PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bimbo Slaissi (ranked 355 p4p, 477 weight class) and Haruki Johnson (ranked 57 p4p, 76 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Slaissi
vs
Johnson

180 cm
25
194
11 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
211
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

NARCOS
Shadow Realm Apparel

Conviction
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bimbo Slaissi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haruki Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson jabs at Slaissi's body.
Johnson slips a jab from Slaissi.
Slaissi misses with a hook
and Johnson makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Slaissi really felt that one!
Slaissi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Slaissi loads up on a big right hand but Johnson slips the punch.
Slaissi tries a low kick but Johnson avoids it.
Slaissi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson is trying to counter with his kicks.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Slaissi.
Johnson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Slaissi closes the distance and clinches.
Slaissi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Johnson misses with a body punch.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Slaissi checks a leg kick.
Slaissi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It seemed like Johnson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Slaissi is just out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Slaissi moves out of range easily.
Johnson scores with a nice strike.
We've been told by Slaissi's head coaches at DF Fitnesscentrum that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Slaissi takes one to the chin there.
Slaissi lands with a cross.
Slaissi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Slaissi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Slaissi misses with a right hand
and Johnson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johnson punishes Slaissi's body with a nice straight punch.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Slaissi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson lands a front kick.
Bimbo Slaissi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Slaissi.
Slaissi's corner calls for a 1-2. Slaissi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Slaissi misses with a lunging right hand
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slips under a jab from Slaissi.
Johnson replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Slaissi blocks it well.
Slaissi misses with an uppercut
and Johnson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Johnson thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Slaissi if he has to take too many more of those.
Slaissi is breathing heavily.
Johnson delivers a nice body kick.
Slaissi ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Johnson thuds a left hand into Slaissi's body.
Johnson swings for the body but Slaissi moves out of range.
Slaissi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Slaissi.
Johnson throws a hook but Slaissi blocks it.
Slaissi throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson connects with a solid leg kick.
A right-left combo lands from Slaissi.

It looks like Haruki Johnson has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Slaissi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A quick step to the side and Slaissi tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Johnson swings for the body but Slaissi moves out of range.
Slaissi thows a left - swing and a miss!
A jab from Slaissi misses.
Johnson counters with a body kick.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Slaissi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.
Johnson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Slaissi throws a big shot that misses.
Johnson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Slaissi is able to avoid easily.
Slaissi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Johnson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Slaissi moves out of range of the body kick from Johnson.
Slaissi misses with a hook. Johnson ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slaissi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Johnson counters with a leg kick.
Johnson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Slaissi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It seemed like Johnson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Slaissi slips under a jab.
Johnson takes a swing at Slaissi's ribcage but misses.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Slaissi rather than just go for the knockout.
Johnson moves forwards but Slaissi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Slaissi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Johnson in his tracks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An inside leg kick lands from Slaissi.
Johnson slips a straight right by Slaissi.
Johnson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Haruki Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Haruki Johnson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson misses with a double jab.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
Haruki Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Slaissi missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Johnson! But no joy.
Johnson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Bimbo Slaissi has been cut.
Johnson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Slaissi's head.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Slaissi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Johnson slips under a jab from Slaissi.
Slaissi throws a head kick that misses
and Johnson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Slaissi misses with an uppercut. Johnson saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Slaissi.
Johnson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Johnson connects with a solid leg kick.
Slaissi misses the jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Slaissi. That snapped Johnson's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to land body kicks.
Johnson scores with a leg kick.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Slaissi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Slaissi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A decent looking cross lands there for Slaissi.
Nice defenses there by Johnson.
Slaissi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Despite the aggression on Johnson's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Slaissi is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Johnson's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Johnson looks to throw the jab but Slaissi is out of range.
Slaissi's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Slaissi steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Johnson. That one must have hurt.
Good leg kick by Johnson.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Slaissi is just out of range.
Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Slaissi.
Johnson was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Slaissi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Slaissi misses its intended target.
Slaissi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson throws out a counter right but Slaissi avoids it with no problem.
Slaissi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johnson slips a jab from Slaissi.
Johnson ducks under a wild hook from Slaissi.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Slaissi moves away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Slaissi.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.
Johnson cracks a nice hook into Slaissi's ribs.
Slaissi tries a head kick but it misses.
Slaissi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Slaissi blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Johnson.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Slaissi avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Johnson just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSlaissi.
Slaissi throws a predictable looking body shot
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Slaissi.
Johnson moves out of range as Slaissi strikes.
Slaissi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A swing and a miss from Slaissi.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Slaissi uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Johnson has time to react.
Slaissi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson tries a quick counter leg kick but Slaissi is wise to it.
A big left from Slaissi misses.
Johnson missing with a left hand there. Slaissi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Slaissi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Slaissi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johnson thuds a left hand into Slaissi's body.
Johnson moves forwards but Slaissi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The fighters circling - Slaissi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It seemed like Johnson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A jab from Johnson misses.
Johnson slips under a jab from Slaissi.
Johnson was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Slaissi throws an off balance right hand
and Johnson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Slaissi sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Johnson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Slaissi looks to land a right hand but Johnson moved out of range.
Johnson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Slaissi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Haruki Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice shot by Johnson.
Slaissi dips to his left and cracks Johnson with an uppercut!
Slaissi throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Slaissi.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Johnson! But no joy.
Johnson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Slaissi looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
Johnson feints a counter leg kick.
A left lands for Johnson.
Johnson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Good work by Slaissi as he checks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slaissi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Slaissi moves away from the strike by Johnson.
Slaissi throws a hook to the side of Johnson's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johnson scoring well with a low kick there.
A telegraphed right hand from Slaissi misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaissi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Slaissi backing away here, and Johnson unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Johnson scores with a jab to the head.
Slaissi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Slaissi is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Slaissi is looking to clinch.
Slaissi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Slaissi misses with a straight right.
A cross from Slaissi lands.
Johnson wants to slow Slaissi down by chopping away at his legs.
A cross from Johnson lands.
Johnson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Slaissi checks the leg kick.
Slaissi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Slaissi is looking to chop away at Johnson's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slaissi defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.
Slaissi throws a jab when Johnson was well out of range.
Slaissi slips under a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Slaissi throws an off balance right hand
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Slaissi.
Slaissi throws a right hand that misses
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
Johnson throws a low kick, looking for Slaissi's leg but Slaissi calmly moves out of range.
Slaissi avoids a kick to the body.
Slaissi throws the left hand but Johnson avoids the punch easily.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Slaissi.
Johnson thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Slaissi if he has to take too many more of those.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Slaissi misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slips a straight right by Slaissi.
Slaissi takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Slaissi avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Johnson.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A jab from Slaissi misses.
Jab, jab by Johnson - just one landing.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Slaissi moves out of range of the strikes.
Slaissi is looking for a counter combo.
Slaissi will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Slaissi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Slaissi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Johnson momentarily.
A leg kick checked by Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slaissi misses with a hook. Johnson ducked under it nicely.
Johnson swings for the body but Slaissi moves out of range.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Johnson misses with a kick to the body.
Nice shot lands for Slaissi.
Johnson slips a straight right by Slaissi.
Johnson only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Slaissi misses with a left hand
and Johnson counters with a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Slaissi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Johnson. Johnson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Johnson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Slaissi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Slaissi connects with a looping right hand.
Bimbo Slaissi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Slaissi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

And that's the end of the fight!
Haruki Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

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