PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between tyrone johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nickolay Katorjnov (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
Katorjnov

195 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, tyrone johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nickolay Katorjnov!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Katorjnov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with johnson but johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Katorjnov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from johnson.
johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Katorjnov but Katorjnov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Katorjnov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
johnson tries to clinch but Katorjnov is having none of it.
johnson fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for tyrone johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
johnson shoots in for a takedown but Katorjnov shows good takedown defense.
johnson tries to clinch up but Katorjnov circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
johnson shoots in and drives through. Katorjnov sprawls well.
johnson is looking to clinch.
johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Katorjnov misses with a takedown attempt

so johnson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Katorjnov keeping moving, preventing johnson from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katorjnov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Katorjnov controlling from the full mount.
I looks like Katorjnov might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Katorjnov misses with a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
johnson tries to reverse the position but Katorjnov maintains control.
johnson is working hard here to advance position.
johnson is breathing heavily.
Katorjnov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
johnson is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
johnson wants to control but Katorjnov is having none of it.
johnson is trying to escape the mount.
Katorjnov controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
johnson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Katorjnov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that tyrone johnson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Katorjnov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Katorjnov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and johnson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Katorjnov trying to hold on to johnson's head to control him but johnson postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Katorjnov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Katorjnov wants to get back to full guard.
Katorjnov is staying active underneath johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
johnson is really struggling to control Katorjnov but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Katorjnov wants to improve his position but johnson is controlling well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Katorjnov is looking to get back to full guard here but johnson has managed to pass to side control instead.
johnson looking to control but Katorjnov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katorjnov wants to hold on but johnson pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by johnson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
johnson avoids the attempt from Katorjnov to control.

Despite being in the dominant position, Nickolay Katorjnov just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Katorjnov tries for a takedown but johnson circles away easily

and johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
tyrone johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nickolay Katorjnov.
You can see the frustration on Katorjnov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Katorjnov keeps johnson under control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katorjnov struggling a bit here.
Katorjnov tries to buck johnson off but johnson is having none of it.
Katorjnov is not content to let johnson control the position.
Katorjnov gets back to half guard.
Katorjnov is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katorjnov wants to get back to his feet.
Katorjnov is controlling johnson's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Katorjnov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Katorjnov is trying to stand up here but johnson is controlling him well.
Katorjnov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
johnson working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Katorjnov's thigh. Katorjnov counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Katorjnov pulls johnson in to control the position.
Katorjnov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Katorjnov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
johnson wants to stand and escape but instead Katorjnov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Katorjnov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

tyrone johnson dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Katorjnov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Katorjnov!
johnson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Katorjnov is squirming around, avoiding johnson's attempts to control the action.
johnson pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
johnson lands a big shot there that rocks Katorjnov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
johnson lands a big elbow.
tyrone johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
johnson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Katorjnov?

Katorjnov is rocked!
Katorjnov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
johnson controlling from mount.
Katorjnov is still in real trouble! Can johnson finish him?
johnson with a couple of short strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson looking to control but Katorjnov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Katorjnov seems to have recovered his senses.
Katorjnov tries to lock up and control but johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
johnson controlling the pace for now.
Katorjnov wants to control but johnson is having none of it.
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.
johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.

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.
A nice elbow there by johnson.
johnson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
johnson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Katorjnov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by johnson.
Katorjnov tries to hold on but johnson postures up.
johnson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Katorjnov is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
johnson working Katorjnov over with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
johnson trying to control but Katorjnov is having none of it.
Katorjnov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Katorjnov is controlling an arm, preventing johnson from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Katorjnov is trying to escape the mount.
Katorjnov tries to hold on but johnson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Katorjnov is trying to keep from getting into a worse position than he's already in but Katorjnov is working away and isn't letting himself get tied up.
Katorjnov avoids a series of strikes thrown by johnson.
johnson trying to control but Katorjnov is having none of it.
johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
johnson avoids the attempt from Katorjnov to control.
Nickolay Katorjnov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Katorjnov regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
tyrone 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... tyrone johnson!