PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ozzmodis Herald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Herald
vs
Johnson

175 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ozzmodis Herald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Lou da Vinci and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Herald swinging wildly here.
Herald takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Herald tries to circle away but Johnson has him pinned against the cage.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Herald wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
Herald tries to stall but Johnson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Herald keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson defending well as Herald loads up on a big left hand.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Herald pushes him off.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Herald saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Johnson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herald tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Herald is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.
Herald is looking to improve his position but Johnson isn't that keen on the idea.
Herald is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Herald is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson controlling the pace for now.
Herald might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Herald wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herald keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Herald tries to buck Johnson off but he can't manage it.
Herald on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Herald tries to get out of the position.
Johnson is trying to control here but Herald has managed to regain half guard.
Johnson sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Anthony Johnson.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Herald manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A big left from Herald misses.

Johnson gets tackled into the cage by Herald. Herald maintains the clinch.
Herald lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Herald avoiding damage as Johnson throws knees to the body.
Johnson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Herald up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Johnson looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Herald swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Herald closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side
letting Johnson counter with a right hand.
Herald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Johnson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Herald could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Herald circles away.
Herald wants to clinch

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herald is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Herald has his back to the cage.
Herald lands with a right to the head.
Johnson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Herald pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ozzmodis Herald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Johnson.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ozzmodis Herald is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Herald is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Herald.
Herald throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Herald circles away.
Herald tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Herald as he connects with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson moves out of range as Herald strikes.
Herald moves into range and connects with a jab.
No luck for Herald with that takedown attempt.
No joy there for Herald, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Herald tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
A head kick misses from Herald.
A lazy body kick from Herald

and Johnson counters by clinching up.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Herald misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herald swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Johnson wants to clinch up but Herald keeps it at a distance.
Herald fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Herald's waist but Herald gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Herald counters with a straight right hand.

That's four 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.

Herald takes the fight into the clinch.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Herald won't allow it.
Herald looking to slow down the pace here.
Herald scores with a shoulder strike.
Herald is trying to break free.
Herald tries to circle away but Johnson has him pinned against the cage.
Herald throws a knee to the head but misses.

Herald has Johnson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Herald pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Johnson tumbling to the mat - Herald dives into Johnson's guard.
Johnson working a defensive guard but Herald manages to pass into side control anyway.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ozzmodis Herald dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Herald pushes him off.
Herald ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Herald takes the fight into the clinch.
Herald wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Herald's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Johnson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Herald misses with a hook.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Herald misses with the body kick

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Herald fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herald just leaning against Johnson, taking a breather.
Johnson has Herald pressed against the cage, preventing Herald from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A left hand lands to the body for Johnson.
Johnson wants to stall.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Herald throws a right and a left that both miss.
Herald tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A swing and a miss from Herald.
Herald lands a right hook to the body.
Herald tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnson was well out of range. Poor timing from Herald.
Herald looks to clinch

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Herald's guard.
Johnson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Herald's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herald pulls Johnson in to control the position.
Herald striking from the bottom here.
Herald is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Herald keeps moving.
Herald pulls Johnson in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Herald blocks nicely.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Herald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Herald looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Anthony Johnson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Herald closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herald lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Herald takes the fight into the clinch.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Herald tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson looking for a takedown.
Johnson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Herald just stands there and leans against the cage.
Herald tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Herald wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ozzmodis Herald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herald wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Herald in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Herald tries to circle away but Johnson has him pinned against the cage.
Johnson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Herald successfully pulls guard.
Herald has a closed guard, preventing Johnson from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ozzmodis Herald showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Herald 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ozzmodis Herald!