PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tesea Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Box (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Box

185 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
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 Hilo, Tesea Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Box!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson takes the fight into the clinch.
Box wants a takedown.
Box has Johnson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Johnson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Box wants a takedown.
Tesea Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Box.
Box is trying to drag Johnson to the mat but Johnson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Johnson lands with a nice body punch.
Box shoots and misses

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Box looking for a takedown.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Box against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Johnson.
Box drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Johnson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Box sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Box shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Box avoids a kick to the body.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Box bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Box looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johnson looks to land a combination. Box sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Box keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Box fails with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Box's knee momentarily.
Johnson lands with a nice combination. Box backs away looking to recover.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Box is working for takedown but Johnson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Box looks winded!
Johnson leaning his opponent against the cage.
Box tries to score a body lock takedown but Johnson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Box changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Johnson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Box backs up against the cage.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Box backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a nice shot that snaps Box's head back.
Johnson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Johnson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Box.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Johnson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Box with a poor takedown
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Johnson lands a jab to the head.
Johnson sizes up Box with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tesea Johnson dominated that 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.

Johnson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Johnson duly obliges.
Box checks a leg kick nicely.
Johnson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Box is out of range.
Johnson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson scores with a jab. Box acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Johnson misses with the combination.
Tesea Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Box circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Box has time to react.
Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson wants to land a leg kick but Box is out of range.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson lands a two punch combo.
Box walks into a stiff left hand from Johnson.
Johnson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Box eats them both and turns towards Johnson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Box shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.
Johnson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Box's calf.
Johnson stuns Box with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Box can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Box fails with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Box thinking.
Johnson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Johnson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Johnson.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Box showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Box checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Box shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tesea Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Box.
Johnson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Box will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Johnson throws a good cross that connects.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Johnson.
Tesea Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Box shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Box showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Box takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Johnson is working the combinations to good effect here.
Box showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Box takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A leg kick checked by Box.
Johnson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Box.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Box on the side of the head.
Johnson wants to slow Box down by chopping away at his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson lands a nice hook to Box's body. Box takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson lands with a right hand.
Box fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Box backs up against the cage.
Box fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson connects with a single shot there.
Johnson throws a head kick but Box moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Tesea Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Box showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
Some wild striking there from Johnson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Box shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tesea Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Box.
Box looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Box persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thows a leg kick but Box checks it

and Box counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Box trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Box on the ground.
Johnson seems keen to control Box's posture.
Box wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Box.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Box sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.

Johnson has managed to clinch.
Box changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Johnson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Johnson finds it's way through Box's defenses.

Johnson rushes Box and presses him up against the cage.
Tesea Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson is struggling to control the position.
Box goes for a takedown in the clinch but Johnson prevents it.
Box has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Johnson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson stops a takedown attempt from Box.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tesea Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Johnson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Tesea Johnson!
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight for Tesea Johnson!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Tesea Johnson!

Tesea Johnson wins by unanimous decision!