PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Siduri Rafter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugo Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johansson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Tom Waits - Going out west.. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rafter
vs
Johansson

168 cm
33
158 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

178 cm
27
153 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Siduri Rafter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hugo Johansson!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johansson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rafter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johansson's waist but Johansson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rafter off to one side.
Johansson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Johansson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Johansson lands with a right hand.
Rafter lands a slapping body shot.
Rafter uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Johansson.

Johansson forces Rafter back against the cage and clinches.
Rafter blocks an uppercut.
Rafter has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Johansson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Johansson misses with the head strike.
Johansson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rafter backwards.
Rafter has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Johansson after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Siduri Rafter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rafter is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Rafter tightens his grip and picks Johansson up, before dumping him to the ground. Johansson manages to land in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rafter postures up in Johansson's guard and throws a big left but Johansson blocks it.
Rafter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johansson is keeping the position for now.
Rafter passes Johansson's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rafter is trying to control. Johansson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rafter wants to pass the guard but Johansson is defending well.
Johansson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Johansson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rafter lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rafter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johansson is keeping the position for now.
Rafter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafter missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rafter wants to pass the guard but Johansson is keeping the position.
Johansson is trying to control the position but Rafter postures up.

Johansson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johansson is on top in guard.
Johansson wants to control from the top but Rafter keeps moving.
Johansson throwing strikes from guard but Rafter blocks nicely.
Johansson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafter can't keep his opponent in guard - Johansson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Johansson is looking to advance position but Rafter won't allow it.
Rafter tries to get to full guard but Johansson has control of the leg.
Rafter is doing well to control the position and prevent Johansson from advancing to side control.
Rafter is refusing to be controlled, as Johansson sits in half guard.
Rafter is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson looks to land a strike but Rafter avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Johansson looking to sit in guard and control but Rafter gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Johansson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rafter manages to get himself to full guard.
Rafter tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johansson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rafter avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hugo Johansson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rafter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johansson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Johansson throws a body punch but Rafter moves out of range.
Johansson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rafter.
Rafter staying out of range there.

Johansson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Johansson misses with a punch to the body.
Johansson lands with a short punch from the clinch.

It looks like Siduri Rafter has been cut.
Rafter is trying to drag Johansson to the mat but Johansson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rafter can't get the takedown.
Johansson wants to take the fight to the mat but Rafter manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rafter blocking some punches.
Rafter is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johansson is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Siduri Rafter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johansson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Johansson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Johansson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rafter is looking to control Johansson's arms but Johansson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rafter has his back to the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Johansson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafter has Johansson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Johansson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johansson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rafters head.
Rafter is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Johansson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Johansson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rafter is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Johansson is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rafter's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A bit of stalling here from Johansson.
Johansson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rafters head.
Johansson lands a right hand.
Johansson lands a body shot.
Rafter has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Johansson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Johansson presses Rafter against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Johansson is trying to trip Rafter. He has hold of a leg but Rafter is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Johansson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johansson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rafter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johansson trying to control but Rafter is working from the bottom.
Johansson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rafter's head.
Johansson trying to control but Rafter is working from the bottom.
Johansson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johansson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johansson looking to sit in guard and control but Rafter gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rafter wants to control from the top but Johansson keeps moving.
Rafter passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson trying to control from the bottom.
Rafter is keen to just control but Johansson is a slippery customer.
Johansson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rafter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rafter works over Johansson with some ground and pound from guard.
Rafter throws an elbow that misses. Johansson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rafter's guard. Nice move by Johansson!
Johansson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rafter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson won't allow Rafter to sweep him here.
Johansson wants to control from the top but Rafter keeps moving.
Rafter manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Johansson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rafter thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johansson wants to get back to full guard.
Johansson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rafter.
Rafter seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Johansson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Johansson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Siduri Rafter's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rafter swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Johansson tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Rafter to counter with a crisp jab.
Rafter stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A jab from Johansson misses.
Johansson slips under a jab from Rafter.
A swing and a miss from Johansson.
Johansson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rafter.
Rafter showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johansson.
Johansson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rafter.
Johansson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rafter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johansson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rafter counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Johansson wants to clinch.
Johansson is looking to clinch but Rafter is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafter misses with a straight left.

Johansson gets a clinch.
Rafter wants a takedown.
Rafter drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johansson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Johansson throws a series of punches but Rafter avoids them all with ease.
Rafter throws the left hand but Johansson avoids the punch easily.
Rafter misses with an uppercut.
Johansson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Johansson closes the distance and pushes Rafter back into the cage.
Johansson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rafter backwards.
Rafter is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Johansson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Siduri Rafter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rafter is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Johansson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Johansson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Rafter wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rafter.
Johansson scores with a shoulder strike.
Johansson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Johansson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rafter is looking to take this one to the mat.
Good body shot from Johansson.
A short right from Johansson on the inside.
Rafter tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johansson smiles and moves away.

Johansson has closed the distance and engaged Rafter in a clinch.
Johansson lands a shot to the body.
Johansson lands a body punch.
Johansson lands a nice uppercut.
Rafter takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johansson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rafter taking some punishment here, with Johansson in his half guard.
Johansson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johansson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rafter avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johansson.
Johansson is pressing down on Rafter's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rafter is holding on for now.
Johansson trying to control the pace.
Johansson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rafter defending well though.
Siduri Rafter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson misses with a head shot. Rafter uses the momentum to regain guard.
Johansson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rafter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johansson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hugo Johansson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugo Johansson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johansson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugo Johansson!
Hugo Johansson thanked the fans post fight for their support.