PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thanawat Kanokvichitra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ian Johnson looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Kanokvichitra
vs
Johnson

174 cm
18
153 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Rivers Edge Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thanawat Kanokvichitra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ian Johnson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick from Johnson misses.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Kanokvichitra tries to score a power double leg takedown but Johnson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kanokvichitra somewhat.
Kanokvichitra shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kanokvichitra throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kanokvichitra closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johnson circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thanawat Kanokvichitra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson lands a two punch combo.
Kanokvichitra misses the shot to the body.
Kanokvichitra is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Ian Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson cracks Kanokvichitra with a good jab.
Decent striking displayed by Johnson there.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses

and Kanokvichitra counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kanokvichitra.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Johnson.
Johnson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Kanokvichitra finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Johnson connects with a body shot.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kanokvichitra misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kanokvichitra tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick by Johnson misses

and Kanokvichitra counters by moving into the clinch.
Kanokvichitra is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Kanokvichitra pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kanokvichitra tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Kanokvichitra, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A head kick by Johnson misses

and Kanokvichitra counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kanokvichitra counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson looks gassed!
Kanokvichitra using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Johnson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kanokvichitra lands a knee to the body.
Johnson tries to break free but Kanokvichitra pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kanokvichitra looking to throw knees to the head but Johnson is blocking nicely.

Kanokvichitra breaks the clinch.
Johnson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kanokvichitra is able to avoid easily.
Kanokvichitra slips a straight right by Johnson.

Kanokvichitra clinches.
Johnson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kanokvichitra looking for a takedown.
Kanokvichitra tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kanokvichitra tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnson just stands there and leans against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Johnson.
Kanokvichitra is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Johnson is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanokvichitra lands an elbow that stopped Johnson in his tracks for a moment.
Kanokvichitra trying to control the position but instead, Johnson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kanokvichitra into the cage.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Johnson looking to slow down the pace here.
Kanokvichitra prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.

Kanokvichitra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kanokvichitra darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.

Kanokvichitra breaks the clinch.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick by Johnson misses
and Kanokvichitra counters with a head kick.
A low kick from Johnson misses

and Kanokvichitra counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kanokvichitra's elbow.
Johnson is looking to control Kanokvichitra's arms but Kanokvichitra gets an underhook and turns him. Now Johnson has his back to the cage.
Kanokvichitra tries to land a knee to the head but Johnson blocks with his arms.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Johnson is trying to break free.

Kanokvichitra pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A lazy body kick from Johnson

and Kanokvichitra counters with a takedown into side control.
Johnson is pushing Kanokvichitra's head away, looking to escape. Kanokvichitra manages to hold on to the position though.
The referee asks Kanokvichitra politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kanokvichitra prefers to stall for the moment though.
Kanokvichitra has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thanawat Kanokvichitra dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Kanokvichitra, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kanokvichitra counters with a solid body kick.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Kanokvichitra tries to clinch up.
Kanokvichitra dives in and grabs Johnson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes down on Kanokvichitra's head and hops out.
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kanokvichitra.
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kanokvichitra.

Kanokvichitra gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Johnson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Kanokvichitra is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson postures up in Kanokvichitra's guard and throws a big left but Kanokvichitra blocks it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kanokvichitra is on top in guard.
Kanokvichitra trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kanokvichitra is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.
Kanokvichitra trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kanokvichitra is stalling in the full guard.

Johnson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Thanawat Kanokvichitra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kanokvichitra moves away from the strike by Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson closes the distance but Kanokvichitra moves to the side

and Kanokvichitra counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kanokvichitra has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kanokvichitra missing with knees to the body.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Kanokvichitra won't allow it.
Kanokvichitra stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Kanokvichitra is controlling the position.

Kanokvichitra breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson stuns Kanokvichitra with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kanokvichitra is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Kanokvichitra fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thanawat Kanokvichitra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick

and Kanokvichitra counters by clinching up.
Kanokvichitra tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Johnson avoids it.
Johnson avoids the elbow strike from Kanokvichitra, against the cage.
Johnson working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanokvichitra tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Johnson smiles and moves away.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kanokvichitra circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
A low kick from Johnson is predictable there
and Kanokvichitra counters with a nice low kick that buckles Johnson's knee momentarily.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Kanokvichitra.
Johnson darts in trying to clinch

and Kanokvichitra holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kanokvichitra working hard to break the clinch.
Kanokvichitra tries to stall but Johnson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A right hook to the body lands for Johnson.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kanokvichitra unloads a knee to the mid-section.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ian Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kanokvichitra darts in trying to clinch
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kanokvichitra wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Johnson lands a head shot.
Johnson lands a nice looking body shot.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Johnson.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head kick by Johnson misses

and Kanokvichitra holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Kanokvichitra breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Kanokvichitra moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanokvichitra avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.

Kanokvichitra clinches up with Johnson and pushes him back against the cage.
Kanokvichitra stalling the fight.
Kanokvichitra misses with a knee to the head.

Kanokvichitra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kanokvichitra tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kanokvichitra fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Johnson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kanokvichitra in his tracks.
Johnson throws a body punch but Kanokvichitra moves out of range.
Kanokvichitra on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kanokvichitra lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
A low kick from Johnson misses

and Kanokvichitra counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Johnson blocking some punches.
Kanokvichitra wants to get back to striking at distance but Johnson won't allow it.
Kanokvichitra makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Johnson.
Johnson prevents a body shot from Kanokvichitra.
Kanokvichitra with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Johnson lands a body punch.
Johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kanokvichitra's efforts to push away.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kanokvichitra misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kanokvichitra takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ian Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson looks to land a combination. Kanokvichitra sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Johnson walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kanokvichitra.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson cracks Kanokvichitra with a right hand to the side of the head.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick
and Kanokvichitra counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Kanokvichitra moves into range and clinches up with Johnson.
Johnson takes an elbow to the temple.
Johnson avoiding damage as Kanokvichitra throws knees to the body.
Kanokvichitra jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Johnson walks away with a smile on his face. Kanokvichitra gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thanawat Kanokvichitra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Kanokvichitra.
Kanokvichitra scores with a head kick.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kanokvichitra tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Johnson counters with a three punch combo that has Kanokvichitra backing up. Kanokvichitra nods at Johnson to acknowledge the strikes.
Kanokvichitra shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Johnson sprawls well. Johnson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kanokvichitra gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses

and Kanokvichitra moves into the clinch.
Kanokvichitra is pushing Johnson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Kanokvichitra breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kanokvichitra shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.
Johnson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kanokvichitra counters by moving into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Johnson is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Kanokvichitra has denied him.
Kanokvichitra missing with knees to the body.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kanokvichitra crunches a lovely knee into Johnson's ribcage.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kanokvichitra lands a damaging elbow.
Johnson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kanokvichitra is defending well for now.

Kanokvichitra manages to break the clinch.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kanokvichitra moves away.

Kanokvichitra drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ian Johnson.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ian Johnson!