PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kurki Potku (ranked 867 p4p, 698 weight class) and Haruki Johnson (ranked 142 p4p, 112 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Potku
vs
Johnson

177 cm
25
210
14 - 5 - 0

190 cm
25
211
9 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

NARCOS
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurki Potku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haruki Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, David Schapiro and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson avoids the body shot from Potku.
Potku ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Potku connects with the punch.
Potku swings away with a body shot that misses
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
Johnson scores with a jab. Potku acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Potku slips a jab from Johnson.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Potku moves out of range easily.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
Potku looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson clinches up with Potku and pushes him back against the cage.
Potku tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.
Potku misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Potku lands with a left to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Potku fails to land.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Potku controls the action.
Potku pushes Johnson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Potku blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Johnson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Potku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnson's elbow.
Potku lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Potku controls the action.
Potku lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by Potku.
Johnson misses with some punches.
Potku blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Potku digs a right hand into Johnson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Johnson's gas tank.
A short uppercut from Potku.

Potku has Johnson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Potku pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Johnson tumbling to the mat - Potku dives into Johnson's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Potku wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potku slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Potku is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johnson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard.

Potku tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Potku keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to escape but Potku is in control.
Johnson is not content to let Potku control the position.
Johnson is trying to control Potku's posture but Potku avoids it.
Potku in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Potku is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Potku is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Potku tries to move into full mount but can't pass Johnson's legs.
Johnson is letting Potku control him for a moment.

Potku wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Johnson, who protects the arm well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kurki Potku dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Potku throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Potku wants to clinch but Johnson slips to the side
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fighters circling - Potku throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Potku rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Potku closes the distance looking to clinch
and Johnson counters with a crisp right that sends Potku to the canvas! Johnson follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Haruki Johnson!
Our winner, Haruki Johnson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.