PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Locke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cage comes to the cage accompanied by Johnny Cage Theme. Locke is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Star Wars - Imperial March. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cage
vs
Locke

182 cm
44
201 lbs
40 - 23 - 1

185 cm
43
198 lbs
21 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 40 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Johnny Cage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Locke!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cage tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cage.
Cage cracks Locke with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cage misses with a jab, cross combination.
Locke walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Cage fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Locke is out of range.
Cage definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Locke avoids the head kick by Cage.
Cage feints and then cracks Locke's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Locke down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cage throws a head kick but Locke moves out of range.
Cage finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage tries to clinch but Locke moves out of range.
A punch combination from Cage misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cage. That's going to slow Locke down.
Cage doesn't manage to clinch there - Locke circles away.
Cage pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Locke moves out of range as Cage throws a body kick.
A big left from Cage misses.
Cage misses with a lunging right hand

and Locke counters with a single leg into guard. Cage didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cage keeping moving, preventing Locke from controlling successfully.
Locke might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cage haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Locke sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cage's guard.
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!
Cage trying to control but Locke postures up.

Locke is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Locke is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Locke pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cage is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Locke preventing the sweep.
Locke wants to pass the guard but Cage is keeping the position.
Cage trying to control the position.
Locke looking to pass the guard.
Cage trying to keep a closed guard but Locke is proving a slippery customer.
Cage keeping full guard, as Locke tries to pass.
Cage controlling Locke's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnny Cage has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Cage just misses with a punch to the body.
Cage throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cage scores with a sloppy right hand. Locke should have avoided that one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cage, right into the meat.
Locke takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Locke blocks a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Cage dominated that round.
That's time! Cage's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cage throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cage looks to land a body kick but Locke moved away.

Cage takes the fight into the clinch.
Locke tries for a takedown but Cage manages to get underhooks.
Knees to the body from Cage.
Locke is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cage tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Locke avoids it.
Cage working aggressively here.
Cage is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Locke is defending well for now.
Locke is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Johnny Cage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Locke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage lands a body punch in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Locke's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cage lands a hook to the side of the head.
Locke avoids a wild elbow strike from Cage.
Cage creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Locke is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cage is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Locke wants to break the clinch but can't.
Locke wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cage has him pressed against the cage.
Locke avoiding damage as Cage throws knees to the body.
Cage lands an uppercut.

Locke turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage struggling a bit here.
Locke is looking to take a break and control but Cage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Locke tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Locke wants to control but Cage is keeping him busy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Locke tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Locke has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cage tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Locke wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Locke working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Locke goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cage rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Locke's guard! Nice work there by Cage!
Cage content to stall in guard here.
Cage won't allow Locke to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Locke looking for subs off his back but Cage has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cage perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Locke moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Locke throws his legs up looking for a submission but Cage uses it to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Cage dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cage throws the kick towards the body but Locke avoids it.
Johnny Cage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cage is looking to land body kicks.
Cage tries to close the distance and clinch but Locke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Cage forces Locke back against the cage and clinches.
Cage is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Locke working hard to break the clinch.
Cage controlling the action here for a moment.
Cage lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Locke in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Locke is looking for a takedown.

Locke works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Cage has control of Locke's left arm, preventing Locke from doing any damage.
Locke preventing the sweep.
Locke wants to control from the top but Cage keeps moving.
John Locke has got the better of the ground game so far.
Locke is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
John Locke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnny Cage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Locke was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Cage misses with a wild body shot.
Locke stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cage.
Cage misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cage connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
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!
Cage misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Locke.
Cage cracks Locke with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cage fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Cage.
Cage smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Cage lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Locke at a distance.
Cage throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cage throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cage throws the kick towards the body but Locke avoids it.
Cage misses with a shot to the body

and Locke counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cage won't be happy with that.
Locke wants to control but Cage is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Locke thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cage is trying to control Locke's posture but Locke avoids it.

Locke tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Locke has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Locke tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Locke has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cage manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Cage showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cage, 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Cage!
After winning the bout, Johnny Cage thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.