PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sakuragi Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Aldo
vs
Johnson

170 cm
23
137 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
135 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sakuragi Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Aldo circles away.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Aldo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Aldo.
Good leg kick by Aldo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Aldo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johnson throws out the jab.
Aldo thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Johnson if he has to take too many more of those.
Aldo keeps Johnson at a distance using the push kick.
Aldo thuds his shin into the meat of Johnson's side.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Aldo thumps Johnson with a low kick.
Aldo avoids a kick to the body.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Aldo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Aldo but Aldo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Aldo misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson throws a combination that misses
and Aldo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Johnson's knee momentarily.
Aldo stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sakuragi Johnson.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Aldo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Aldo is breathing heavily.
Jab from Aldo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sakuragi Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Aldo tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aldo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson takes one to the side of the head.
Aldo lands a front kick.
Jose Aldo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aldo misses with a body kick.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Aldo pinned against the cage. Aldo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Aldo works over Johnson's head and body with a nice combination.

Johnson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Johnson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Aldo wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson in side control, throwing shots but Aldo defends.

Johnson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Aldo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Johnson decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Aldo sprawls well.
Johnson throws a head kick but Aldo moves out of range.
Aldo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Johnson.
Aldo just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Aldo tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Aldo to the ground. Aldo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

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.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Aldo sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Aldo. Aldo obviously looking to wear him down.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Aldo shows good takedown defense.
Johnson tries to land a body kick
and Aldo counters with a good, hard body kick but Johnson shrugs it off.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aldo is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Aldo circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Aldo as Johnson shoots in.
Aldo throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Aldo tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Aldo to the ground. Aldo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Aldo circles away.
Aldo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A left and a right from Johnson both land. Nice combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
Aldo throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Johnson.
Johnson clinches but Aldo breaks the clinch
and Aldo counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Johnson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Aldo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Johnson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Johnson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Aldo wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Johnson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Aldo rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Johnson's guard! Nice work there by Aldo!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Aldo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Aldo has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson has his foot on Aldo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aldo works his way back into a safe position though.
Aldo is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.

Johnson pushes a forearm under Aldo's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Aldo is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sakuragi Johnson!
Sakuragi Johnson is the new bantamweight champion!