PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ben Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Girard Karlo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Karlo's choice of entrance music: Eye of the Tiger. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Johnson
vs
Karlo

180 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Girard Karlo!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson blocks a head kick by Karlo.
Karlo lands with a good body shot.
Karlo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Johnson sprawls well. Johnson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Karlo gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Karlo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Karlo trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karlo content to stall in guard here.
Johnson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Karlo from controlling successfully.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Karlo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johnson tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to strike off his back.

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

Karlo clinches with his opponent.

Johnson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Karlo regains guard.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Karlo is adopting a defensive guard.
Karlo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Karlo controlling the pace for now.
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Karlo's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlo lands a nice shot to the head.
Johnson tries to hold on but Karlo pushes him away.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Karlo controlling from mount.

Karlo is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Johnson is surviving well by controlling Karlo's body position as best he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Karlo isn't that keen on the idea.
Johnson tries to control the position but Karlo now has his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Karlo controlling the positon.
Karlo is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Karlo slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Karlo lands a shot to the head.
Karlo trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
The referee is taking a good look at Johnson as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Karlo!
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Karlo lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Karlo.

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 rolls, trying to escape but Karlo keeps control of the position.
Karlo punishes Johnson with strikes from the back mount.
Johnson is really stuck here.
Karlo has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Johnson's body.
Karlo lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Karlo has Johnson flattened out and is raining down punches.
Johnson is trying to stand back up.
Karlo lands punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Girard Karlo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Karlo tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt

and Karlo counters with a shoot takedown. Johnson fights it but they end up in guard.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Karlo from controlling successfully.
Johnson can't keep his opponent in guard - Karlo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Karlo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Karlo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Johnson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Karlo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Karlo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Karlo stands up and beckons Johnson to join him on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karlo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Johnson's half guard.
Karlo is nestled in close to Johnson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Karlo 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.

Karlo decides to return to a standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karlo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Karlo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Johnson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Karlo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Karlo pulls his leg out and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Karlo.
Ben Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Girard Karlo.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Karlo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karlo trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Karlo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Johnson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karlo is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Karlo to get the leverage.
Johnson scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Karlo manages to mount him!
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Karlo isn't that keen on the idea.
Karlo is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Karlo is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Johnson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Johnson shrugs it off.
Karlo with the ground and pound from mount.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Karlo on the ground.

Karlo stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Karlo is looking to clinch.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Karlo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Johnson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnson misses with a takedown

and Karlo counters with a takedown into side control.
Johnson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Johnson tries to control the position but Karlo now has his back.
Johnson staying busy and making it hard for Karlo to control.

Karlo working for the choke.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Girard Karlo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Karlo tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Karlo counters by moving into the clinch.
Karlo gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.
Karlo can't get the takedown.

Karlo breaks from the clinch.

Karlo instigates a clinch.
Karlo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Karlo jumps guard.

Karlo has his feet on Johnson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Karlo circles away easily
and Karlo counters with a left and a right that stings Johnson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Johnson scores with a takedown into Karlo's guard.
Karlo striking off his back but it's not causing Johnson any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Karlo's guard.
Karlo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Karlo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Johnson is desperately trying to improve his position but Karlo has a good base and remains in mount.
Johnson is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Karlo working Johnson over with strikes here.
Johnson is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

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.
Karlo content just to control the position here.
Johnson tries to lock up and control but Karlo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Johnson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Karlo controlling from the full mount.
Johnson can't escape the position.
Karlo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Karlo scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Karlo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Karlo working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Johnson tries to buck Karlo off but Karlo takes his back!
Johnson is trying to stand back up.

Karlo has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Johnson is defending well but eventually Karlo manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Johnson has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Girard Karlo!