PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matsushita Yashunori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Yashunori
vs
Johnson

183 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matsushita Yashunori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nick Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yashunori misses with a head kick.
Yashunori has a takedown stuffed.
Matsushita Yashunori seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yashunori changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Yashunori manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Yashunori moves out of range.
Yashunori scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Johnson throws a combination that misses

and Yashunori counters with a shoot takedown. Johnson fights it but they end up in guard.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Yashunori controlling him for the moment.
Yashunori trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yashunori wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yashunori trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Yashunori from controlling successfully.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Yashunori tries to pass.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yashunori!
Johnson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Yashunori?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yashunori is desperately trying to improve his position but Johnson has a good base and remains in mount.
Yashunori slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Yashunori keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson working over Yashunori with some ground and pound. Yashunori looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Yashunori looking for submissions off his back.
Yashunori is breathing heavily.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Johnson lands a nice short elbow.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
Yashunori trying to control but Johnson postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
Johnson working over Yashunori with some ground and pound. Yashunori looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Johnson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Johnson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Yashunori wants to get back to his feet.
Yashunori is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnson is keen to just control but Yashunori is a slippery customer.
Johnson working Yashunori over with strikes.
Johnson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Yashunori is rocked!
Johnson working Yashunori over with strikes.
Oh Yashunori is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yashunori is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Johnson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Yashunori with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Yashunori on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Johnson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Johnson is working for a submission of some sort.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Johnson lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Yashunori's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Yashunori seems to have got his legs back now.
Johnson misses with a combination

and Yashunori counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Johnson's guard now.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Yashunori from controlling successfully.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Yashunori is having none of it.
Yashunori trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yashunori stands and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control Yashunori's posture but Yashunori avoids it.

Yashunori decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.
Yashunori wants to clinch.

That's two 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.
Yashunori closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Yashunori pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Yashunori keeps the fight on the outside.
Yashunori shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Yashunori's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Johnson clinches.
Yashunori keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.
Yashunori prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yashunori darts in trying to clinch
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
Yashunori is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Johnson.

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Yashunori is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Johnson has Yashunori pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Johnson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Yashunori tumbling to the mat - Johnson dives into Yashunori's guard.
Johnson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yashunori looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Yashunori trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Yashunori keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Yashunori keeps moving.
Yashunori has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matsushita Yashunori will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson lands with a right hand.

Yashunori closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Yashunori throws a knee to the head but misses.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent Yashunori's takedown attempt.
Yashunori tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johnson smiles and moves away.

Johnson darts in and clinches Yashunori up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yashunori is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Johnson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matsushita Yashunori. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yashunori is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Yashunori tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johnson smiles and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yashunori misses with a takedown
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.

Johnson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Yashunori is trying to defend but Johnson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
Johnson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Johnson working over Yashunori with some ground and pound. Yashunori looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Johnson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Yashunori with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Johnson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nick Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yashunori wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yashunori is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Johnson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Yashunori wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yashunori wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yashunori tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Yashunori gets full guard.
Johnson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Yashunori's head.

Johnson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Yashunori is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Yashunori has escaped and now he's on top!
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Yashunori is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yashunori wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Yashunori prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Yashunori tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Johnson!