PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson has chosen In The Air Tonight as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Marshall
vs
Johnson

150 cm
25
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Steve Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marshall shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Johnson wants to control but Marshall is keeping busy.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Marshall connects with a nice short shot to Johnson's temple.
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marshall.
Marshall wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Marshall is controlling well.
Johnson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marshall is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall passes Johnson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Johnson missing with punches from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Johnson trying to control here.
Johnson is pressing down on Marshall's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Marshall lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Marshall isn't so interested in that idea.
Marshall content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Marshall trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Marshall really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marshall's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Johnson controlling the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marshall looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Marshall gets to his feet. Johnson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Marshall saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Marshall pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Marshall holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnson drops back down to his feet.
Johnson is trying to maintain a safe position but Marshall gets an underhook and turns Johnson into the cage.
Marshall has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Marshall pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kevin Marshall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Johnson.
Johnson looks winded!
Marshall swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick

and Marshall counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marshall is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Marshall controlling the position from side mount.
Marshall tries to advance position but instead Johnson slips a leg back in to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marshall working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Marshall scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Marshall thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Marshall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Johnson wants to control but Marshall is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kevin Marshall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Marshall looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marshall.
Johnson wants to control but Marshall is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Johnson is controlling Marshall's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marshall just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Marshall.

Marshall moves into the clinch.
Marshall keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Marshall has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Johnson regains guard immediately.
Johnson working a defensive guard here.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Marshall wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marshall doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marshall manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Marshall tries to pass.
Marshall looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Marshall looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Marshall holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Marshall blocks nicely.
Johnson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Marshall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Steve Johnson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Marshall but Marshall pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Marshall shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Johnson is trying to defend but Marshall finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Marshall slows the pace down in half guard.

Marshall 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Marshall dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Marshall closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Johnson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Marshall fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Marshall sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Marshall manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Johnson on his heels. He'll look to pass Johnson's guard now, I'm sure.
Marshall trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marshall controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kevin Marshall.

Marshall shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Marshall knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Marshall works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Johnson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Marshall trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Marshall trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marshall stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Marshall is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Marshall is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Marshall drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Johnson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Marshall has Johnson in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson trying to control but Marshall is working from the bottom.
Johnson forces his way into half guard.

Marshall kicks off Johnson and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marshall looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Johnson!
Marshall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Johnson wants to control but Marshall postures up.
Marshall trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson is trying to control Marshall's posture but Marshall avoids it.
Steve Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kevin Marshall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson is not content to let Marshall control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Marshall showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marshall 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Marshall!