PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Damien Johnson (ranked 2099 p4p, 4526 weight class) and Xigua Tou (ranked 263 p4p, 451 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Johnson
vs
Tou

175 cm
26
170
4 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
162
6 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

SynCity Fightwear
Seventh Circle Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Damien Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xigua Tou!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson gets caught flat footed, as Tou shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Tou from controlling successfully.
Tou might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Johnson haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Johnson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tou defends well.
Tou preventing the sweep.
Tou trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Tou defends easily.
Tou is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tou avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tou gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tou doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tou manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tou throws a big right hand that misses.
Tou advances to half guard.
Johnson has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Johnson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tou trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tou throwing shots but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.

Tou is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Johnson sees it coming and defends easily.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.
Tou controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Tou defends easily.
Johnson is pulling down on Tou's head. It's preventing any offense from Tou, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson working for a triangle but Tou defends it easily.
Tou content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tou pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tou trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tou defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tou passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tou wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson works his way to full guard. Good work.

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Johnson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Tou has picked Johnson up and slammed him! Johnson can't keep hold of the triangle and Tou manages to pass to side control!
Tou trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Xigua Tou will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tou shoots in and gets a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Johnson controls Tou momentarily but Tou frees himself.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Tou from controlling successfully.
Tou forces his way into half guard.
Tou missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson gets full guard.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tou gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Tou is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Johnson trying to control but Tou is working from the bottom.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

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

Tou 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 stands up over Tou, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tou looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.
Tou is breathing heavily.
Johnson cracks Tou with a solid left hand.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Tou keeps moving.
Johnson postures up in Tou's guard and throws a big left but Tou blocks it.
Johnson landing some decent shots from guard.
Johnson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Johnson landing some decent shots from guard.
Tou can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Johnson controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tou throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Tou keeps moving.
Johnson working some strikes from top position.
Johnson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Johnson trying to control but Tou is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tou is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Tou shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Johnson is trying to defend but Tou finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson is looking for a sweep. Tou is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Xigua Tou will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tou looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Johnson!
Tou cracks Johnson with a big right hand but Johnson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Tou thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tou is working Johnson over with some ground and pound from side control.
Tou trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
Johnson taking punishment in the form of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson is trying to work for a sweep but Tou has mounted him!
Tou cracks Johnson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Johnson tries to hold on but Tou postures up.
Johnson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is concentrating on defense, preventing Tou from advancing position.
Tou wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
Xigua Tou has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson is pressing down on Tou's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnson is on top in guard.

Johnson wants to control from the top but Tou keeps moving.
Johnson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Johnson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tou's guard.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tou wants to get back to full guard.
Tou takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Tou looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Xigua Tou is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working Tou over with strikes.
Johnson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tou makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tou.
Johnson passes into half guard.

Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.

Tou is defending against the submission attempts here by Johnson.
Johnson lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tou wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Johnson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Johnson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tou is just riding it out for now. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Damien Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson prevents Tou from improving his position.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

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

Johnson is working for a kimura but Tou is defending it quite comfortably.

Tou looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Johnson wants to work for an arm triangle but Tou is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

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 Damien Johnson.
I think Tou 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!