PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jack Johnson (ranked 5038 p4p, 4393 weight class) and Higo Shiro (ranked 375 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Johnson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Johnson
vs
Shiro

170 cm
25
150
2 - 3 - 0

176 cm
25
150
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jack Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Higo Shiro!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Joseph Jones and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shiro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson misses with a leg kick
and Shiro counters with a two punch combo.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shiro looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Shiro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.

Johnson darts in and clinches Shiro up against the cage.
Shiro working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Shiro drags the fight down to the ground.
Shiro is looking to stand up but Johnson isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Shiro keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Shiro holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shiro looking to control.
Shiro is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Shiro throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Johnson trying to control but Shiro is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shiro slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shiro shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Johnson darts in and clinches Shiro up against the cage.
Shiro has Johnson pressed against the cage.
Shiro has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Johnson after a bit of a struggle.
Johnson jumps guard but Shiro turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Shiro jumps guard and drags Johnson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shiro has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between Shiro's legs - danger averted.
Shiro wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Johnson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shiro bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.

Johnson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shiro stays in close to Johnson's body and controls the position.
Shiro being controlled here momentarily.
Shiro postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shiro trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Shiro is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Johnson tries to clinch but Shiro moves out of range.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Johnson as Shiro shoots in.
Jack Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Higo Shiro.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson throws a series of punches but Shiro avoids them all with ease.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Shiro! But no joy.
Shiro darts in looking for a takedown but Johnson gets double underhooks and turns Shiro into the cage.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Shiro.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Higo Shiro dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shiro shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson dives in and grabs Shiro's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shiro pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Shiro is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johnson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson tries to counter with a takedown but Shiro is quick to defend against it.
Shiro lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Shiro.
Shiro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shiro shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danga de danga de dang - Shiro scores with a four punch combination!
Shiro is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shiro gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
Johnson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Shiro keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson is in close to Shiro's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Shiro is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Shiro is retaining full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Shiro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shiro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johnson tries to counter by clinching up but Shiro breaks away and moves out of range.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Shiro manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shiro wants to clinch.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shiro manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Shiro is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Johnson presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Johnson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Shiro makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shiro.
Shiro wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shiro keeps trying to improve his position.

Shiro has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Johnson has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Johnson is looking for a takedown.

Shiro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shiro throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Johnson counters with a left and a right that stings Shiro.
Shiro fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Shiro fails with the takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

No joy there for Shiro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A left and a right from Johnson both land. Nice combination.
Shiro lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Johnson backs up against the cage.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Shiro is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Johnson pulls guard successfully.
Shiro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shiro on the ground.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Shiro from controlling successfully.
Shiro sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Johnson's guard.

Shiro is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Higo Shiro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shiro wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson is trying to stand.
Shiro is controlling the pace.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Shiro has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two 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.
Johnson can't escape the position.

Shiro working for a guillotine from mount but Johnson is in no mood to give up.
Johnson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Johnson tries to hold on but Shiro pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Shiro's attempts to control the action.
Shiro thowing shots but they're missing.
Shiro looking to control and managing it successfully.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Shiro throws some wild stikes that Johnson manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shiro avoids the attempt from Johnson to control.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Johnson manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Johnson, under a barage of strikes from Shiro.
Shiro passes the guard and advances to mount!
Jack Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Higo Shiro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shiro prevents Johnson from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Higo Shiro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shiro winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Higo Shiro!