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SSG 226 Johnson vs Itinya PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the middleweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 14 wins and 9 losses; Drake Johnson! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Tokyo, with a TWGC record of 6 wins and 4 losses; Stix Itinya!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson pulls guard successfully.
Itinya looking to pass the guard.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Itinya from controlling successfully.
Johnson is looking for a triangle here but Itinya uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Johnson (0) vs (3) Itinya
Johnson struggling a bit here.
Itinya tries to move into full mount but can't pass Johnson's legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson is looking to reverse the position.
Johnson is trying to control Itinya's posture but Itinya avoids it.
Johnson is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at CHECMATE PRIME MMA , so we'll see if he gets out of it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard.
Itinya is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Johnson will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Itinya pulls his head out easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itinya is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Johnson reverses the position - he's now on top in Itinya's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Johnson (2) vs (3) Itinya
Itinya keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Itinya is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Johnson (2) vs (5) Itinya
Johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Itinya is working away from the top position though.
Itinya content to control rather than advance.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is holding on to half guard well.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Itinya is very close to passing his half guard.
Itinya trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Johnson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Itinya pulls his head out easily.
Itinya performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Johnson is trying to maintain the position but Itinya is very close to passing his half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itinya trying to mount his opponent but Johnson defends it.
Itinya passes to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Johnson (2) vs (8) Itinya
Itinya tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
Itinya controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson working to try and regain half guard.
Itinya takes Johnson's back. Score +3 for taking back: Johnson (2) vs (11) Itinya
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the action but Itinya just sinks the hooks in.
Itinya tries to keep control of the position but Johnson is staying busy.
Itinya has good solid back control here.
Johnson controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.
Itinya looking for the choke from the back.
Itinya gets his hands free as Johnson looks to control.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Itinya is hanging on to Johnson's back as he tries to escape.
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Johnson trying to control the position but Itinya manages to sink in the hooks.
A lull in the action here.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Johnson trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Johnson is really stuck here.
Johnson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Itinya.
Johnson trying to control the hands but Itinya breaks the grip.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Johnson breaks Itinya's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Johnson (4) vs (11) Itinya
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Johnson trying to control but Itinya is working from the bottom.
Itinya looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Itinya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Itinya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson won't allow Itinya to sweep him here.
Itinya can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Johnson controls the pace.
Itinya has Johnson pulled in close to control his posture.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Itinya swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson advances to half guard.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Itinya is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Itinya avoid being mounted?
Itinya won't allow Johnson to pass to mount.
Itinya wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Itinya keeps working.
Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Itinya has managed to free his arm - good work.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Itinya wants to improve his position but Johnson is controlling well.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Itinya is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson is looking for a kimura but Itinya is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Johnson to get the leverage.
Itinya regains full guard. Nicely done.
Itinya wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Itinya gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Johnson (4) vs (13) Itinya
Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Itinya can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Itinya can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Johnson controls Itinya momentarily but Itinya frees himself.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Itinya passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Itinya is trying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.
Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Itinya slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Johnson (4) vs (16) Itinya
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard.
Itinya tries to advance to mount but Johnson denies him.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Itinya has control of an arm but Johnson manages to advance to Itinya's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Johnson (8) vs (16) Itinya
Itinya tries to escape the position.
Johnson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Itinya knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Itinya for a finish.
Itinya is trying to break free.
Itinya trying to control the action but Johnson just sinks the hooks in.
Johnson wants to control but Itinya is keeping busy.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Itinya knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Itinya for a finish.
Johnson is not going to allow Itinya to sit and survive in this position.
Itinya is in bad spot here.
Johnson is cranking Itinya's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Itinya! He's tightened the choke and Itinya is tapping out!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 14:52 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Drake Johnson!
A relieved looking Drake Johnson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
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