PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jack Raiden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Raiden
vs
Johnson

183 cm
24
183 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
175 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

UCF Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jack Raiden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, David Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raiden scores with a leg kick.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Raiden.
Raiden pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Raiden throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.
Raiden connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Raiden throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Raiden throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Raiden misses with a body kick.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Raiden but Raiden pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Raiden wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Raiden tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Raiden pivots, looking for a leg kick but Johnson is out of range and Raiden settles back down.
Johnson throws a lazy head kick
and Raiden counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Raiden to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raiden throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Raiden fails in his attempt to clinch.
Raiden tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Raiden throws a head kick that misses

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Raiden is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Raiden rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Johnson's guard! Nice work there by Raiden!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raiden wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.

Johnson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Raiden defends well.
Raiden wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Raiden doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Raiden manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raiden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Raiden content to stall in guard here.
Raiden trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Johnson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Raiden wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Raiden is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Raiden wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Raiden dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Raiden dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Johnson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jack Raiden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Raiden.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Raiden throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnson looks to land a left hand but Raiden moved out of range nicely.
Raiden tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raiden misses with the combination.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raiden.
Johnson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in but Raiden avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jack Raiden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raiden misses with a head kick.
Raiden closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Raiden, who protects the arm well.

Johnson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Raiden has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Johnson but great work by Raiden.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Raiden wants to take a breather but Johnson manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Raiden.

Raiden stands up from Johnson's guard - Raiden perhaps looking for a knockout.
Jack Raiden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raiden misses with a head kick.
Raiden tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Raiden will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Raiden moves into the clinch.

Raiden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Raiden sprawls well. Raiden wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Jack Raiden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Johnson.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Raiden.

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.
Raiden tries to clinch but Johnson moves away

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown. Raiden fights it but they end up in guard.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Raiden keeps moving.
Raiden looking to control but Johnson passes into half guard.
Raiden is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Raiden avoid being mounted?
Raiden is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Raiden's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Raiden tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Raiden to the ground. Raiden escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Raiden is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Raiden blocks a head kick by Johnson.
Raiden is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Raiden tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Johnson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Raiden is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Johnson, into his guard.
Raiden wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raiden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Raidenis looking to pass into half guard but Johnson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Johnson is in guard.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Raiden dives on top into guard.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Raiden postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Johnson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Raiden, into his guard.
Johnson advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Raiden knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Raiden tries to escape but Johnson is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson swings around for an armbar but Raiden sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Johnson's guard.

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

Raiden stands and steps away. Johnson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Raiden lands a front kick.
A low kick from Johnson is predictable there
and Raiden counters with a nice leg kick.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Raiden.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raiden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Raiden moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
A head kick misses from Raiden.
Raiden is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Raiden moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Raiden fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Johnson on the side of the head.
Raiden misses with a head kick.
Raiden pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Raiden showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Raiden 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Raiden!