PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Minoru Nakano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnson
vs
Nakano

173 cm
40
155 lbs
15 - 13 - 1

169 cm
20
159 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Minoru Nakano!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nakano doesn't seem bothered though.
Nakano throws a leg kick that is checked
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nakano lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Johnson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Johnson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nakano throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.

Johnson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nakano's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Nakano is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Nakano is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.

Nakano throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nakano throws his legs up looking for a submission but Johnson uses it to pass to side control.
Johnson working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakano tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Johnson easily slips into full mount!
Nakano is trying desperately to improve position.
Johnson controlling from mount.
Nakano is desperately trying to improve his position but Johnson has a good base and remains in mount.
Johnson scoring with strikes but Nakano is staying in there.
Nakano tries to lock up and control but Johnson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nakano keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakano slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is trying to control. Nakano wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nakano trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.

Nakano looking for submissions off his back.

Nakano actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakano wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Johnson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Nakano is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Johnson not doing much here.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Johnson trying to control from half guard but Nakano is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nakano is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.

Nakano looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson is controlling the pace.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Nakano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Johnson drives through with a takedown into Nakano's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Nakano is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nakano gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Johnson to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Nakano is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Nakano is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Michael Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nakano is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnson is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nakano tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
Nakano has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson slows the pace down in half guard.

Nakano looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Johnson moves nicely into side control.
Johnson controlling the position from side mount.
Johnson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Nakano some visible discomfort.
Nakano is trying to escape the position but Johnson is controlling the position.
A control attempt from Nakano but he's now mounted!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Johnson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nakano is working to get back to half guard.
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Nakano wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Nakano to take his back!

Nakano defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Johnson's arms.
Johnson not allowing Nakano to control his hands.
Johnson tries to get the hooks in deep but Nakano pushed the leg off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is taking a good look at Nakano as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Johnson!
Johnson really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Nakano.
Nakano wants to control his opponent's hands but Johnson gets his hands free.
Johnson scores with punches from the back.
Nakano trying to control the action but Johnson just sinks the hooks in.
Johnson keeps control of the position easily here as Nakano tries to buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoiding Nakano 's attempts to control his hands.
Johnson has the hooks in. Nakano is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
The referee is taking a good look at Nakano as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Johnson!
Nakano is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Nakano is still trying to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson is working the ground and pound. Can Nakano escape?

Johnson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Nakano trying to control the hands but Johnson won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Johnson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nakano is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Johnson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nakano is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A control attempt from Nakano but he's now mounted!
Nakano regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Johnson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nakano is trying to control but can't.

Johnson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nakano wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Nakano looking for subs from the bottom but Johnson mounts him!
Johnson wants to control the pace but Nakano is squirming around nicely.
Johnson is really struggling to control Nakano but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nakano can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 is landing with some decent strikes but Nakano is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Johnson cracks Nakano with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Johnson with good strikes from the mount here!
Johnson controlling the pace for now.
Nakano wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Nakano is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Johnson content just to control the position here.
Nakano really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.
Nakano taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakano is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.
Minoru Nakano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson controlling from mount.
Nakano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Johnson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nakano?
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.
Nakano tries to hold on but Johnson postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:25
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

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