PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Johnston (ranked 2280 p4p, 242 weight class) and Aaron Smith (ranked 2769 p4p, 299 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Johnston might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Spiderbait- Black Betty. Smith has chosen Lonely Train by Black Stone Cherry as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnston
vs
Smith

194 cm
19
280 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

195 cm
23
280 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aaron Smith!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston slips under a jab from Smith.
Smith misses with a looping right.
Smith has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Smith thuds his right hand into Johnston's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Johnston ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
It looked like Johnston was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Smith.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Smith lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Smith throws a right hand that misses
and Johnston counters with a nice body kick.
Johnston will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Johnston, as that shot connected.

It looks like Aaron Smith has been cut.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
We've been told by Johnston's head coaches at Big dawg that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A big right from Smith misses.
Smith with a nice cross.
Smith misses with a left hand
and Johnston counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smith throws a lazy uppercut

and Johnston counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnston swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnston sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smith throws a hook but Johnston avoids it easily.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith misses with a straight right.
Johnston feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Smith misses with a body shot.
A left and a right from Smith both land. Nice combination.
Johnston is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
That kick from Johnston tenderised Smith's leg. Smith is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nice uppercut there from Smith.
Johnston tries to clinch up.
Smith misses the jab.
Johnston appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Smith misses with a looping left.
Aaron Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnston takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Smith shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Johnston's head backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice straight punches there by Smith. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Smith.

Johnston has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith lands an elbow just above Johnston 's eye.

It looks like Johnny Johnston has been cut.
Johnston blocks the elbow strike.
Johnston scores with a shot to the side of Smith's head.
Johnston blocks the elbow strike.
Johnston misses with a hook from the clinch.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith swings for the body but Johnston moves out of range.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Johnston saw that one coming.
A little feinted left hand from Johnston on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnston.
Smith throws a body punch but Johnston moves out of range.
Johnston uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith.
Smith misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a looping left.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
Johnston with a hook.
Johnston is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
It seemed like Smith was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Smith swings widly with a right hand

and Johnston lands a stunning uppercut that sends Smith to the mat!

Smith is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnston performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnston missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Smith has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Johnston is on him like a limpet, forcing Smith back against the cage.
Smith content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Come on Smith - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Johnston takes an elbow to the temple.
Smith pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Johnston makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Johnston blocks an elbow strike from Smith.
Smith throws an elbow but it misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Smith lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Come on Smith - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Smith is looking to control Johnston's arms but Johnston gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
Smith throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Johnston scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Johnston's brow.
Smith is trying to maintain a safe position but Johnston gets an underhook and turns Smith into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnston can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Johnston's brow.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Johnston's brow.
Smith comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Johnston misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aaron Smith will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Some wild striking there from Smith.
Smith lands a head shot.
Johnston tests Smith's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johnston ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smith throws a right hand that misses

and Johnston counters with a big uppercut that knocks Smith off his feet! Johnston dives into side control looking to finish!
Smith is still in real trouble! Can Johnston finish him?

That has opened up Aaron Smith's cut even more.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Smith pushes Johnston away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Johnston gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Smith seems to have recovered his senses.
Johnston lands some shots froms side control.
Johnston controls the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Smith is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Johnston asserts his dominance and retains side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Johnston.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Johnston moved out of range nicely.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Johnston slips the punch.
Smith misses with a looping right.
Johnston tries a low kick but Smith avoids it.
Smith might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Smith slips under a jab.
Smith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Johnston ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith misses with a straight right.
Smith throws a right and a left that Johnston avoids nicely.
Johnston tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Smith there as he acknowledges the shot.

The cut above Aaron Smith's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

Johnston waves his right hand out in front of him, looking to distract Smith. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Smith to the canvas! Can he finish him!?
Johnston lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Johnston stops Smith from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smith's head.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnston accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnston is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Johnston is pushing down on Smith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Smith is fighting to maintain full guard but Johnston has managed to sneak the leg through.
Smith is trying to stand.
Johnston trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Johnston stops Smith from getting back to his feet.

That's four 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith throws a body punch but Johnston moves out of range.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Johnston walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Smith walks into a left hand.

Aaron Smith's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Smith throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Johnston on the side of the head.
Johnston is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Smith connects with a nice looking jab.
Smith misses with an uppercut

and Smith is countered with a crisp right hand from Johnston that sends him to the canvas! Johnston follows him to the mat into side control.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Aaron Smith's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Johnny Johnston!
Johnny Johnston tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.