PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Egor Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Higashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Higashi has chosen Descendo a canelada - Calibre 12 as his entrance music. Egor Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnson
vs
Higashi

182 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 Rio de Janeiro, Egor Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Higashi!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Higashi tries to clinch up

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Higashi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Johnson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Higashi manages to get underhooks.
Higashi tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.
Higashi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Higashi misses with a knee strike.
Higashi tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.

Johnson drags the fight down to the ground.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Higashi from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Higashi wants to stand and escape but instead Johnson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Higashi wants to stand and escape but Johnson is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Egor Johnson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nice takedown defense from Higashi. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
Johnson throws a right hand that Higashi ducks under and follows up with a left that Higashi also avoids with ease.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Higashi closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Higashi being controlled against the cage.

Johnson decides to pull guard.
Higashi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Higashi scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Higashi's guard.
Johnson is standing up over Higashi. Higashi looks to escape but Johnson dives into side control.
Higashi looks gassed!

Johnson is trying to get an arm triangle but Higashi is defending well.
Higashi wants to get back to his feet but Johnson drags him back down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Higashi's shoulder. That is not cool.
Johnson has knee on belly and moves into mount.
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.
Johnson with shots to the head and body - Higashi looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Johnson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Higashi to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Higashi shrugs it off.
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Johnson looking for a guillotine from mount but Higashi is having none of it.
Johnson controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson working for a submission but Higashi is keeping him at bay.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.

Johnson is working for a guillotine from mount but Higashi frees his head quite easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Higashi is in a horrible position here. Johnson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Higashi looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Egor Johnson 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 gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Higashi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
Higashi tries a knee to the head but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson wants a takedown.

Johnson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Johnson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Higashi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Higashi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Higashi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Higashi's guard.
Higashi wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Johnson manages to pass to side control.
Higashi tries to kick Johnson off but Johnson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Johnson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Higashi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Johnson is working for a submission of some sort.
Higashi scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Johnson manages to mount him!
Higashi is breathing heavily.
Johnson raining down shots from the mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higashi is trying to reverse the position but instead Johnson has taken his back - oops!
I would not like to be Higashi right now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johnson working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Johnson controlling the position well here. Higashi rolled but Johnson kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Johnson slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Higashi is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Higashi fending off the submission attempt from Johnson.

Johnson tightening his grip on Higashi, looking for the choke.
Egor Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
What can Higashi do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Johnson is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Higashi has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Johnson looking for the RNC.
Higashi rolls, trying to escape but Johnson keeps control of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Higashi wants to get back to his feet.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Egor Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson throws a nice head kick!
Higashi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Higashi misses with a knee strike.
Higashi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Higashi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Higashi is trying to force a seperation but Johnson has the dominant position.
Higashi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Johnson's face.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Higashi after a bit of a struggle.
Higashi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Johnson jumps guard and drags Higashi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Higashi has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnson is proving hard to escape from.
Higashi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnson is pulling down on Higashi's head. It's preventing any offense from Higashi, at least for the moment.
Higashi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Johnson has his foot on Higashi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Higashi works his way back into a safe position though.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnson is on top in guard.
Johnson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson pushes down on Higashi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Johnson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Johnson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Higashi for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Egor Johnson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Johnson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Johnson dives in and scores a takedown into Higashi's guard.
Johnson passes Higashi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Johnson content to control rather than advance.
Higashi is trying to stand.
Johnson controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Egor Johnson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Higashi. No joy for Johnson on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Egor Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Higashi closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Higashi looks to clinch
and Johnson counters with a nice leg kick.
Higashi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Higashi wants it to stay on the feet.
Jose Higashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson clinches with his opponent.

Johnson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Higashi uses from the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Higashi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johnson is pulling down on Higashi's head to control his posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Egor Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

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