PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roan Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luke Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Johnson

188 cm
22
186 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Nemesis Cage Clothing

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roan Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luke Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Johnson. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Gracie looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Johnson wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Gracie won't allow it.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab from Johnson.
Johnson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gracie.

Gracie is rocked!

It looks like Roan Gracie has been cut.

Johnson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Oh Gracie is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gracie seems to have got his legs back now.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.

Johnson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnson's back!
I really don't envy Johnson right now.

Gracie is looking for a choke. Johnson gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Johnson manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johnson tries to stand but Gracie is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Gracie 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.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Johnson passes into side control.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Johnson off and has taken his back!
Johnson rolls, trying to escape but Gracie keeps control of the position.

Gracie is looking for the choke from the back position but Johnson is controlling his hands well.

Johnson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Gracie.
Johnson is trying to stand back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson rolls, trying to escape but Gracie keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roan Gracie's cut.
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.

Johnson misses with a low kick.
Johnson looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Johnson connects with a crisp jab.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie fails with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Johnson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Johnson wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Johnson jumps into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gracie regains half guard.
Gracie gets back to full guard.

Gracie isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Johnson stacks Gracie on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Johnson!

Johnson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Johnson advances nicely into full mount.
Johnson prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.

Johnson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gracie manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.

Gracie looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Johnson pushes past his half guard into mount!
Luke Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Gracie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Johnson has taken his back.
I really don't envy Gracie right now.

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.
Johnson is trying to stick to Gracie's back but Gracie is turning into Johnson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Johnson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gracie.
Johnson looking to control.
Gracie is pushing down on Johnson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Johnson is fighting to maintain full guard but Gracie has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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

Johnson is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Johnson defends it.

Gracie 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Roan Gracie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie fails with the takedown

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
Gracie 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 moves into full mount!

Johnson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gracie has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Johnson has a good base and remains in mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Johnson keeps moving and retains side control.

Johnson is trying to get an arm triangle but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie gets back to half guard.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Johnson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

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.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Johnson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Roan Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luke Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gracie closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

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