PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Morote Gari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Johanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richard Johanson is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Gari
vs
Johanson

200 cm
22
245 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

195 cm
22
226 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Morote Gari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Richard Johanson!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gari tries to close the distance and clinch but Johanson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Morote Gari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johanson misses with a two punch combination.
Gari tries to clinch up but Johanson circles away and keeps his distance.
Gari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johanson tries to clinch up but Gari circles away and keeps his distance.
Johanson lands a nice hook to Gari's body. Gari takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A head kick misses from Gari.
Gari throws a head kick but Johanson moves out of range.
Johanson misses with the combination.
Gari throws a head kick but Johanson moves out of range.
Johanson avoids the head kick by Gari.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gari tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johanson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Gari closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Johanson to the mat! Johanson manages to get full guard.
Gari lands a couple of elbows.
Gari is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johanson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johanson keeping full guard, as Gari tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gari won't allow Johanson to sweep him here.
Johanson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Gari gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Johanson fails to land with a series of punches.
Gari moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Gari misses with a two punch combination.
Gari lands a head shot.
Gari thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johanson moves away from the strike by Gari.
Gari takes a swing at Johanson's ribcage but misses.
Gari looks for a takedown but Johanson sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gari throws a leg kick which misses Johanson's front leg but catches the back leg as Johanson tries to avoid it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gari.
Gari throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johanson swinging wilding here.
Gari throws a right hand that Johanson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johanson also avoids with ease.
Gari tries to clinch
and Johanson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gari scores with a kick to the body.
Gari with a poor takedown
and Gari takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gari misses with a shot to the body
and Johanson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gari throws a good cross that connects.
Gari tries to clinch up but Johanson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Johanson misses.
Johanson looks gassed!
Gari misses with a combination
and Johanson counters with a left to the body.
Gari lands a jab-cross combination.
Gari pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gari misses with an uppercut.
A combination from Gari does no damage.
Gari lands with a thumping leg kick.
Johanson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gari swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Johanson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gari swinging wilding here.
Gari swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johanson counters with a nice body shot.
Gari closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gari chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gari fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morote Gari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Gari with that takedown attempt.
Johanson swinging wilding here.
Nice body kick from Gari.
Gari throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gari misses with a body shot.
Gari falls off balance throwing a combination
and Johanson counters with a three punch combo that has Gari backing up. Gari nods at Johanson to acknowledge the strikes.
Gari lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morote Gari dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johanson avoids the head kick by Gari.
Gari lands with a kick to the temple. Johanson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Gari swinging wilding here.
Gari tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johanson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Johanson, as that shot connected.
Johanson misses with a few strikes there.
A right-left combo lands from Gari.
A shot to the body from Gari misses
letting Johanson counter with a right hand.
Gari doesn't manage to clinch there - Johanson circles away.
Gari throws a sloppy head kick and Johanson moves out of range easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gari, right into the meat.
Gari misses with a few strikes there.
A thudding body kick lands there by Gari!
Johanson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johanson dodges the punch combination from Gari.
Gari scores with a leg kick.
Gari shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johanson pinned against the cage. Johanson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gari tries to clinch up but Johanson circles away and keeps his distance.
A swing and a miss from Gari.
Gari lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gari throws a series of punches but Johanson moves out of range.
Gari misses with a shot to the body
and Johanson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gari lands with a slapping head kick.
Gari throws a head kick but Johanson moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gari swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johanson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gari throws a shot from downtown. Johanson moves away and avoids it.
Gari misses with a combination
and Johanson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gari throws a right hand that Johanson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johanson also avoids with ease.
Gari throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Johanson's head.
Gari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gari has a takedown stuffed.
Gari chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gari fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gari swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Morote Gari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johanson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gari throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gari goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Gari throws a head kick that half lands.
Gari feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Johanson's calf.
Gari tries to clinch but Johanson moves out of range.
Gari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johanson tries to clinch there but Gari circles away.
Johanson misses with a straight right.
Gari lands with a slapping head kick.
Gari tries to clinch but Johanson moves out of range.
Johanson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gari looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johanson is fending him off so far but Gari persists. Nope, Johanson circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morote Gari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gari misses with a body shot
and Johanson counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johanson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gari.
Gari misses with a two punch combination.
Johanson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Gari scores with the left hand. Johanson knows he should have avoided that one.
Gari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johanson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morote Gari is winning the standup battle so far.
Gari throws a sloppy head kick and Johanson moves out of range easily.
Gari throws a nice looking combination but Johanson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gari wants to clinch but Johanson slips to the side
and Johanson counters with a nice body shot.
Johanson throws a series of punches but Gari avoids them all with ease.
Gari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gari misses with a jab to the body
and Johanson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gari connects with a solid leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morote Gari dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Johanson avoids the head kick by Gari.
Johanson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Gari misses with the combination.
Gari shoots in for a double leg but Johanson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gari misses with a series of wild punches.
Gari misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johanson keeps the fight on the outside.
Gari misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gari throws a head kick but Johanson moves out of range.

Gari closes the distance and clinches.
Johanson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gari prevents it.
Johanson is trying to break free.

Gari breaks from the clinch.
Gari misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johanson swats away the attempt to clinch by Gari.
Gari throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johanson keeps the fight on the outside.
Gari takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Gari throws a nice inside leg kick.
Johanson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gari.
Johanson misses with a looping left.
Gari throws a lazy right hand but Johanson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johanson tries to bum rush Gari with a series of wild strikes but Gari uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johanson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gari misses with a combination
and Johanson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gari throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two 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.
Gari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gari misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Some wild striking there from Johanson.
Gari takes a swing at Johanson's ribcage but misses.
Johanson blocks a head kick by Gari.
Gari misses with a double jab
and Johanson counters with a stiff right hand.
Horrible takedown by Gari or perhaps it was just good defense by Johanson which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morote Gari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johanson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gari misses with a head kick.
Gari lands a front kick.
Gari throws a combination that misses
and Johanson counters with a one-two to the body.
Johanson avoids the head kick by Gari.

Gari gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Gari jumps into guard, dragging Johanson to the mat.
Johanson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gari. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Johanson distracts Gari with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gari is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Johanson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johanson tries to kick Gari off but Gari keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gari passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Johanson!
Gari landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johanson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johanson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Johanson wants to control but Gari is having none of it.
Johanson is looking to improve his position but Gari isn't that keen on the idea.
Johanson really wants to buck Gari off and get back to his feet.
Johanson is looking to improve his position but Gari isn't that keen on the idea.
Gari content just to control the position here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gari prevents Johanson from getting the reversal.
BOOM! Gari connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gari has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Johanson wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Richard Johanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johanson is looking to improve his position but Gari isn't that keen on the idea.

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 Morote Gari.
Well Gari has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Morote Gari!