PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hidori Fugikama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and shane Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fugikama
vs
Johnson

177 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hidori Fugikama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, shane Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fugikama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fugikama pinned against the cage. Fugikama gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fugikama as he jumps to the side.

Fugikama closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fugikama lands in his opponent's guard.
Fugikama has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fugikama's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnson controls Fugikama momentarily but Fugikama frees himself.
Fugikama in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fugikama landing with the ground and pound.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fugikama's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Fugikama is working from the bottom.

Fugikama is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson forces his way into half guard.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Fugikama knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Fugikama has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Johnson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Fugikama working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Johnson trying to control but Fugikama is working from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fugikama is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fugikama is wriggling around but Johnson manages to pass to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fugikama wants to get back to full guard.
Fugikama is breathing heavily.
Johnson slips a nice elbow through Fugikama's hands, connecting with Fugikama's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson works his way into side control.
Johnson trying to control the action but Fugikama is working from the bottom.

Johnson decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fugikama tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.

Fugikama gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Johnson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Johnson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Johnson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Fugikama keeps moving.

Fugikama escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

shane Johnson dominated that 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.

Johnson clinches up against the cage.
Fugikama creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Johnson's defenses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Fugikama creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Fugikama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fugikama fails with the takedown

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fugikama's guard now.
Fugikama keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Fugikama from improving his position.
Fugikama has a hand on Johnson's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Johnson takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
BOOM! Johnson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Johnson landing punches.
Johnson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Johnson working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Johnson get's back to his feet.
Johnson throws a chopping leg kick but Fugikama manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fugikama throws a left and a right that both miss

and Johnson counters by clinching up.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Fugikama holds him up against the cage and eventually Johnson drops back down to his feet.
Johnson fails to pull guard.
Fugikama prevents the takedown attempt.
Hidori Fugikama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of shane Johnson.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.

Johnson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fugikama uses from the top position.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Fugikama postures up.
Johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Johnson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Fugikama!
Johnson looking to control but Fugikama is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fugikama is trying desperately to improve position.
Johnson controlling the pace for now.

Johnson stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Fugikama down.
Johnson closes the distance and clinches up with Fugikama, looking for a takedown. Johnson pushes Fugikama against the cage but Fugikama circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson lands a head kick. Fugikama smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Fugikama. Fugikama gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fugikama circles away.
Fugikama keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fugikama clinches but Johnson breaks the clinch
and Johnson counters with a thumping low kick.
Hidori Fugikama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fugikama tries to clinch up.

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Fugikama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

shane Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Fugikama tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Johnson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Fugikama!
Fugikama is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Fugikama to take his back!
Johnson lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Fugikama is keeping busy.
shane Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fugikama tries to escape but Johnson has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Johnson trying to control.
Fugikama tries to escape the position.
Fugikama is trying to get back to his feet but Johnson has full control of the position and if anything, Fugikama has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Johnson is riding his opponent, not letting Fugikama buck him off.
Let's hope that Johnson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Fugikama grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
I really don't envy Fugikama right now.
Johnson struggling to keep hold of the position.
Johnson connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Fugikama to escape the position.
Fugikama is really stuck here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson controlling from the back.
Fugikama is in bad spot here.
Johnson has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Fugikama.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Fugikama is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Johnson is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Hidori Fugikama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Despite being in the dominant position, shane Johnson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fugikama pinned against the cage. Fugikama gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fugikama doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a big head kick but Fugikama shrugs it off.
shane Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson scores with a nice head shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
shane Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

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