PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kiichi Miyazawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kiichi Miyazawa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Miyazawa
vs
Johnson

170 cm
29
180 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

174 cm
22
183 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kiichi Miyazawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shaun Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Miyazawa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miyazawa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
Johnson is trying to stand up here but Miyazawa is controlling him well.
Johnson missing with punches from the bottom.

Miyazawa seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.

Miyazawa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Miyazawa 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.

Miyazawa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Johnson is defending against the submission attempts here by Miyazawa.
Johnson trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyazawa prevents Johnson from improving his position.
Johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Miyazawa is working away from the top position though.
Miyazawa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.
Miyazawa trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Johnson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Miyazawa is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Miyazawa to get the leverage.

Miyazawa seems to be looking for submissions.
Miyazawa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johnson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Miyazawa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Miyazawa's back!
Johnson is not going to allow Miyazawa to sit and survive in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyazawa looking very determined here, making life difficult for Johnson.

Miyazawa preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Johnson.
Johnson is not going to allow Miyazawa to sit and survive in this position.
Johnson throws strikes from the back but Miyazawa rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Miyazawa.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Miyazawa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyazawa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Miyazawa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnson throws a couple of heel strikes.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Miyazawa is one step ahead there.
Johnson has momentary wrist control but Miyazawa slips an elbow through the middle.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Miyazawa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Miyazawa wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Miyazawa scoring with some ground and pound.
Miyazawa is pushing down on Johnson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Johnson is fighting to maintain full guard but Miyazawa has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miyazawa prevents Johnson from improving his position.
Miyazawa is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson gets full guard.
Miyazawa stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.

Johnson kicks Miyazawa off and gets to his feet.
Miyazawa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Miyazawa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Miyazawa sprawls well.
Miyazawa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck for Miyazawa with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kiichi Miyazawa will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Miyazawa tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Miyazawa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson lands with a right hand.
Miyazawa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.

Miyazawa is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Johnson's half guard.

Miyazawa seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.
Kiichi Miyazawa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson wants to control but Miyazawa is keeping busy.
Miyazawa trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.

Miyazawa seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Miyazawa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnson is controlling Miyazawa's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Miyazawa blocks the strikes from Johnson.

Miyazawa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Johnson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Miyazawa trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Miyazawa has control of the leg.
Johnson wants to control but Miyazawa is keeping busy.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyazawa prevents Johnson from improving his position.
Miyazawa winds up and cracks Johnson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Johnson trying to hold on to Miyazawa's head to control him but Miyazawa postures up.

Miyazawa wants to work for an arm triangle but Johnson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Johnson tries to kick Miyazawa off but Miyazawa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Miyazawa is trying to work for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson trying to control from the bottom.
Miyazawa wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson moves into full guard.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Miyazawa is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyazawa sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Johnson's guard.
Miyazawa is trying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Miyazawa wants to free his trapped foot but Johnson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
Miyazawa scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Miyazawa slips a nice elbow through Johnson's hands, connecting with Johnson's forehead.

Miyazawa is trying to work for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Miyazawa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miyazawa 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.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Miyazawa has control of the leg.
Miyazawa trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Johnson punching from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Miyazawa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Miyazawa seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson won't allow Miyazawa to pass to mount.
Johnson regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiichi Miyazawa dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Miyazawa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Johnson sprawls well. Johnson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Miyazawa gets slowly back to his feet.

Miyazawa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Miyazawa advances position into side control!
Miyazawa lands a few punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson sneaks back into half guard.

Johnson is defending against the submission attempts here by Miyazawa.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Johnson is looking to control Miyazawa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Johnson avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson landing rabbit punches to the side of Miyazawa's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Johnson is looking to improve his position.
Miyazawa is trying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Johnson missing with punches from the bottom.
Miyazawa working Johnson over with strikes.
Miyazawa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson trying to control here.
Johnson is staying active underneath Miyazawa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Miyazawa drops an elbow to the side of Johnson's head.
Miyazawa trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Miyazawa uses his free foot to push down on Johnson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miyazawa looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Johnson tries to reverse the position but Miyazawa maintains control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson is in a horrible position here. Miyazawa smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Miyazawa fails to move to back control.
Johnson tries to hold on but Miyazawa postures up.
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.
Miyazawa trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Miyazawa isn't that keen on the idea.
Miyazawa controlling the pace for now.
Johnson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Johnson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Miyazawa frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Johnson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Johnson is in a horrible position here. Miyazawa smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Miyazawa with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miyazawa is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Johnson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Miyazawa unloading with bombs!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Miyazawa lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Johnson hang on?
Johnson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Miyazawa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miyazawa trying to pass the guard but Johnson defending well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Miyazawa connects with a nice short shot to Johnson's temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kiichi Miyazawa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Miyazawa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Kiichi Miyazawa!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Kiichi Miyazawa!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Kiichi Miyazawa!

Kiichi Miyazawa wins by unanimous decision!
In his post fight interview, Kiichi Miyazawa started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.