PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Obi Canuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Johnson's choice of entrance music: Miami Vice Theme Song. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Canuel
vs
Johnson

189 cm
29
201 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

186 cm
31
200 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Voodoo Nutrition

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Obi Canuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Don Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws the left hand but Canuel avoids the punch easily.
Canuel is looking to counter punch.
Johnson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Canuel. Canuel circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Canuel moves into range and connects with a jab.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Canuel.
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Canuel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson throws an off balance right hand
and Canuel counters with a stiff right hand.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Canuel throws a hook to the side of Johnson's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johnson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Canuel on the side of the head.
Canuel moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Johnson throws a jab but it's blocked by Canuel.
Canuel half committed to a counter leg kick.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Canuel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Canuel swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Don Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to clinch there but Canuel circles away.
Canuel lands a jab to the nose.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson jabs at Canuel's body.
Johnson tries to clinch but Canuel moves away
enabling Canuel to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Canuel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fighters circling - Canuel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Canuel but Canuel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Obi Canuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Johnson.
Johnson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Canuel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johnson throws a poor cross that misses
and Canuel counters with a nice leg kick.
Canuel throws a shot from downtown. Johnson moves away and avoids it.
Obi Canuel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Canuel pushes him off.
Canuel drops his hands momentarily and Johnson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Canuel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Canuel lands a nice shot that snaps Johnson's head back.
Johnson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Canuel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Canuel takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Johnson throws a lazy uppercut
and Canuel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Canuel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Canuel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Canuel on the side of the head.
Canuel stalks Johnson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Johnson's face. Johnson staggers backwards, shaken.
Johnson moves out of range of the leg kick from Canuel.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Canuel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Canuel's guard.
Canuel keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Canuel tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Canuel keeps moving.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

Johnson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Canuel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Canuel but Canuel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Johnson lands a nice looking body shot.
Johnson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Canuel misses with a hook.
Canuel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Johnson throws a poor cross that misses
and Canuel counters with a stiff right hand.
Canuel slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stalks Canuel and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Canuel's face. Canuel staggers backwards, shaken.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Canuel.
Johnson misses with a hook. Canuel ducked under it nicely.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Canuel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johnson.
Nice sprawl there from Canuel as Johnson shoots in.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Canuel is just out of range.
Canuel swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Canuel ducks right into an uppercut from Johnson.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Canuel.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.
Johnson misses with a right hand
and Canuel counters with a slapping leg kick.
Canuel takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Canuel scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Obi Canuel dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Canuel staying out of range there.
Obi Canuel is winning the standup battle so far.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Canuel.
Johnson throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Canuel to counter with a crisp jab.
Canuel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johnson.
Johnson lands with a nice body punch.
Canuel takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Canuel misses with a jab, cross combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Canuel. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Canuel feints and then cracks Johnson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Johnson down.
Johnson throws out a powerful jab.
Johnson wants to clinch.
As Johnson backs away, Canuel returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Canuel both land. Nice combination.
Johnson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Canuel counters with a right hand to the body.
Johnson misses with a body punch
and Canuel counters with a straight right hand.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Canuel.
Johnson lands a jab to the head.
Canuel looks to land a right hand but Johnson moved out of range.
Johnson throws out a counter right but Canuel avoids it with no problem.
Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Canuel.
Canuel misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson connects with the punch.
Canuel misses with a series of wild punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson scores with a hook.
Good work by Johnson as he checks the leg kick.
Johnson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Canuel lands a jab.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Johnson clinches up with Canuel and pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson misses with an elbow over the top.
Canuel misses with a short punch on the inside.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Johnson feints and as Canuel raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Canuel is retaining full guard.

Canuel is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Johnson slips a jab from Canuel.
A little jabbing left from Johnson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Canuel throwing a counter right hand but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Canuel has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Canuel there as he acknowledges the shot.
Canuel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johnson.
Canuel walks into a stiff left hand from Johnson.
Canuel fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Johnson on the side of the head.

Johnson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Canuel to the ground. Johnson is now in Canuel's guard.
Johnson prevents Canuel from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Canuel lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Canuel defends easily.
Canuel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Canuel throws a strike but Johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Canuel is retaining full guard.
Canuel seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Johnson stands and throws Canuel's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Johnson stands up.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Canuel is just out of range.
Canuel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Canuel connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The fighters circling - Canuel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Canuel misses with a looping right.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses
and Canuel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Don Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Canuel lands with a hook. Johnson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Johnson misses with a body punch
enabling Canuel to counter with a crisp jab.
Canuel blocks a leg kick.
Canuel swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Johnson clobbers Canuel with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Canuel feints and then cracks Johnson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Johnson down.
Canuel looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
Canuel takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Canuel slips under a jab.
A jab from Canuel finds it's way through Johnson's defenses.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson defending well as Canuel loads up on a big left hand.
Johnson moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnson tries to clinch up
and Canuel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canuel scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Canuel moves forwards but Johnson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand
and Canuel counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Canuel shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Johnson eats them both and turns towards Canuel to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Canuel throws a leg kick which misses Johnson's front leg but catches the back leg as Johnson tries to avoid it.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Johnson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Johnson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Canuel counters with a stiff right hand.
Johnson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson misses with a left hand
and Canuel counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Canuel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
A big right from Johnson misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Canuel misses the target.
A jab from Canuel misses.
Johnson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Johnson throws a body kick that misses
and Canuel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Canuel thuds a left hand into Johnson's body.
Johnson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Canuel.
A swing and a miss from Canuel.
Canuel takes one on the button.
Canuel throws a hook but Johnson avoids it easily.
Canuel throws a big shot that misses.
Johnson jabs at Canuel's body.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Canuel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Canuel wants to get back to full guard.
Canuel is trying to stand back up but Johnson is controlling him
Johnson trying to mount his opponent but Canuel defends it.
Canuel wants to get back to his feet.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Canuel defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Canuel trying to control from the bottom.

Canuel has one foot on Johnson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson throws a combination that misses
and Canuel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Canuel loads up on a big right hand but Johnson slips the punch.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Canuel circles away.
Canuel swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A jab from Johnson misses.
Canuel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Johnson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Canuel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johnson throws out the jab.
No joy there for Canuel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson shoots in but Canuel avoids the takedown attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Obi Canuel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Canuel has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Obi Canuel!
After the big win, Obi Canuel made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Voodoo Nutrition and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.
Don Johnson spoke after the fight, saying 'It never happens this way when I'm on TV.'.