Bartone gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Bartone circles away.

Bartone gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Johnson stands up and waves to Bartone to follow him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bartone with a lazy takedown attempt

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bartone is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Johnson is pushing down on Bartone's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bartone is fighting to maintain full guard but Johnson has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Bartone's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
Bartone manages to get back to half guard.
Bartone tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Bartone makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bartone.
Johnson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bartone tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.
Bartone is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bartone takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Bartone's face as Johnson controls the position.
Marcus Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Johnson is trying to get an arm triangle but Bartone is defending well.
Bartone can't do much from the bottom here.
Bartone tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.

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

Johnson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bartone looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Johnson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bartone wants to get back to full guard but Johnson has mounted him!
Johnson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Bartone working to try and regain half guard.
Johnson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Johnson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Bartone looks a forlorn figure.
Bartone keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Bartone to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson content just to control the position here.
Bartone tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson controlling from the full mount.
BOOM! Johnson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Bartone tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Johnson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bartone has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Johnson prevents Bartone from getting the reversal.

Johnson moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Bartone has worked his arm free - good work by Bartone!
Bartone regains half guard.
Bartone wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.

Bartone looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus 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!

Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
Johnson trying to control the action but Bartone is working from the bottom.
Bartone tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.
Bartone wants to control but Johnson postures up.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson just content to control the position.
Johnson blocks the strikes from Bartone.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Bartone's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnson trying to control the position but Bartone is working away.
Bartone is looking for a sweep.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bartone tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bartone circles away quickly and effectively.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Bartone against the cage.
Bartone working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Johnson prevents the takedown attempt.
Bartone throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnsons head.

Johnson pulls Bartone into guard.
Johnson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to keep Bartone in close.
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.
Bartone wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
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.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bartone tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Johnson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Bartone looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartone avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Bartone is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Johnson has his hands clasped together but Bartone extends an breaks Johnson's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Bartone.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Vince Bartone!