PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carrol Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akebono Tao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carrol Johnston has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Johnston
vs
Tao

200 cm
21
346 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

203 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Carrol Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akebono Tao!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tao tries a low kick but Johnston avoids it.
Johnston shoots and misses

and Tao moves into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Tao.

Tao gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Johnston has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tao is working away from the top position though.

Johnston kicks off Tao and gets to his feet.
Tao wants to slow Johnston down by chopping away at his legs.
Tao tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tao tries to clinch but Johnston moves out of range.

Tao shoots in and gets a takedown into Johnston's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tao gets to his feet - Johnston follows without any prompting.

Tao fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnston, pushing him back against the cage.
Johnston with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tao tries to break free but Johnston pushes him back against the cage.

Johnston lands a takedown into guard.
Johnston really is a fat lump.
Johnston being controlled here momentarily.
Tao wants to stand up but Johnston is controlling him.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tao can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston stands up over Tao, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tao trying to strike off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tao wants to sweep here but Johnston controlling him for the moment.
Johnston throwing strikes from guard but Tao blocks nicely.
Tao has his hands on Johnston's head, controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Tao has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tao blocks a body shot from Johnston.

Tao decides to pull guard.
Tao wants to sweep but no luck.
Tao working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnston.

Johnston drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnston jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Tao looking for a guillotine here but Johnston defends easily.
Johnston trying to control but Tao is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tao controls Johnston momentarily but Johnston frees himself.
Johnston trying to control the position from guard on top but Tao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tao trying to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Tao shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Johnston is trying to defend but Tao finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Johnston is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tao trying to mount his opponent but Johnston defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akebono Tao dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tao closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Johnston to the mat! Johnston manages to get full guard.
Johnston wants to sweep here but Tao controlling him for the moment.
Tao advances position into side control!
Tao grinds an elbow into Johnston's temple.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tao taking a breather here.

Tao has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Tao drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tao throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Tao gets to mount! Johnston was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Tao throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Tao wants to control the pace but Johnston is squirming around nicely.

Tao looking to secure an arm triangle but Johnston defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is in all sorts of trouble here.
Tao wants to control the pace but Johnston is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tao scoring with strikes but Johnston is staying in there.

It looks like Carrol Johnston has been cut.
Johnston wants to control but Tao is having none of it.
Tao controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is looking to improve his position but Tao isn't that keen on the idea.
Tao looking to control and managing it successfully.
Johnston tries to reverse the position but Tao maintains control.

Tao working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Tao with a couple of short strikes.
Tao controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tao with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Johnston looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Tao lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tao controlling from the back.
Tao is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

Johnston is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akebono Tao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Carrol Johnston's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tao shoots in for a takedown. SLAM! Brutal! Johnston is out cold and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Slam). Akebono Tao!