PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yuuga Ikeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson has chosen Blood of Heroes! as his entrance music. Yuuga Ikeda has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ikeda
vs
Johnson

189 cm
19
197 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

168 cm
30
200 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yuuga Ikeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Columbo Gatti and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Danga de danga de dang - Johnson scores with a four punch combination!
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ikeda circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson lands a jab to the nose.
Ikeda is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Johnson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Johnson cracks Ikeda with a good jab.
Ikeda is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Johnson thuds a left hand into Ikeda's body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ikeda takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ikeda moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ikeda takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ikeda fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ikeda misses with a takedown attempt - Johnson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ikeda looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Johnson lands a nice looking body shot.
Johnson misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikeda takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ikeda takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ikeda takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johnson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Johnson throws a shot to the body.
Johnson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Johnson wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuuga Ikeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Ikeda is controlling him.
Johnson lands with a left to the head.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ikeda on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ikeda has a takedown stuffed.
Johnson is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Ikeda had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Ikeda throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Craig Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ikeda tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ikeda somewhat.

Johnson rushes Ikeda and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ikeda has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ikeda at a distance.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Ikeda against the cage.
Johnson is pressed up against the cage. Ikeda has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Johnson down to the mat. Johnson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ikeda takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ikeda throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johnson's waist but Johnson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ikeda off to one side.
Johnson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nice body punch from Johnson.
The fighters circle momentarily. Johnson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Johnson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ikeda's head backwards.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Ikeda.
Johnson lands a nice shot that snaps Ikeda's head back.
Johnson cracks Ikeda with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ikeda is sent reeling backwards by a solid uppercut. He barely regains his balance and Johnson moves in for the kill throwing a continuous barrage of punches that force the ref to step in.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Craig Johnson!
During a confident post fight interview, Craig Johnson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.