PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Mariucci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mariucci
vs
Johnson

180 cm
23
185 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

183 cm
23
187 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

2KMMA Ultimate Nutrition 152 Quality

SCP Fight Gear

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Mariucci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bob Johnson!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson clinches.
Johnson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Mariucci.
Mariucci tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mariucci goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mariucci scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Mariucci throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Johnson leaning against his opponent.
Mariucci wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.

Johnson pulls guard successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnson is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson won't allow Mariucci to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariucci wants to get back to his feet but Johnson passes into half guard.
Johnson wants to pass to mount but Mariucci is defending the position.
Mariucci throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Johnson manages to pass to side control.
Johnson prevents Mariucci from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Johnson wants to control but Mariucci is keeping him busy.

Johnson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Mariucci is trying to buck Johnson off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mariucci wants to clinch but Johnson slips to the side

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
Mariucci can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Johnson connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Michael Mariucci has been cut.
Johnson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mariucci lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees to the body from Johnson.
Johnson jumps guard but Mariucci stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Johnson drags the fight down to the ground.
Mariucci 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 looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Mariucci has picked Johnson up and slammed him! Johnson can't keep hold of the triangle and Mariucci manages to pass to side control!
Mariucci working away.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Mariucci keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mariucci stands up and beckons Johnson to his feet.
Mariucci is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Mariucci.
Mariucci missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Mariucci gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Johnson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Johnson.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mariucci keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Mariucci wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Mariucci's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mariucci throws a head kick that misses

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
Johnson scores a nice knee to the body.
Johnson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mariucci lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Mariucci prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mariucci tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Knees to the body from Johnson.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mariucci smiles and moves away.
Mariucci misses with a kick to the body.
Mariucci darts in trying to clinch

and Johnson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mariucci is looking to stand up but Johnson isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson trying to move into half guard but instead Mariucci has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Mariucci postures up.

Mariucci decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mariucci tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mariucci keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Mariucci from escaping the position.
Mariucci trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mariucci struggling a bit here.
Mariucci tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Johnson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Johnson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mariucci, who protects the arm well.
Mariucci is not content to let Johnson control the position.

That's four 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A jab lands there for Mariucci.

It looks like Bob Johnson has been cut.
Johnson walks into a jab.
The crowd cheers as Mariucci lands an impressive looking overhand right. Johnson doesn't seem phased though.
Mariucci tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Johnson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Mariucci is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Bob Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson throws a hook but Mariucci blocks it.
Mariucci throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Johnson tumbling to the canvas!

Johnson is rocked!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mariucci trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson is still in real trouble! Can Mariucci finish him?
Mariucci is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
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 Michael Mariucci will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mariucci throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnson seems to have recovered his senses.
Johnson misses with a body kick.
Johnson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Johnson wants to clinch.
Mariucci throws a head kick that misses.
Mariucci fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Mariucci darts in trying to clinch

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Johnson lands a nice elbow.
Johnson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Johnson lands a knee to the body.
Johnson fails to pull guard.
Johnson with a knee to the head.
Johnson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Mariucci.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Johnson jumps guard but Mariucci stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Michael Mariucci has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Johnson.
A head punch on the inside from Mariucci fails to land.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson tries to move into range but Mariucci moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mariucci is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mariucci swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
Mariucci avoiding damage as Johnson throws knees to the body.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Mariucci.
Mariucci misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson leaning against his opponent.
Mariucci tries to stall but Johnson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Johnson with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has Mariucci pushed against the cage.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mariucci has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.
Mariucci working aggressively here.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.

Johnson pulls guard successfully.
Mariucci postures up.

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

Mariucci gets to his feet - Johnson follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mariucci misses the shot to the body.
Mariucci throws the left hand but Johnson avoids the punch easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Mariucci, as that shot connected.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Johnson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Mariucci tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mariucci misses with a hook to the ribs.
A bit of stalling here from Johnson.
Johnson lands a knee to the head.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Mariucci.
Johnson trying to land knees to the body.

Johnson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mariucci uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Mariucci escapes and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Mariucci is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.

Mariucci decides to take the fight back to the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Mariucci.
I think Mariucci has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!