PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Johannson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Nakamura
vs
Johannson

165 cm
22
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

► *159+ for $200 * Total Destruction Pharmac

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kazushi Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Johannson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johannson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

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

Johannson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johannson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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

Nakamura had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Johannson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Nakamura Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Johannson's back instead.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Nakamura. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Johannson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Johannson is looking to improve his position but Nakamura isn't that keen on the idea.
Nakamura in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nakamura can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johannson is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johannson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nakamura looking to finish Johannson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Johannson!
Johannson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Johannson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Johannson tries to free his leg and advance position but Nakamura is retaining full guard.
Johannson looks gassed!
Nakamura utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nakamura lands a good elbow from the bottom.

Johannson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Nakamura is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nakamura pulls Johannson in close to his closed guard and prevents Johannson from doing any damage or advancing position.

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.
Nakamura trying to strike off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Nakamura decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nakamura seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Johannson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Johannson looking for submissions off his back.

Nakamura is working for a submission of some sort.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nakamura connects with a nice short shot to Johannson's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johannson strikes from the bottom but Nakamura uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Nakamura is chipping away with strikes.
Johannson tries to buck Nakamura off but Nakamura is having none of it.
Johannson misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Johannson is trying to get back to half guard.
Nakamura lands a decent elbow from side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Johannson is trying to get back to half guard.
Johannson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johannson with a poor takedown

and Nakamura counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johannson won't be happy with that.

Nakamura thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Nakamura lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Johannson down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johannson is trying to get back to half guard.
Nakamura wants to control but Johannson is keeping him busy.
Johannson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johannson regains half guard.
Nakamura looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nakamura lands a nice short elbow.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johannson has his takedown stuffed
and Nakamura counters with a left and a right that stings Johannson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Nakamura dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Johannson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nakamura counters with a shoot takedown. Johannson fights it but they end up in guard.

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

Johannson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Nakamura is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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

Johannson working for a triangle but Nakamura defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakamura working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johannson's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura lands a couple of digs.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but Johannson keeps moving.

Johannson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nakamura lands a couple of digs.

Johannson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nakamura passes into half guard.
Nakamura controlling the pace.

Johannson looking for submissions off his back.
Nakamura drops an elbow to the side of Johannson's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura passes to full mount!
Johannson tries to reverse the position but Nakamura maintains control.
Nakamura lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Johannson hang on?
Johannson is trying to escape the mount.
Nakamura sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nakamura lands a big elbow.
Johannson can't escape the position.
Nakamura looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johannson is looking to get to half guard.
Nakamura landing shots from mount.
Johannson taking shots to the head.
Nakamura trying to control but Johannson is having none of it.
Johannson flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Johannson working to try and regain half guard.
Nakamura trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Johannson is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Johannson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Johannson actively working from the bottom here.
Nakamura is trying to control the action in half guard but Johannson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nakamura slips a nice elbow through Johannson's hands, connecting with Johannson's forehead.

Johannson looking for submissions off his back.

Johannson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kazushi Nakamura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nakamura scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nakamura trying to mount his opponent but Johannson defends it.
Nakamura is trying to control the action in half guard but Johannson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Nakamura dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Johannson misses with a takedown attempt
and Nakamura counters with a three punch combo that has Johannson backing up. Johannson nods at Nakamura to acknowledge the strikes.
Johannson misses with a takedown

and Nakamura counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Johannson's guard now.

Nakamura drops back looking for a leg! Johannson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Johannson manages to kick Nakamura off! Nakamura jumps back into Johannson's guard.

Johannson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Nakamura is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Johannson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Nakamura's back instead.

Johannson is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Nakamura defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Nakamura tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johannson lands a nice shot to the head.
Nakamura wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Johannson.
Nakamura really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Johannson looking to secure an arm triangle but Nakamura defends it well.
Nakamura wants to control but Johannson is having none of it.
Johannson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nakamura sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Johannson throwing shots but Nakamura is blocking nicely.
Nakamura manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johannson is one step ahead there.
Johannson advances to half guard.
Johannson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nakamura punching from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Johannson.
Nakamura wants to improve his position but Johannson is controlling well.
Johannson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Johannson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Nakamura!
BOOM! Johannson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nakamura can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johannson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Nakamura is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Nakamura and Johannson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Check out the look on Johannson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Nakamura can't do much from the bottom here.
Johannson avoids the strikes from the bottom by Nakamura.
Nakamura is looking for a sweep.
Johannson landing strikes.

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

Johannson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nakamura throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johannson has hold of Nakamura's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Nakamura seems comfortable defending it but Johannson has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Nakamura is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Nakamura is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Johannson couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:13 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Matt Johannson!