PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miki Thron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnson
vs
Thron

183 cm
25
180 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

186 cm
23
185 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bryan Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miki Thron!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.

Thron looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Johnson!

Thron jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Johnson is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Johnson and Thron has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Thron misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Thron tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thron has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Thron working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Thron is controlling him well.
Johnson defending against the ground and pound.

Thron is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johnson has escaped the position, nice work there.

Thron looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ground and pound from Thron seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

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.

Thron tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Thron working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Thron works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Thron misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thron scores with punches from side control.
Thron creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Johnson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Thron working the strikes but Johnson uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Thron thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thron misses with a head shot. Johnson uses the momentum to regain guard.

Thron has gone for a leg lock! Johnson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Thron's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thron working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.
Thron keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Thron utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thron is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Thron throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thron.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thron shoots and misses

and Johnson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thron's guard now.

Johnson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Thron manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Johnson has Thron in his guard.
Thron tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thron drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Johnson dives on top into guard.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.

Thron has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Johnson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Thron has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thron is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thron postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thron accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thron trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Thron is having none of it.
Thron trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

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.
Thron looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thron wants to sweep but no luck.

Thron 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.

Thron 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.
Thron is breathing heavily.
Johnson trying to control but Thron is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Thron blocks nicely.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Thron keeps moving.
Thron keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.

Thron has his feet on Johnson's thighs here. He's pushed Johnson off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Johnson screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Miki Thron!