PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Keizo Kasai (ranked 273 p4p, 1659 weight class) and Uestus Johnston (ranked 46 p4p, 232 weight class). Johnston is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Clint Eastwood- Gorillaz. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kasai
vs
Johnston

175 cm
35
158
22 - 11 - 0

180 cm
27
157
18 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

SynCity Fightwear
HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Keizo Kasai!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Uestus Johnston!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnston swings widly with a right hand
and Kasai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnston takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Johnston keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnston slips a jab from Kasai.
Kasai missing with a left hand there. Johnston was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnston throws a jab when Kasai was well out of range.
Johnston looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Johnston misses with a double jab.
A big left from Kasai misses.
Johnston throws out a counter right but Kasai avoids it with no problem.
Johnston on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kasai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnston.
Kasai throws a big counter combination but Johnston scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Kasai doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kasai avoids the body shot from Johnston.
The fighters circling - Johnston throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Good standup being displayed there by Kasai as he connects with a hook.
Kasai lands with a nice body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnston scores with the left hand. Kasai knows he should have avoided that one.
Johnston misses with a lunging right hand
and Kasai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnston misses with a right hand
and Kasai counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston misses with a hook.
Johnston is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kasai.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnston misses the target.
Kasai shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Johnston with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Uestus Johnston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnston stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Johnston lands with a straight right. Kasai didn't see that one coming.
A decent looking cross lands there for Johnston.
Kasai lands a nice shot that snaps Johnston's head back.
Kasai misses with a hook. Johnston ducked under it nicely.
Johnston misses with a left hand
and Kasai makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kasai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnston.
Johnston staying out of range there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnston takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kasai throws a hook to the side of Johnston's head but Johnston sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johnston tries to move into range but Kasai moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Johnston misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Johnston moves out of range as Kasai strikes.
Johnston misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kasai.
Kasai misses with a hook. Johnston ducked under it nicely.
Johnston with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Johnston swings widly with a right hand
letting Kasai counter with a right hand.
Johnston throws a right hand that misses
and Kasai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kasai misses with a straight right.
Johnston misses with a right hand
and Kasai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Johnston jabs Kasai right on the nose. Kasai blinks but takes it well.
Johnston throws an off balance right hand
and Kasai makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kasai tries to bum rush Johnston with a series of wild strikes but Johnston uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnston throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnston thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnston throws a big shot that misses.
Kasai throws a looping overhand right but Johnston ducks down to avoid it.
A jab from Johnston finds it's way through Kasai's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasai lands a slapping body shot.
Johnston connects with a crisp jab.
Kasai connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kasai lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Uestus Johnston has been cut.
Kasai ducks under a wild hook from Johnston.
Johnston throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kasai is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A combination from Johnston does no damage.
Kasai swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kasai slips a jab from Johnston.
Johnston throws a hook to the side of Kasai's head but Kasai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kasai throwing a counter right hand but Johnston manages to avoid it.
Kasai throws a hook but Johnston blocks it.
Kasai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kasai misses with an uppercut. Johnston saw that one coming.
It seemed like Johnston was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kasai shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnston fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kasai manages to avoid it.
Kasai swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Johnston fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Johnston is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kasai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasai clobbers Johnston with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Johnston swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnston throws a jab but it's blocked by Kasai.
Kasai moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kasai lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Johnston at a distance.
Kasai slips a straight right by Johnston.
Kasai seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Kasai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnston sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A big right from Kasai misses.
Johnston looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Johnston connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kasai. Kasai circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Johnston lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Johnston loads up on a big right hand but Kasai slips the punch.
Kasai throws the left hand but Johnston avoids the punch easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnston misses with an uppercut.
Kasai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnston.
Kasai misses with a straight right.
A big left from Kasai misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Keizo Kasai will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Uestus Johnston's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kasai dodges the punch combination from Johnston.
Kasai swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kasai moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnston throws a poor cross that misses
and Kasai counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kasai avoids the body shot from Johnston.
Nice defenses there by Johnston.
The fighters circling - Johnston throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johnston scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kasai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnston moves away.
Johnston takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kasai digs a good hook to Johnston's body.
Johnston connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kasai. Kasai circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Johnston throws the left hand but Kasai avoids the punch easily.
Johnston scores with a decent looking hook.
Kasai takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kasai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kasai swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Johnston throws out a loose jab but Kasai uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnston.
Kasai misses with a double jab.
Johnston throws a hook but Kasai avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Johnston. That snapped Kasai's head back.
Kasai loads up on a big right hand but Johnston slips the punch.
A big right from Johnston misses.
Kasai appears to be looking for a big counter.
Nice cross by Johnston.
A big right from Kasai misses.
It seemed like Johnston was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Johnston takes a swing at Kasai's ribcage but misses.
Kasai slips a jab and a cross from Johnston.
Johnston ducks under a wild hook from Kasai.
Kasai stuns Johnston with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kasai connects with a jab.
Johnston scores with a three punch combo!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kasai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnston.
Nice uppercut there from Kasai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Kasai. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kasai.
Kasai misses with a hook.
A punch combination from Kasai misses.
Johnston bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnston moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnston lands with an uppercut that bounces Kasai off the cage and back into range.
Johnston lands a jab to the nose.
Johnston throws a jab but it's blocked by Kasai.
Johnston misses with a looping right.
Kasai swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kasai sizes up Johnston with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Johnston lands a jab to the nose.
Johnston misses with a shot to the body
and Kasai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kasai misses the jab.
Johnston ducks under a wild hook from Kasai.
Keizo Kasai is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnston ducks under a wild hook from Kasai.
Johnston swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston throws a hook to the side of Kasai's head but Kasai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johnston throws a big shot that misses.
Johnston throws a big shot that misses.
No joy there for Kasai, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kasai works Johnston's body with a nice hook.
Kasai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnston moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Johnston throws a hook but Kasai blocks it.
Kasai wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Johnston fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Johnston rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kasai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnston lands a nice shot that snaps Kasai's head back.
Johnston tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kasai was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnston.
Nice uppercut there from Johnston.
Johnston looks to land a combination but Kasai avoids it well.
Johnston misses with a double jab
and Kasai counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnston feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kasais jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Johnston misses the shot to the body.
Johnston throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Johnston takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnston misses the shot to the body.
Kasai is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Johnston.
Johnston 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.
Kasai swinging wildly here.
Kasai misses with a straight right.
Johnston connects with a single shot there.
Johnston takes one to the chin there.
Kasai avoids the body shot from Johnston.
Kasai throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kasai takes one on the button.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnston misses with an uppercut. Kasai saw that one coming.
Johnston throws a body shot but no joy.
Johnston uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kasai.
Kasai lands a head shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Uestus Johnston will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Uestus Johnston's cut.
That's time! Kasai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kasai throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnston.
Johnston takes a swing at Kasai's ribcage but misses.
Johnston sizes up Kasai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Kasai fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnston, pushing him back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Kasai.
Kasai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Johnston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnston throws a shot from downtown. Kasai moves away and avoids it.
Johnston misses with a hook.
Kasai throws a body punch but Johnston moves out of range.
Johnston takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kasai bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Johnston's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnston missing with a left hand there. Kasai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kasai throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnston.
Johnston swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kasai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnston. Kasai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Johnston throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Johnston misses.
Johnston slips a jab and a cross from Kasai.
Kasai takes a swing at Johnston's ribcage but misses.
Kasai avoids the body shot from Johnston.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnston. Kasai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some wild striking there from Johnston.
Kasai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnston.
A jab lands there for Kasai.
Johnston scores with a nice strike.
Johnston has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A big left from Kasai misses.
The fighters circling - Johnston throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kasai avoids the body shot from Johnston.
Kasai swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Johnston misses with a straight left.
Johnston throws a series of strikes that have Kasai backpedaling.
Johnston bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kasai's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnston slips a jab from Kasai.
Kasai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnston throws out a loose jab but Kasai uses good head movement to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Johnston.
Johnston takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Johnston connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kasai's hands.
Kasai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnston.
Johnston looks to throw the jab but Kasai is out of range.
A big right from Johnston misses.
Kasai scores with a three punch combo!
Johnston slips a jab from Kasai.
Johnston with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kasai to score with a decent uppercut.
Johnston throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kasai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnston is looking for the big counter here.
Johnston misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasai throws a body punch but Johnston moves out of range.
Kasai scores with a shot to the body.
Kasai throws a series of punches but Johnston moves out of range.
Johnston ducks right into an uppercut from Kasai.
Johnston ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnston lands with a shot to the body.
Johnston jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kasai blocks a jab.
Johnston scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Johnston throws a lazy right hand but Kasai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnston scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kasai in his tracks.
Kasai jabs Johnston to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kasai staying out of range there.
Kasai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Johnston misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kasai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnston.
Kasai doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnston circles away.
Johnston throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kasai lands a nice hook to Johnston's body. Johnston takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Johnston throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kasai looks to land a combination but Johnston avoids it well.
Jab, jab by Johnston - just one landing.
Johnston throws a shot from downtown. Kasai moves away and avoids it.
Johnston throws a body shot but no joy.
A big right from Johnston misses.
Johnston throws a looping overhand right but Kasai ducks down to avoid it.
Kasai scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sloppy strikes from Johnston. Those never looked like landing.
Johnston misses the shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Uestus Johnston just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Uestus Johnston's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jab from Kasai.
Kasai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnston swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Johnston looks to score with a jab to the body but Kasai is just out of range.
Johnston tries to bum rush Kasai with a series of wild strikes but Kasai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnston lands with a nice body punch.
Kasai scores with a nice head shot.
Johnston lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kasai at a distance.
Kasai slips under a jab.
Johnston ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kasai thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kasai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnston.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kasai swings for the body but Johnston moves out of range.
Johnston avoids the body shot from Kasai.
Kasai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kasai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnston.
Kasai misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston misses with an uppercut
and Kasai counters with a straight right hand.
Kasai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnston.
Johnston throws a hook to the side of Kasai's head but Kasai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fighters circling - Kasai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johnston scores with a jab to the head.
Johnston throws out a loose jab but Kasai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johnston showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kasai.
Johnston throws a hook but Kasai blocks it.
Johnston throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Johnston bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kasai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnston.
It seemed like Johnston was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kasai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Johnston! But no joy.
Kasai looks to land a combination but Johnston avoids it well.
Johnston misses with an uppercut. Kasai saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston lands a head shot.
Kasai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnston was well out of range. Poor timing from Kasai.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnston throws a hook but Kasai blocks it.
Kasai slips under a jab.
It looked like Kasai was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Johnston.
Johnston swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kasai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kasai moves out of range as Johnston strikes.
Kasai throws a hook to the side of Johnston's head but Johnston sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kasai misses with a body shot.
Johnston looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kasai misses with a hook.
Kasai throws a right hand that misses
and Johnston counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Johnston staying out of range there.
Kasai throws a looping overhand right but Johnston ducks down to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Kasai.
Johnston circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnston.
Kasai throws a body shot but no joy.
A shot to the liver by Kasai. Beautiful body shot.
Kasai connects with a single shot there.
Kasai throws a hook but Johnston avoids it easily.
Johnston throws a shot from downtown. Kasai moves away and avoids it.
Johnston misses with a hook. Kasai ducked under it nicely.
Kasai bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Johnston's head backwards.
Kasai avoids the body shot from Johnston.
Johnston with a nice cross.
Johnston swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kasai just misses with a punch to the body.
Kasai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnston throws a lazy right hand but Kasai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnston takes a swing at Kasai's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kasai thuds a left hand into Johnston's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnston throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnston goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Johnston fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnston walks into a jab.
Kasai lands a jab-cross combination.
Johnston smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kasai lands a body shot.
Kasai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Johnston stuns Kasai with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kasai misses with a combination
and Johnston counters with a nice uppercut.
A big left from Kasai misses.

Kasai moves into the clinch successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Keizo Kasai will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Uestus Johnston's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kasai lands with a shot to the body.
A combination from Johnston does no damage.
Johnston throws a big shot that misses.
Johnston swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Kasai.
Johnston lands with an overhand left.
Kasai lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Johnston backs up against the cage.
Kasai misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Johnston counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kasai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnston moves away.
A little jabbing left from Johnston on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Johnston scores with a nice right hand.
Kasai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnston just misses with a punch to the body.
Kasai misses with a wild body shot.
Kasai moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnston avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston thuds a left hand into Kasai's body.
Kasai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kasai is looking to clinch but Johnston is avoiding it.
Kasai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johnston.
Johnston misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kasai.
Johnston sizes up Kasai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Johnston swings widly with a right hand
and Kasai counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Johnston thinking.
Kasai misses with a straight left.
Kasai feints a jab promting Johnston to slip. Kasai then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Johnston slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Kasai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnston is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kasai.
Kasai throwing a counter right hand but Johnston manages to avoid it.
Johnston misses with a left hand
and Kasai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kasai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston cracks Kasai with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnston thuds a left hand into Kasai's body.
Johnston rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kasai counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kasai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johnston throws out the jab.
Johnston throws a lazy uppercut
letting Kasai counter with a right hand.
Kasai throws a series of punches but Johnston avoids them all with ease.
Johnston lands with a cross.
Johnston throws a body punch but Kasai moves out of range.
Johnston tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kasai was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnston.
Johnston missing with a left hand there. Kasai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kasai wants to clinch.
Johnston misses with a hook.
Kasai throwing a counter right hand but Johnston manages to avoid it.
Johnston keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kasai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Johnston tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kasai was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnston.
Johnston tries to bum rush Kasai with a series of wild strikes but Kasai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnston on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kasai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnston.
Kasai misses with a straight left.
Johnston throws out a powerful jab.
A combination from Kasai does no damage.
Johnston lands a two punch combo.
Kasai takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kasai misses with a body shot.
Kasai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnston manages to avoid it.
Kasai throws a lazy right hand but Johnston sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnston throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kasai counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kasai tries to bum rush Johnston with a series of wild strikes but Johnston uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd cheers as Johnston lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kasai doesn't seem phased though.
Kasai lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Johnston loads up on a big right hand but Kasai slips the punch.
Kasai is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kasai swings for the body but Johnston moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Johnston.
Kasai throwing a counter right hand but Johnston manages to avoid it.
Johnston misses with a hook.
Kasai is looking for a counter combo.
Johnston swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Kasai scores with a four punch combination!
Johnston lands a right hook to the body.
A combination from Johnston does no damage.
Johnston will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No joy there for Kasai, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kasai moves away from the strike by Johnston.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Keizo Kasai.
Well Kasai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 48:47
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 48:49
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Keizo Kasai!
Keizo Kasai retains his lightweight title!
Keizo Kasai thanked the fans post fight for their support.