PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oscar Gage (ranked 653 p4p, 665 weight class) and Haruki Johnson (ranked 90 p4p, 94 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gage
vs
Johnson

180 cm
28
206
14 - 5 - 0

190 cm
24
211
8 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

PWNAGE™
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Conviction

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Oscar Gage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haruki Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gage rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Johnson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Johnson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Gage.

Gage has closed the distance and engaged Johnson in a clinch.
Gage misses with some punches.
Gage is trying to pull guard but Johnson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gage definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gage manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Gage working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Gage looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gage is pulling down on Johnson's head to control his posture.
Gage tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson slips nicely into half guard.
Johnson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Gage is not content to let Johnson control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gage is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnson's back!

Gage tightening his grip on Johnson, looking for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Gage is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Johnson defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Johnson trying to control the action but Gage just sinks the hooks in.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gage. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Gage working for a choke but Johnson is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gage is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Johnson is defending well though. Gage let's go of the attempt for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gage is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Johnson has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Gage avoiding Johnson 's attempts to control his hands.

Johnson is having to fend off submission attempts from Gage, who is looking to sink in the choke. Gage doesn't have the hooks in though and Johnson manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gage throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gage 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.

Gage has his foot on Johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnson works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gage controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Gage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Gage dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gage has taken the fight to the clinch.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gage avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Gage lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnson lands with an overhand left.

It looks like Oscar Gage has been cut.
Johnson delivers a nice body kick.
Gage steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a leg kick

and Gage counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gage looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gage had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Johnson defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gage has control of Johnson's left arm, preventing Johnson from doing any damage.
Johnson stays in close to Gage's body and controls the position.
Gage is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Gage is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?

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 controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gage wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Johnson stays in close to Gage's body and controls the position.

Gage pushes a forearm under Johnson's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Johnson is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Oscar Gage!
During a confident post fight interview, Oscar Gage thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.