PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masato Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akiyama has chosen Fallen Army - GRV Music as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Johnson
vs
Akiyama

176 cm
26
195 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

175 cm
27
190 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Josh Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Masato Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akiyama fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akiyama slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Akiyama momentarily.
Johnson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Akiyama is out of range and Johnson settles back down.
Akiyama tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Akiyama checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Masato Akiyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Akiyama checks a leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Johnson.
Akiyama wants to clinch.
Johnson throws a leg kick which misses Akiyama's front leg but catches the back leg as Akiyama tries to avoid it.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson lands with a straight right. Akiyama didn't see that one coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Akiyama wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Nice uppercut there from Johnson.

Akiyama moves into the clinch.
Akiyama misses with an elbow strike.
Johnson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Akiyama walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Johnson cracks Akiyama with an open hand slap.

Akiyama gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Akiyama creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Johnson's defenses.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but Akiyama turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike from Akiyama.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Akiyama to keep the fight standing.
Johnson scores with a shoulder strike.
Johnson dodges an elbow strike from Akiyama.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Akiyama.

It looks like Josh Johnson has been cut.
Akiyama looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Johnson jumps guard but Akiyama turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Johnson jumps guard and drags Akiyama to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Akiyama can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Johnson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Akiyama defends well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Akiyama defends easily.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akiyama wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Akiyama stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but Akiyama has taken the fight into the clinch.
Akiyama pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Akiyama looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Johnson throws an elbow but misses.
Akiyama pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Akiyama throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Akiyama to keep the fight standing.
Akiyama pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Akiyama throws an elbow but misses.
Johnson avoids the elbow strike from Akiyama, against the cage.
Akiyama lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Akiyama blocks an uppercut.
Akiyama lands an elbow that stopped Johnson in his tracks for a moment.
Johnson lands a left hand.
Akiyama misses with an elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Akiyama throws an elbow but misses.
Johnson takes an elbow to the temple.
Akiyama lands an elbow that stopped Johnson in his tracks for a moment.

Josh Johnson's cut is getting worse.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama misses with an elbow over the top.
Akiyama lands a nice elbow.
Johnson avoids the elbow strike from Akiyama, against the cage.
Johnson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Akiyama pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Akiyama's elbow.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Akiyama has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson dodges an elbow strike from Akiyama.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Akiyama to keep the fight standing.
Akiyama misses with an elbow strike.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Akiyama has him pressed against the cage.

Johnson pulls guard.
Akiyama has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnson is proving hard to escape from.

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Akiyama can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Johnson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Akiyama got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Akiyama has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.

Akiyama stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Johnson finds it's target.
Akiyama wants to clinch.
Johnson is looking to land body kicks.
Akiyama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akiyama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Akiyama avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Johnson loads up on a big right hand but Akiyama slips the punch.

Johnson shoots in and bounces Akiyama off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Johnson won't allow Akiyama to get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Akiyama is retaining full guard.
Johnson advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Akiyama tries to clinch up.
Akiyama moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Akiyama fails with an attempt to clinch.
Akiyama takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Johnson gets tackled into the cage by Akiyama. Akiyama maintains the clinch.
Akiyama lands an elbow inside that Johnson shrugs off.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Akiyama has the dominant position.
Akiyama throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Masato Akiyama seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
With the fighters up against the cage, Akiyama throws an elbow but misses.
Akiyama pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Akiyama throws an elbow that misses.
Johnson misses with some punches.
Akiyama throws an elbow that misses.
Johnson jumps guard but Akiyama stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Akiyama misses with an elbow strike.
Akiyama prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.
Akiyama avoiding damage as Johnson throws knees to the body.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Johnson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Johnson feints and then cracks Akiyama's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Akiyama down.

Akiyama moves into the clinch successfully.

Johnson drags the fight down to the ground.

Akiyama decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Johnson, up you get!
Akiyama tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Akiyama wants to clinch.
Akiyama moves out of range as Johnson throws a body kick.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Akiyama as he avoids it easily.
Akiyama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Josh Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akiyama takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Johnson scores with a nice strike.

Akiyama forces Johnson back against the cage and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Akiyama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson misses with a leg kick.
Akiyama tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Akiyama tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Akiyama tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Akiyama tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Johnson counters with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Akiyama closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Akiyama pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akiyama manages to avoid it.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Akiyama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson throws a body punch but Akiyama moves out of range.
Akiyama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Akiyama fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akiyama tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akiyama moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Akiyama sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Akiyama gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Akiyama throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Akiyama creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Akiyama pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Akiyama.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Josh Johnson's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

Johnson pulls guard.
Akiyama has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnson is proving hard to escape from.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Akiyama defends it easily.
Akiyama must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Akiyama would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Akiyama doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Johnson is tightening it up a little... Akiyama has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Akiyama reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Akiyama taps out! Nice BJJ there by Johnson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Josh Johnson!