PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cory McDanver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sakuragi Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakuragi Johnson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

McDanver
vs
Johnson

165 cm
27
146 lbs
7 - 6 - 1

185 cm
25
147 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 7 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cory McDanver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sakuragi Johnson!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but McDanver sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

McDanver moves into the clinch.

McDanver has clasped his hands together around Johnson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Johnson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Johnson wants to improve his position but McDanver is controlling well.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

McDanver seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.
McDanver is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Johnson!
Johnson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as McDanver tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
McDanver knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.

McDanver jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Johnson is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Johnson and McDanver has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

McDanver tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Johnson is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

McDanver tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McDanver lands some shots froms side control.
Johnson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McDanver wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McDanver working the head with strikes.

McDanver tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
McDanver moves into full mount!

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 slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

McDanver is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for McDanver to get the leverage.

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

McDanver is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johnson defends it well.
McDanver lands strikes from half guard.
McDanver thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Johnson to regain full guard.

Johnson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McDanver defends well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
McDanver trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDanver wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for McDanver!

Johnson looking for a guillotine from mount but McDanver is having none of it.

Johnson wants to finish this one by submission but McDanver is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Johnson.
Johnson prevents McDanver from getting the reversal.

Johnson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force McDanver to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so McDanver shrugs it off.
McDanver flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson has hold of McDanver's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and McDanver manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
McDanver is working to get back to half guard.

Johnson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Johnson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. McDanver can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
McDanver is working to get back to half guard.
McDanver sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

McDanver is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.
McDanver makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McDanver.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sakuragi Johnson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McDanver tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
McDanver tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.

McDanver rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson fails to pull guard.
Johnson tries to pull guard but McDanver holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnson drops back down to his feet.

McDanver gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Johnson regains guard.

McDanver drops back, looking for a kneebar! Johnson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Johnson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Johnson!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McDanver, who protects the arm well.
McDanver tries to buck Johnson off but Johnson is having none of it.

Johnson tries for a kimura but McDanver is defending well.
Sakuragi Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
McDanver is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McDanver sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! McDanver is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Sakuragi Johnson!