PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joe Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Long Yang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Johnston has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Johnston
vs
Yang

170 cm
25
153 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Long Yang!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yang tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnston looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Johnston avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Yang feints and then cracks Johnston's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Johnston down.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Yang lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Johnston has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Johnston and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A head kick misses from Yang.
Yang thows a leg kick but Johnston checks it
and Johnston counters with a nice body kick.
Johnston shoots in for a double leg but Yang sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Yang lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Yang tries to work over Johnston's front leg with a kick but Johnston checks it.
An inside leg kick from Yang misses.
Yang misses with a head kick.

Johnston fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yang, pushing him back against the cage.
Johnston on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Johnston throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Johnston wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yang can't break the clinch.

Johnston pulls guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Yang drops back, looking for a kneebar! Johnston looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Johnston looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Johnston!
Yang tries to buck Johnston off but Johnston is having none of it.
Johnston working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnston decides to stand back up. Johnston steps back and let's Yang get back to his feet.
Yang finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Yang pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Long Yang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yang throws a leg kick

and Johnston moves into the clinch.
Yang missing with knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Yang as Johnston tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yang prevents a body shot from Johnston.
Yang prevents Johnston from breaking the clinch.
Johnston on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Johnston avoiding damage as Yang throws knees to the body.
Johnston misses with an elbow over the top.
Yang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Johnston avoids it.
Johnston wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Johnston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Long Yang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yang throws a nice outside leg kick.
Yang tried to score with a low kick but Johnston checks it.
Yang connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Yang feints and then cracks Johnston's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Johnston down.
Yang misses with a leg kick
and Johnston counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Yang is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Johnston gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston jumps guard but Yang turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nice elbow from Johnston.
Johnston struggles to land a body shot inside as Yang controls his hands.
Yang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Johnston is defending well for now.
Johnston is trying to stall.
Yang taking a breather.
Johnston can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Johnston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnston avoiding damage as Yang throws knees to the body.
Johnston is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Yang is defending well.
Yang is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Johnston lands with a right to the head.
Yang is trying to maintain a safe position but Johnston gets an underhook and turns Yang into the cage.
Yang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Johnston avoids it.
Yang wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnston pulls guard effortlessly.
Yang really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnston. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Yang wants to control from the top but Johnston keeps moving.

Yang drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Johnston dives on top into guard.
Johnston forces his way into half guard.

Yang looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Yang actively working from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnston is thwarting Yang's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Long Yang will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Yang throws a head kick that misses.
Yang tries a low kick but Johnston avoids it.
Johnston throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yang misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick by Yang misses
and Johnston counters with a head kick.
Yang motions for Johnston to come forward. Yang throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Yang tries to work over Johnston's front leg with a kick but Johnston checks it.
Yang throws a low kick but Johnston moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Yang.
Yang lands with a thumping leg kick.
Johnston moves out of range of the leg kick from Yang.
Yang throws a low kick but Johnston avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yang ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnston moves away.
A low kick from Yang misses
and Johnston counters with a nice kick to the body.
Yang is breathing heavily.
Yang tries to score with a low kick but Johnston moves his leg out of the way.
Johnston scores with a punch to the head.
Johnston on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Joe Johnston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnston closes the distance and clinches up with Yang, looking for a takedown. Johnston pushes Yang against the cage but Yang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yang lands a high kick!

Johnston gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Johnston on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Johnston pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Yang is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Johnston is keeping busy.
Yang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Johnston avoids it.
Johnston tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yang's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yang is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Johnston missing with knees to the body.
Johnston misses with a knee to the head.
Johnston tries to pull guard but Yang won't allow it.

Johnston pulls guard successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnston manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yang manages to get himself to full guard.
Johnston wanted to stand there but Yang had control of the position.

Johnston avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Yang throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Johnston escapes and throws Yang's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yang tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Johnston throws some wild stikes that Yang manages to avoid easily.
Johnston prevents Yang from getting the reversal.
Johnston looking to finish with strikes here!
Yang is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Yang tries to improve his position but instead Johnston has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Yang tries to roll but Johnston sticks to his back.
Johnston doesn't have the hooks in and Yang manages to turn into his guard.
Johnston is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Yang must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Yang passes Johnston's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Johnston kicks off Yang and gets to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yang throws a leg kick
and Johnston counters with a body kick that stops Yang in his tracks momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joe Johnston will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Yang tries to land a front kick but Johnston steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Yang scores with a leg kick.
A low kick from Yang misses
and Johnston counters with a big head kick but Yang shrugs it off.
Johnston shoots for a takedown but Yang saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Yang throws a nice inside leg kick.
Yang throws a low kick but Johnston avoids it.
Johnston is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnston. Yang does a little dance to reset his feet.
Johnston blocks a head kick by Yang.

Johnston gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Johnston takes a knee right on the jaw!
Yang's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yang misses with a knee strike.

Yang breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yang throws a leg kick but Johnston sees it coming and moves out of range.
Yang connects with an inside leg kick.
Johnston plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Yang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yang fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Johnston.

Johnston gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Yang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Johnston is defending well for now.
Yang takes an elbow to the temple.
Johnston creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Yang blocks an elbow strike from Johnston.
Yang crunches a lovely knee into Johnston's ribcage.
Johnston is trying to push Yang away but Yang has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Johnston keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yang's efforts to push away.
Johnston avoiding damage as Yang throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is trying to maintain a safe position but Yang gets an underhook and turns Johnston into the cage.
Johnston working hard to break the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Yang avoids a wild elbow strike from Johnston.
Yang tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Johnston using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yang has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnston pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Yang trying to land knees to the body.
Johnston throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yang blocks it with crossed arms.
Yang throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Johnston crunches a lovely knee into Yang's ribcage.
Johnston tries to circle away but Yang has him pinned against the cage.
Yang dodges an elbow strike from Johnston.
Joe Johnston has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Johnston with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Yang takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yang with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Yang connects with a nasty looking knee right to Johnston's face.
Johnston on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Yang breaks the clinch.
Yang connects with a solid leg kick.
Yang throws a nice outside leg kick.
Johnston closes the distance and clinches up with Yang, looking for a takedown. Johnston pushes Yang against the cage but Yang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yang thumps Johnston with a low kick.
Johnston takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Yang throws a lazy head kick
letting Johnston counter with a right hand.
Johnston throws a head kick but Yang moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Johnston checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yang lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Yang throws a leg kick
and Johnston counters with a good low kick that Yang was not able to check.
Yang takes a swing at Johnston's ribcage but misses.

Johnston moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yang tries to break the clinch but Johnston is controlling the position.
Johnston misses with an elbow over the top.
Yang using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Yang stalling in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice elbow from Johnston.
Yang missing with knees to the body.
Yang is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Johnston tries to stall but Yang uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Long Yang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yang has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Long Yang!