PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fred Delacruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson has chosen Aint no sunshine as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Delacruz
vs
Johnson

171 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fred Delacruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, James Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Delacruz looks to clinch

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Delacruz!
Delacruz is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Delacruz to control.
Delacruz can't escape the position.
Delacruz is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Johnson looking to finish with strikes here!
Delacruz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Johnson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Johnson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delacruz avoids a series of strikes thrown by Johnson.
Delacruz tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson tries to control but Delacruz wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Delacruz is trying to escape the mount.
Johnson trying to control but Delacruz is having none of it.
Johnson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Delacruz because Johnson loaded up on that one.
A nice elbow there by Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Delacruz defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Johnson.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Johnson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Johnson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Delacruz throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Johnson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Johnson has control of Delacruz's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Delacruz regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Delacruz working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Delacruz is surviving well by controlling Johnson's body position as best he can.
Delacruz tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
Johnson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Delacruz looks a forlorn figure.
Delacruz regains half guard.
Delacruz misses with some strikes from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delacruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnson.
Delacruz misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
Delacruz is trying to get back to full guard.
Johnson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Delacruz!
Johnson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Delacruz tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
Johnson wants to control the pace but Delacruz is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Johnson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson avoids a kick to the body.
Delacruz moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Delacruz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johnson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Johnson lands with a punch from half guard.
Delacruz is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control. Delacruz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
James Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Delacruz keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Delacruz is looking to improve his position.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Delacruz's head.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Johnson working over Delacruz with some ground and pound. Delacruz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Johnson wants to control but Delacruz is keeping him busy.
Delacruz is looking to escape.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Delacruz is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson slows the pace down in half guard.
Delacruz is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Delacruz avoid being mounted?
Delacruz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.

Delacruz has one foot on Johnson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Delacruz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Delacruz throws a head kick that misses

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Johnson passes Delacruz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Delacruz's head.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
Johnson is keen to just control but Delacruz is a slippery customer.
Delacruz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Delacruz tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Johnson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Delacruz is working to get back to half guard.
Johnson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Johnson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Delacruz hang on?
Johnson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Delacruz is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a heavy elbow.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.
Johnson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Delacruz in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Johnson with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson dives in and scores a takedown into Delacruz's guard.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Delacruz wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson lands a couple of elbows.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Delacruz is keeping the position for now.
Johnson cracks Delacruz with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delacruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Delacruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Delacruz is controlling Johnson's posture.
Johnson passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Delacruz dodges it nicely.
Johnson not doing much here.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Delacruz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Delacruz!
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Delacruz tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delacruz swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Johnson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Delacruz is wriggling around trying to escape.
Delacruz tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Johnson controlling his opponent.
Delacruz can't escape the position.
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

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.
Johnson wants to control the pace but Delacruz is squirming around nicely.
Delacruz tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Johnson landing shots from mount.
Johnson raining down shots from the mount!
Delacruz is wriggling around trying to escape.
Johnson with a couple of short strikes.
Johnson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Delacruz in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
James 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

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