PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raimonds Bergmanis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bergmanis comes to the cage accompanied by Twiztid - We Don't Die. Johnson has chosen Voodoo People as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Bergmanis
vs
Johnson

192 cm
25
266 lbs
25 - 4 - 0

202 cm
29
250 lbs
18 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Raimonds Bergmanis!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, Thomas Johnson!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries to clinch but Bergmanis is having none of it.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Bergmanis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice uppercut there from Johnson.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but Bergmanis has taken the fight into the clinch.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Bergmanis can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Bergmanis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Bergmanis.
Johnson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Bergmanis manages to get underhooks.
Raimonds Bergmanis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Johnson.
Bergmanis keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bergmanis throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Johnson has Bergmanis pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bergmanis manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bergmanis content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Bergmanis lands a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Johnson wants to control but Bergmanis is keeping him busy.
Johnson prevents Bergmanis from improving his position.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bergmanis defends it well.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Bergmanis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Johnson throwing shots but Bergmanis is blocking nicely.
Johnson 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 keen to just control but Bergmanis is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson wants to work for an arm triangle but Bergmanis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bergmanis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson postures up in Bergmanis's guard and throws a big left but Bergmanis blocks it.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Bergmanis keeps moving.
Bergmanis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Johnson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Bergmanis blocks nicely.

Bergmanis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bergmanis feints and as Johnson raises his hands in defense, Bergmanis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thomas Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bergmanis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bergmanis looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bergmanis wants to sweep but no luck.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Bergmanis keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Thomas Johnson.
Johnson fails with the takedown
letting Bergmanis counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bergmanis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.
Raimonds Bergmanis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bergmanis.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Johnson. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Bergmanis looks for a takedown but Johnson sprawls well.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
Bergmanis shoots in looking for a takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl out of it but Bergmanis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Johnson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raimonds Bergmanis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bergmanis scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bergmanis.
Johnson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bergmanis counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson blocks a jab.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Bergmanis connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Johnson's hands.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bergmanis is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Bergmanis circles away and we're back to standing.
Bergmanis throws an overhand right that lands on Johnson's shoulder, as Johnson tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bergmanis avoids it really well and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Bergmanis.
Johnson takes a swing at Bergmanis's ribcage but misses.
A big right from Bergmanis misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bergmanis paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Bergmanis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bergmanis holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Johnson tries to break free but Bergmanis pushes him back against the cage.
Johnson jumps guard but Bergmanis stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Johnson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bergmanis walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Johnson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson darts in trying to clinch
and Bergmanis counters with a left to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimonds Bergmanis dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bergmanis keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Bergmanis which made him look bad.
Bergmanis swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Raimonds Bergmanis is winning the standup battle so far.

Bergmanis darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent Bergmanis's takedown attempt.
Bergmanis stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Bergmanis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Raimonds Bergmanis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Johnson.
Bergmanis is struggling to control the position.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Bergmanis won't allow it.
Bergmanis scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Bergmanis - that landed with a thud.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bergmanis scores with a hook to the body.

Bergmanis has picked Johnson up - he's going for a ride! Bergmanis dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bergmanis is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bergmanis working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Johnson has hold of Bergmanis's hands but Bergmanis slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.
Bergmanis trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Bergmanis there.
Bergmanis trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.

Johnson actively working from the bottom here.
Johnson wants to control but Bergmanis is keeping busy.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bergmanis prevents Johnson from improving his position.
Bergmanis is looking to advance position but Johnson won't allow it.
Bergmanis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Johnson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bergmanis prevents Johnson from improving his position.
Bergmanis is trying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Johnson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bergmanis scores with a couple of nice shots.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Bergmanis is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Johnson!
Bergmanis with a couple of short strikes.

It looks like Thomas Johnson has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bergmanis scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Johnson?
Bergmanis working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That has opened up Thomas Johnson's cut even more.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A nice elbow there by Bergmanis.

Johnson is rocked!

The cut above Thomas Johnson's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Johnson takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Bergmanis's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Raimonds Bergmanis!
Raimonds Bergmanis retains his heavyweight title!