UFC 126 Play-by-Play: Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto vs. Demetrious Johnson

UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort Live Results Home Page

Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto vs. Demetrious Johnson

Johnson vs. Yamamoto

Round 1: They start off kind of slow, feeling each other out. Kid lands a couple solid right hands just under a minute into the fight. Johnson shoots, but Kid fends him off. Kid misses with a punch and Johnson times his shot for a solid takedown, but Kid is quickly out and back to his feet. Kid lands a nice body shot, but follows with an overhand right, misses, and gets taken down again. Johnson working from half guard. Kid gets out and up again, but immediately eats a knee-punch combination that has him rocked. He clinches and gathers himself. Kid fires off more punches, but another well-timed shot from Johnson has him on the mat again. Johnson peppers Kid with shots on the mat and takes the round. MMAWeekly.com scores round one 10-9 for Johnson.

Round 2: Lots of movement to start round two, but little action. Kid seems a little hesitant to let his hands go now after round one’s takedowns. Johnson lands a low blow about a minute and a half into the round, halting the action. They restart the action and it doesn’t take long before Johnson gets some action going with a punch flurry that has Kid on the defensive. Johnson gets Kid to the mat again, but they’re quickly back on their feet. Johnson scores another takedown, but doesn’t spend much time on the mat, quickly returning to the feet. They hit the mat again, Kid landing a knee to the head of Johnson as they come back up, but Kid backs off thinking he may have landed it illegally. But the referee lets them go to the bell. MMAWeekly.com scores round two 10-9 for Johnson.

Round 3: Johnson scores another takedown, Kid almost just falling with it. They get back to their feet, Kid landing a knee to the midsection as they stand. Kid lands a low kick and a left hand, then shucks off Johnson’s takedown attempt. Just as Kid appears to get things going, Johnson scores another takedown. Again, they are quickly back to their feet. Another takedown by Johnson, but this time he has Kid pinned against the cage. Johnson doesn’t do much with the position and they again return to their feet, Johnson once again putting Kid right back down, where he rides out the round working from half guard. MMAWeekly.com scores round three 10-9 and the fight 30-27 for Johnson.

Demetrious Johnson def. Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27), R3

UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort Live Results Home Page