PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Poe Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jafrel Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Poe Jr
vs
Johnson

180 cm
18
187 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Fernando Poe Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jafrel Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson scores a takedown into full mount!
Poe Jr is trying to escape the mount.
Poe Jr is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson is landing with some decent strikes but Poe Jr is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Poe Jr is looking to get to half guard.
Poe Jr slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Poe Jr is looking to improve his position.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Poe Jr is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Johnson wants to free his trapped foot but Poe Jr is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Poe Jr with the active half guard here but Johnson passes nicely into side control.
Poe Jr tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poe Jr manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Poe Jr is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Poe Jr is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Poe Jr is looking for a kimura here.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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.

Poe Jr postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Johnson to stand up.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
A jab from Poe Jr misses.
Poe Jr misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Poe Jr misses with a body shot.
Poe Jr is breathing heavily.
Johnson lands with a kick to the ribs.

Johnson clinches up with Poe Jr and pushes him back against the cage.
Poe Jr fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Johnson with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poe Jr has had enough of the clinch but Johnson keeps him there for the moment.
Poe Jr can't break the clinch.
Poe Jr can't break the clinch.
Poe Jr is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Poe Jr is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Johnson stalling the fight.
Johnson prevents Poe Jr from breaking the clinch.
Poe Jr is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Johnson fails to pull guard.
Fernando Poe Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jafrel Johnson.
Johnson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Johnson is looking to control Poe Jr's arms but Poe Jr gets an underhook and turns him. Now Johnson has his back to the cage.
Johnson prevents Poe Jr from breaking the clinch.
Poe Jr wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
Poe Jr is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Johnson manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poe Jr trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Poe Jr lands a couple of elbows.
Poe Jr wants to get up but he can't break Johnson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Poe Jr pushes his legs off easily.

Poe Jr drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Poe Jr jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Poe Jr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Poe Jr would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Poe Jr won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Poe Jr lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Poe Jr sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jafrel Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Poe Jr falls off balance throwing a combination

and Johnson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Johnson is in close to Poe Jr's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Poe Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Poe Jr keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Poe Jr wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Johnson manages to pass to side control.
Poe Jr is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson prevents Poe Jr from improving his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Poe Jr wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Poe Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson working over Poe Jr with some ground and pound. Poe Jr looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Poe Jr is looking to escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Poe Jr changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Poe Jr manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson scores with a body shot.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
Johnson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Poe Jr will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Poe Jr is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Johnson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poe Jr trying to control but Johnson postures up.
Johnson prevents Poe Jr from standing back up.

Johnson is working for a submission of some sort.

Poe Jr is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Poe Jr wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poe Jr looks like he's trying to stand up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Poe Jr throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Poe Jr misses with a takedown

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown. Poe Jr fights it but they end up in guard.
Johnson postures up.
Poe Jr is looking to sweep but instead, Johnson has passed into half guard.
Johnson works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poe Jr is wriggling around trying to escape.

Johnson looking to secure an arm triangle but Poe Jr defends it well.
Poe Jr is looking to improve his position but Johnson isn't that keen on the idea.
Johnson won't let Poe Jr get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jafrel Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Poe Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Poe Jr finds it's way round the side to connect with Johnson's head.
Poe Jr avoids a kick to the body.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Poe Jr pushes him off.
Poe Jr throws a head kick that misses
and Johnson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Poe Jr shoots and misses

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Poe Jr won't be happy with that.

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

Johnson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Johnson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Poe Jr tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Poe Jr manages to get back to half guard.
Poe Jr wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Johnson wants to free his trapped foot but Poe Jr is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poe Jr regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jafrel Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Poe Jr.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Poe Jr is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Johnson feints and as Poe Jr raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Poe Jr tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Poe Jr keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Poe Jr is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poe Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Poe Jr.

Poe Jr looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Johnson passes into half guard.
Poe Jr wants to get back to his feet.
Fernando Poe Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Poe Jr throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Johnson on the side of the head.
Poe Jr tries to clinch

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Poe Jr's guard now.
Poe Jr is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poe Jr working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.
Johnson is in close to Poe Jr's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Johnson trying to move into half guard but instead Poe Jr has managed to sweep!
Poe Jr trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson can't keep his opponent in guard - Poe Jr advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Poe Jr wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Poe Jr's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Poe Jr's back!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jafrel Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jafrel Johnson!