PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Slenzy Johnson (ranked 25609 p4p, 5359 weight class) and Ichigo Todayashi (ranked 265 p4p, 221 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Todayashi

182 cm
22
140
0 - 2 - 0

173 cm
24
138
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Slenzy Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ichigo Todayashi!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Eddie Farnsworth and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Todayashi defends it nicely.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Todayashi circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Todayashi defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.
Johnson 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 sprawl there from Johnson as Todayashi shoots in.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Todayashi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Todayashi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Todayashi won't allow it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Todayashi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Todayashi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Johnson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Todayashi just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slenzy Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todayashi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Johnson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Todayashi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent Todayashi's takedown attempt.
Johnson prevents the takedown attempt.

Todayashi pulls Johnson into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Todayashi is retaining full guard.
Johnson forces his way into half guard.
Johnson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Johnson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Todayashi sees it coming and defends easily.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Todayashi's head.

Todayashi kicks off Johnson and gets to his feet.
Todayashi tries to clinch up
and Johnson counters with a one-two to the body.
Todayashi wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson with a poor takedown
and Todayashi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ichigo Todayashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Todayashi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Todayashi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Todayashi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent Todayashi's takedown attempt.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike.
Todayashi lands a hook that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Todayashi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Todayashi misses with a punch on the inside.
Johnson is trying to drag Todayashi to the mat but Todayashi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Todayashi missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todayashi tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Todayashi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Todayashi won't allow it.

Todayashi breaks from the clinch.
Todayashi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johnson counters with a one-two to the body.
Todayashi looks winded!

Todayashi instigates a clinch.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Todayashi manages to get underhooks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Todayashi breaks from the clinch.

Todayashi tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Johnson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Our sources have told us that Johnson has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Johnson is trying to push Todayashi away but Todayashi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
Todayashi scores with a knee to the head.
Todayashi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Johnson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Todayashi moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.

Todayashi has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Todayashi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Todayashi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Todayashi is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Todayashi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Todayashi misses with an elbow over the top.
Todayashi prevents the takedown attempt.
A body shot lands from Todayashi.
With the fighters up against the cage, Todayashi throws an elbow but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Todayashi.
Todayashi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Todayashi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Johnson.
Todayashi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todayashi lands an elbow just above Johnson 's eye.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Todayashi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Todayashi struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Todayashi misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Todayashi.
Todayashi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Todayashi wants a takedown.
Slenzy Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ichigo Todayashi.
Todayashi is breathing heavily.
Todayashi misses with a knee to the head.

Johnson drags the fight down to the ground.

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

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

Johnson working for a triangle but Todayashi defends it easily.
Johnson trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Todayashi from controlling successfully.
Todayashi is fighting to break Johnson's control of his arms but Johnson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Johnson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Todayashi defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson seems keen to control Todayashi's posture.
Todayashi wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Slenzy Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Todayashi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Todayashi is pushing Johnson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Todayashi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Todayashi won't allow it.
Todayashi trying to stall but Johnson improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Todayashi lands an elbow inside that Johnson shrugs off.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knees to the body from Todayashi.
Todayashi tries to land a knee to the head but Johnson blocks with his arms.
Johnson jumps guard but Todayashi stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Johnson tries to break free but Todayashi pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson is stalling here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Todayashi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Todayashi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichigo Todayashi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

Todayashi works over Johnson's head and body with a nice combination.

Todayashi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Johnson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Todayashi rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Todayashi swings wildly with an uppercut but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Todayashi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Todayashi tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Todayashi back against the cage.
Todayashi struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Johnson blocks the elbow strike.

Todayashi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Todayashi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Slenzy Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Todayashi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Todayashi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Johnson pushes Todayashi back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Todayashi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Todayashi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Johnson blocks the elbow strike.
Todayashi lands a body punch.
Todayashi misses with some punches.
Johnson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Todayashi misses with a body punch.
Todayashi looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Todayashi.
Johnson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Todayashi.
Todayashi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Todayashi is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Todayashi down to the mat. Todayashi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todayashi tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Todayashi wants to clinch.
Todayashi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Todayashi wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Johnson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Todayashi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson feinted with a counter takedown.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Todayashi defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slenzy Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson feints a jab promting Todayashi to slip. Johnson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Todayashi slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Todayashi tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Todayashi.

Todayashi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
Todayashi lands a nice shot to the body.

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

Todayashi has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to control Todayashi's arms but Todayashi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Johnson has his back to the cage.
Ichigo Todayashi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Johnson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Todayashi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Todayashi.
Todayashi lands a damaging elbow.
Johnson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Todayashi.
Todayashi misses with an elbow over the top.
Todayashi lands a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Todayashi.
Johnson fails to pull guard.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Slenzy Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ichigo Todayashi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Todayashi lands a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ichigo Todayashi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Todayashi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichigo Todayashi!