PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vince Cruise (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cruise
vs
Johnson

183 cm
22
175 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

178 cm
26
175 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Vince Cruise!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, David Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cruise feints and as Johnson raises his hands in defense, Cruise changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cruise has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Cruise got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cruise has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Cruise tries to pass.
Cruise trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Cruise throws a big right hand that misses.
Cruise passes into half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruise is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruise pulls his head out easily.

Cruise 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.
Cruise is trying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Johnson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cruise thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cruise throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cruise fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson takes one on the button.
Cruise fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Cruise scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Cruise shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Johnson napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is not content to let Cruise control the position.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ground and pound from Cruise seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Cruise works to advance to full mount. Johnson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Cruise moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Johnson has worked his arm free - good work by Johnson!
Cruise advances nicely into full mount.
Cruise is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Johnson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Cruise is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Johnson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Johnson!
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cruise works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vince Cruise dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cruise tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cruise.
Cruise throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A big left from Cruise misses.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vince Cruise is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Johnson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cruise's half guard.
Cruise trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Cruise tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Johnson manages to move to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruise wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Cruise is looking to improve his position but Johnson isn't that keen on the idea.
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cruise is looking to escape.
Johnson with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Cruise to control.

That's two 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.
Cruise working to try and regain half guard.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Cruise to control.
Cruise has given up his back here. Will Johnson look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Johnson looking for the choke but no joy.
Cruise tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruise is desperately trying to improve his position but Johnson has a good base and remains in mount.
Cruise tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cruise is trying to escape the mount.
Cruise holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Johnson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Cruise tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Cruise is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.

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.
Cruise is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Cruise manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Cruise blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Johnson wants to control but Cruise is keeping him busy.
Cruise is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cruise looking to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson wants to stand but Cruise is controlling his posture from full guard.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Cruise is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cruise misses with a takedown attempt

and Johnson counters with a single leg into guard. Cruise didn't expect that.
Johnson passes Cruise's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Johnson trying to control the action but Cruise is working from the bottom.
Cruise tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.
Cruise gets back to full guard.
Cruise is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruise is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruise is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Cruise tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Cruise drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cruise throwing strikes from guard but Johnson blocks nicely.
Cruise throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruise missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruise in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cruise tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
David Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cruise works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruise pulls his head out easily.
Cruise looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Johnson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Cruise not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cruise throwing shots but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Johnson trying to control from the bottom.
Cruise trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cruise throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cruise scores with a crisp jab that stopped Johnson in his tracks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Johnson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cruise gets full guard.
Cruise manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Johnson defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Cruise.
Cruise misses with a head shot.
Johnson can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to David Johnson.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... David Johnson!