PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Johnson
vs
Armstrong

195 cm
23
265 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

191 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Enjoys gardening

[WOT] Inner Beast Nutrition And Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Johnson!
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, Alex Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Reed Andrews and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson looks for a takedown but Armstrong sprawls well.
Armstrong tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Armstrong wants to stall.
Armstrong wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Armstrong after a bit of a struggle.

Johnson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Armstrong uses from the top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Johnson is pulling down on Armstrong's head to control his posture.
Armstrong wants to stand and escape but instead Johnson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Armstrong is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Armstrong really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson passes Armstrong's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Armstrong trying to control from the bottom.
Armstrong is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johnson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Armstrong?
Johnson avoids the attempt from Armstrong to control.

Johnson has hold of Armstrong's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Armstrong manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Armstrong is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working Armstrong over with strikes here.
Johnson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Armstrong tries to reverse the position but Johnson maintains control.
Johnson looking to control but Armstrong is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Johnson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Johnson with a couple of short strikes.
Armstrong is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Johnson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Armstrong is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Armstrong should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is working to get back to half guard.
Armstrong tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Armstrong takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Johnson trying to control but Armstrong is having none of it.
Armstrong is bucking up trying to escape but Johnson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Johnson has hold of Armstrong's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Armstrong manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Johnson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is desperately trying to improve his position but Johnson has a good base and remains in mount.
Armstrong is trying to stand up.
Armstrong is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.
Johnson looking to finish Armstrong with some ground and pound. This is bad for Armstrong!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Armstrong tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
Armstrong is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Johnson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Armstrong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Armstrong tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Armstrong which made him look bad.
Armstrong fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Armstrong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Armstrong misses with a few strikes there.
Armstrong wants to clinch.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Armstrong as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Armstrong tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Armstrong manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Armstrong gets tackled into the cage by Johnson. Johnson maintains the clinch.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Armstrong as he jumps to the side.
Armstrong wants to clinch

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Johnson wants a takedown.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Armstrong forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Armstrong tries to break free but Johnson pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Armstrong has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnson down to the mat. Johnson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Armstrong manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Johnson on his heels. He'll look to pass Johnson's guard now, I'm sure.

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

Johnson has his foot on Armstrong's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Armstrong works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing Armstrong from standing up.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Armstrong is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Armstrong wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Armstrong must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Armstrong wants to stand and escape but instead Johnson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Armstrong is trying to keep Johnson in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Armstrong holds on and takes a little breather.
Armstrong wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.
Armstrong controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alex Armstrong was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Johnson looks for the body kick but Armstrong saw that one coming.
Armstrong keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Armstrong shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Johnson sprawls well. Johnson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Armstrong gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson dives in and grabs Armstrong's left leg, looking for a takedown. Armstrong pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alex Armstrong will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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 wants to clinch up but Armstrong keeps it at a distance.
Armstrong fails to land the takedown.
Armstrong keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Armstrong throws a wild hook but Johnson just manages to duck under it and - ooooh! Armstrong gets nailed by a brutal uppercut which crumples him back against the cage! The referee jumps in - Johnson raises his hands in celebration and walks away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Frank Johnson!
Frank Johnson thanked the fans post fight for their support.