PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hugo Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Kiptanui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johansson comes to the cage accompanied by Tom Waits - Going out west.. Kiptanui has chosen Suomi & Antero Mertaranta -collection as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Johansson
vs
Kiptanui

178 cm
22
153 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

173 cm
22
166 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Dampf-Punk Chemicals

Crashforce Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hugo Johansson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gabriel Kiptanui!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johansson misses with a body shot.
Johansson misses with a right hand
and Kiptanui counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Johansson moves into the clinch successfully.
Johansson goes for a takedown attempt but Kiptanui pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kiptanui shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johansson but Johansson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kiptanui throws a head kick that misses.
Johansson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kiptanui.

Kiptanui rushes Johansson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johansson wants a takedown.
Johansson lands a body punch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johansson as Kiptanui tries to tie him up.
Johansson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kiptanui avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hugo Johansson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kiptanui lands an elbow just above Johansson 's eye.
Kiptanui tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Johansson wants a takedown.
Johansson tries for a takedown but Kiptanui manages to get underhooks.
Kiptanui misses with a knee strike.

Kiptanui gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Kiptanui is trying to work for a kimura but Johansson is defending well.
Kiptanui prevents Johansson from standing back up.
Johansson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johansson tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiptanui missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kiptanui uses his free foot to push down on Johansson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Johansson.

Kiptanui looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Johansson is controlling an arm, preventing Kiptanui from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

Kiptanui is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Johansson is surviving well by controlling Kiptanui's body position as best he can.
Johansson tries to buck Kiptanui off but he can't manage it.
Kiptanui avoids the attempt from Johansson to control.
Johansson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kiptanui working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Johansson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kiptanui looking to control but Johansson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Kiptanui stands up from mount. Strange move.
Kiptanui's corner calls for a 1-2. Kiptanui obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kiptanui misses with a straight right.
Kiptanui tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johansson fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui lands a high kick!

It looks like Hugo Johansson has been cut.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kiptanui.
Johansson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kiptanui lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kiptanui scores with a nice head shot.
Kiptanui connects with a high kick.
Johansson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johansson misses with an uppercut.
Johansson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kiptanui with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kiptanui lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Johansson backs up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kiptanui looks to land a combination but Johansson avoids it well.
Kiptanui looks gassed!
Johansson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kiptanui momentarily.
Kiptanui throws the kick towards the body but Johansson avoids it.
Johansson jabs Kiptanui right on the nose. Kiptanui blinks but takes it well.
Johansson scores with a decent looking hook.
Kiptanui uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johansson.
Johansson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kiptanui pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johansson throws out a loose jab but Kiptanui uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johansson lands a jab to the nose.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui ducks under a wild hook from Johansson.
Johansson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kiptanui momentarily.
Johansson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kiptanui defends it nicely.
Kiptanui tries to clinch there but Johansson circles away.
Johansson throws a lazy uppercut
and Kiptanui counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Kiptanui darts in and clinches Johansson up against the cage.
Kiptanui is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Johansson has Kiptanui pressed against the cage, preventing Kiptanui from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kiptanui's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kiptanui unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Johansson can't get the takedown.
Kiptanui with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Johansson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kiptanui avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Kiptanui's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johansson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Johansson connects with a right hand. Kiptanui shakes it off.

Johansson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kiptanui misses with a knee strike.
Johansson is working for takedown but Kiptanui is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kiptanui connects with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Kiptanui dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hugo Johansson's cut.
That's time! Johansson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johansson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johansson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kiptanui was well out of range. Poor timing from Johansson.
Kiptanui tries to land a front kick but Johansson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kiptanui displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johansson.
Johansson connects with the punch.
Kiptanui connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Johansson momentarily.

Johansson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Johansson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kiptanui down.
The ground and pound from Johansson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kiptanui manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kiptanui is thwarting Johansson's attempts to control the position.
Kiptanui working the head and body with strikes.
Johansson is staying active underneath Kiptanui, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johansson trying to control here.
Kiptanui is looking to take a break and control but Johansson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kiptanui looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Johansson gets full guard.
Johansson keeping moving, preventing Kiptanui from controlling successfully.
Johansson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johansson has Kiptanui pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kiptanui won't allow Johansson to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johansson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kiptanui. Kiptanui obviously looking to wear him down.

Johansson moves into the clinch successfully.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johansson as Kiptanui tries to tie him up.
Johansson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kiptanui avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Johansson tries to score a body lock takedown but Kiptanui shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hugo Johansson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kiptanui with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Johansson tries to score a body lock takedown but Kiptanui shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johansson is working for takedown but Kiptanui is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kiptanui is pressed up against the cage. Johansson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kiptanui down to the mat. Kiptanui avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gabriel Kiptanui is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johansson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kiptanui to score with a decent uppercut.
Kiptanui changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johansson tries to avoid it but Kiptanui manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johansson to the ground. Johansson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kiptanui fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kiptanui throws a head kick but Johansson moves out of range.

Johansson scores with a takedown into Kiptanui's guard.
Johansson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kiptanui throws his legs up looking for a submission but Johansson uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson wants to control but Kiptanui is keeping him busy.

Kiptanui throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Gabriel Kiptanui seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big left from Johansson misses.

Johansson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kiptanui manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Johansson thows a big elbow that misses.
Johansson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kiptanui on the ground.
Johansson works over Kiptanui with some ground and pound from guard.
Johansson is working Kiptanui over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Johansson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johansson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johansson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johansson manages to get himself to full guard.

Kiptanui drops back looking for a leg! Johansson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Johansson manages to kick Kiptanui off! Kiptanui jumps back into Johansson's guard.
Kiptanui stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johansson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Johansson pushes Kiptanui off and scrambles back to his feet.
Johansson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kiptanui sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kiptanui tries a head kick but it misses.
Kiptanui walks into a stiff left hand from Johansson.
Johansson throws a big shot that misses.
Kiptanui wants to land a leg kick but Johansson is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hugo Johansson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hugo Johansson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

A good leg kick by Kiptanui.
Kiptanui is looking to clinch.
Johansson throws a shot to the body.
An inside leg kick from Kiptanui misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kiptanui slips under a jab.

Johansson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kiptanui was covering up waiting for the punch and Johansson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kiptanui manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johansson manages to get himself to full guard.
Johansson is controlling Kiptanui's posture.
Kiptanui looking to sit in guard and control but Johansson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Johansson looking to pass the guard.
Hugo Johansson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johansson lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson wants to control from the top but Kiptanui keeps moving.
Kiptanui lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johansson!

Kiptanui working for a guillotine from mount but Johansson is in no mood to give up.

Kiptanui is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Johansson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Kiptanui takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kiptanui gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Johansson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kiptanui. Kiptanui obviously looking to wear him down.
Kiptanui tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Johansson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johansson.
Kiptanui misses with a double jab.

Johansson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Johansson throwing strikes from guard but Kiptanui blocks nicely.
Johansson stops Kiptanui from standing up.
Kiptanui working a defensive guard here.

Johansson stands and steps away. Kiptanui gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Johansson just misses with a punch to the body.
Kiptanui is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kiptanui throws an overhand right that lands on Johansson's shoulder, as Johansson tries to avoid the shot.
Johansson cracks Kiptanui with a right hand to the side of the head.

Johansson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johansson lands in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johansson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johansson with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui 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.
Johansson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kiptanui works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kiptanui manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Johansson is squirming around, avoiding Kiptanui's attempts to control the action.
Johansson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Johansson tries to hold on but Kiptanui postures up.
Johansson is looking to improve his position but Kiptanui isn't that keen on the idea.
Kiptanui misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kiptanui throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Kiptanui with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kiptanui trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Johansson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Kiptanui jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Johansson manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Johansson struggling a bit here.
Johansson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hugo Johansson.
I think Johansson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugo Johansson!