PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lesley Johns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lambis Kobelikos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Johns
vs
Kobelikos

222 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lesley Johns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Lambis Kobelikos!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Ben Hemmingworth and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johns slaps away a takedown attempt from Kobelikos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johns is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kobelikos looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Kobelikos shoots and misses
and Johns counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Johns shoots in but Kobelikos avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kobelikos shoots in and drives through. Johns sprawls well.
Lesley Johns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lambis Kobelikos.
Kobelikos shoots in but Johns avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johns drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Johns slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johns postures up and lands a big shot to Kobelikos's brow.
Johns trying to control but Kobelikos is working from the bottom.
Johns controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Johns's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Johns is looking to work some ground and pound but Kobelikos has wrist control.

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.

Johns gets to his feet - Kobelikos follows without any prompting.
Kobelikos shoots in for a takedown but Johns shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johns was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kobelikos stuffs the takedown attempt from Johns. Johns gets slowly back to his feet.
Johns shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kobelikos as he avoids it easily.
Kobelikos on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Johns drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kobelikos is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johns seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kobelikos for as long as he can get away with.
Johns has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Johns working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johns tries to stand but Kobelikos is controlling from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Johns will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Johns engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Johns fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kobelikos misses with a head kick.
It looked like Johns was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kobelikos.
Johns fails with a takedown attempt.
Johns fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've been informed that Kobelikos has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kobelikos throws a series of strikes that have Johns backpedaling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lesley Johns dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kobelikos keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johns fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kobelikos with the counter takedown but Johns avoids it easily.
Johns really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nice takedown defense from Johns. No joy for Kobelikos on that attempt.
Johns throwing a counter right hand but Kobelikos manages to avoid it.
Johns has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lesley Johns. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kobelikos is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kobelikos misses with a takedown attempt
and Johns counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Johns shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kobelikos as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kobelikos fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johns, pushing him back against the cage.

Johns manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kobelikos won't allow Johns to sweep him here.
Johns is trying to keep Kobelikos in close.
Kobelikos preventing the sweep.
Johns working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kobelikos.
Johns looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kobelikos wants to stand but Johns is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johns trying to control the position here.
Johns lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kobelikos keeping moving, preventing Johns from controlling successfully.
Kobelikos trying to control the position here.
Kobelikos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobelikos keeping moving, preventing Johns from controlling successfully.
Johns is really struggling to control Kobelikos but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Johns has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Johns decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kobelikos, up you get!
Kobelikos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johns defends it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Johns misses the target.
Kobelikos stuffs the takedown.

Kobelikos forces Johns back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johns swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Johns's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johns defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kobelikos.
Johns appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Kobelikos closes the distance and pushes Johns back into the cage.
Johns is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kobelikos is defending well.

Johns breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kobelikos is defended easily by Johns.
Johns was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
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 Lesley Johns will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Johns tries for a takedown but Kobelikos sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lambis Kobelikos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kobelikos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johns's waist but Johns gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kobelikos off to one side.
Johns is looking to counter punch.

Johns gets the takedown into side control.
Kobelikos is not content to let Johns control the position.
Kobelikos is trying to control Johns's posture but Johns avoids it.
An elbow from Johns crashes against the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johns working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Johns controls the position.
Kobelikos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Johns is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kobelikos is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Johns trying to control the position but Kobelikos is working away.
Lesley Johns overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Johns is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kobelikos is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
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.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kobelikos is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Johns wants to control but Kobelikos is keeping him busy.
Johns thows a huge punch but Kobelikos dodges it nicely.

Kobelikos actively working from the bottom here.
Kobelikos is refusing to be controlled, as Johns sits in half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Johns is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johns.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Kobelikos does no damage.
Johns was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Kobelikos instigates a clinch.
Johns tries to work over Kobelikos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

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

Kobelikos gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Johns pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johns leaves Kobelikos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Johns looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johns looks for a takedown but Kobelikos sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lesley Johns. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kobelikos closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kobelikos throws a right and a left that Johns avoids nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johns.
Kobelikos unleashes a big counter combination but Johns bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lambis Kobelikos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johns 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lesley Johns!