PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kurita Kanazawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Earl Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kanazawa comes to the cage accompanied by Yoshu Fukushu - Maximum the Hormone. Earl Johnson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Kurita Kanazawa's chin.

Kanazawa
vs
Johnson

200 cm
19
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

197 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kurita Kanazawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Earl Johnson !
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Kanazawa.
Kanazawa looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Kanazawa.
Kanazawa tries to clinch up.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kanazawa quickly recovers to half guard.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kanazawa's head.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kanazawa's head.
Johnson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Johnson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kanazawa doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Johnson .
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson stands up out of the half guard.
Kurita Kanazawa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kanazawa!
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Kanazawa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson .
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kanazawa is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Kanazawa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnson was well out of range. Poor timing from Kanazawa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanazawa tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Kanazawa tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kanazawa's waist but Kanazawa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kanazawa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kanazawa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kanazawa misses with a two punch combination.
Johnson throws a head kick but Kanazawa moves out of range.
Kurita Kanazawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kanazawa doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
Kanazawa misses with a wild combination.
Kanazawa misses with a wild combination.
Kanazawa misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanazawa moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kanazawa has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Kanazawa is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kanazawa down to the mat. Kanazawa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kurita Kanazawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Earl Johnson .
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Kanazawa.
Kanazawa throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Kanazawa tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnson slips under a jab.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kanazawa quickly recovers to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Johnson .
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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! Kanazawa is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Earl Johnson !