PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Haruki Johnson (ranked 1216 p4p, 1837 weight class) and Elijah Anderson (ranked 193 p4p, 275 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Johnson
vs
Anderson

190 cm
23
211
7 - 2 - 0

188 cm
21
207
5 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haruki Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elijah Anderson!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Anderson trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Anderson is proving a slippery customer.
Anderson wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Anderson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson throwing strikes but missing.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Anderson scores with a shot to the body.
Anderson scores with the left hand. Johnson knows he should have avoided that one.
Anderson misses with a body punch
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Anderson lands with an uppercut that bounces Johnson off the ropes and back into range.
Anderson lands a body shot.
Anderson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Johnson on the side of the head.
Anderson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johnson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Anderson throws a hook to the side of Johnson's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anderson misses the jab.
Anderson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A clash of legs there as Anderson blocks the low kick.
Anderson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnson was well out of range. Poor timing from Anderson.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Anderson throws a body shot but no joy.
And Johnson counters with a quick kick to the body but Anderson blocks it.
Johnson blocks a jab.
Anderson 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.

Anderson rushes Johnson and presses him up against the ropes.
Anderson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Anderson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Anderson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big left from Johnson misses.
Anderson feints the counter takedown.
A big left from Anderson misses.
And Johnson counters with a quick kick to the body but Anderson blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Anderson tests Johnson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Anderson throws a right hand that misses
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Elijah Anderson has been cut.
A swing and a miss from Anderson.
Anderson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Johnson counters with a crisp one two that drops Anderson! Johnson thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Anderson to his feet! Anderson is in big trouble!

Anderson is rocked!
Anderson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnson.
Anderson is still on wobbly legs! Can Johnson finish him?
Anderson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Anderson seems to have recovered his senses.
Johnson drops his hands momentarily and Anderson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Anderson is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Johnson had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Anderson lands a nice looking body shot.
Anderson lands a nice hook to Johnson's body. Johnson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Johnson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Anderson feints a counter leg kick.
Anderson shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Johnson is looking to counter punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson scores with a punch to the head.
Anderson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Anderson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson jabs Anderson right on the nose. Anderson blinks but takes it well.
Johnson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
Anderson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Anderson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Anderson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.
Anderson digs a good body shot into Johnson's ribs.
Elijah Anderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Anderson. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Anderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Johnson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Elijah Anderson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Elijah Anderson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Anderson is just out of range.
Anderson misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Anderson.
Johnson definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Anderson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
Johnson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Anderson.
Johnson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Anderson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And Anderson tries to counter it with a takedown but Johnson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left lands for Anderson.
Anderson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Anderson misses with a hook.
Johnson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Johnson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Anderson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Anderson misses with a low kick.
A little feinted left hand from Johnson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Anderson misses with a left hand
and Anderson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Anderson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Donk. Anderson catches Johnson right on the button with a cross.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Haruki Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson moves out of range of the leg kick from Anderson.
Nice shot by Anderson.
Anderson scores with a nice strike.

Anderson moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
Anderson struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Anderson prevents a body shot from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anderson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Anderson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Anderson is nestled in close to Johnson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Johnson wants to control but Anderson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Haruki Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anderson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Anderson is looking to stall here but Johnson recovers full guard.
Anderson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Anderson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Anderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Anderson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Anderson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Anderson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Anderson manages to get himself to full guard.

Anderson is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.
Johnson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Anderson keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Anderson wants to control but Johnson passes easily into half guard.
Anderson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Elijah Anderson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Anderson is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Anderson trying to get back to full guard but Johnson takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Anderson is trying desperately to improve position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Elijah Anderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Elijah Anderson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Johnson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Anderson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Anderson has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

Anderson moves into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Johnson scores with a nice short uppercut.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed right hand from Anderson misses the target.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Anderson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Anderson. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Johnson appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Johnson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Anderson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Johnson lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson staying out of range there.
Anderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anderson throws an overhand right that lands on Johnson's shoulder, as Johnson tries to avoid the shot.

Johnson lands a big head kick that sends Anderson tumbling to the mat! Johnson takes a step backwards and waves Anderson back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Johnson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A decent looking cross lands there for Anderson.
Anderson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
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 thuds his shin into the meat of Anderson's side.
Anderson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Anderson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Johnson doesn't seem bothered though.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.
Anderson lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson staying out of range there.
Anderson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johnson as he jumps to the side.
Anderson misses with a hook to the body
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.

That has opened up Elijah Anderson's cut even more.

Anderson shoots in and bounces Johnson off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.
Johnson continues to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Anderson being controlled here momentarily.
Anderson won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.
Anderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Anderson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Anderson gets a clinch.

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.
Anderson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Anderson avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the ropes.
Johnson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Anderson backwards.
Johnson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Johnson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Anderson.
Anderson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Anderson lands a shoulder strike.
Anderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Anderson misses with a body punch.
A short body shot lands from Johnson as the two fighters clinch.
Johnson misses with a punch to the body.
Anderson blocks an uppercut.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Anderson.
Anderson keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Johnson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Anderson lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Anderson's elbow.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Anderson.
Johnson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Anderson or not.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Haruki Johnson.
Well Anderson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elijah Anderson!
After winning the bout, Elijah Anderson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.