PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zeke Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Forolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Forolov

175 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
192 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Reaper Combatwear

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zeke Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mark Forolov!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Forolov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Forolov tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Forolov off and has taken his back!

Johnson is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Forolov has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Forolov trying to control the action but Johnson just sinks the hooks in.
Johnson throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Forolov tries to break free.
Johnson trying to control momentarily.
Forolov tries to escape the position.
Forolov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Forolov looking very determined here, making life difficult for Johnson.
Johnson doesn't have the hooks in and Forolov manages to turn into his guard.
Forolov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Forolov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson stalks Forolov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Forolov's face. Forolov staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Mark Forolov has been cut.

Forolov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Johnson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Forolov throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Forolov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johnson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Johnson tries to escape but Forolov is in control.
Forolov wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.

Forolov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Forolov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Forolov decides to stand back up. Forolov steps back and let's Johnson get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a spinning back kick!

Forolov gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Forolov has momentary wrist control but Johnson slips an elbow through the middle.

Forolov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Johnson has picked Forolov up and slammed him! Forolov can't keep hold of the triangle and Johnson manages to pass to side control!
Forolov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson is trying to control. Forolov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Forolov is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Johnson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Forolov defending well though.
Forolov is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Forolov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Forolov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Forolov circles away quickly and effectively.

Forolov drives through with a takedown into guard.

Forolov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Forolov gets the takedown into side control.
Johnson tries to improve position but can't.

Forolov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Johnson clinches with his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Forolov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Johnson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forolov thows a strike but Johnson uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Johnson as he ends up in Forolov 's guard!

Forolov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Forolov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Forolov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Johnson defends it easily.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Forolov keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Forolov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Johnson passes into side control.
Johnson tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Johnson working away.
Johnson tries to score with some ground and pound. Forolov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Forolov keeps working.
Johnson throws a strike aimed at the side of Forolov's head but Forolov avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forolov wants to control but Johnson postures up.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Forolov keeps working.
Forolov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Forolov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Forolov is trying to control but can't.
Forolov is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Forolov throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Johnson manages to pass to side control.
Forolov is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Forolov is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Forolov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Johnson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Forolov wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Forolov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Forolov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mark Forolov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johnson drives through and clinches with Forolov against the cage.

Johnson has picked Forolov up - he's going for a ride! Johnson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Forolov trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Forolov tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Johnson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Forolov regains half guard.
Forolov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Forolov tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Forolov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Forolov tries to strike from the bottom.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Johnson with a nice head shot there.

Forolov has his foot on Johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnson works his way back into a safe position though.
Forolov controlling Johnson's posture.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
Forolov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Forolov won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Forolov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mark Forolov has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Zeke Johnson just wasn't active enough.

Forolov scores with a takedown into Johnson's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Forolov from controlling successfully.
Forolov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Forolov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Forolov wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mark Forolov.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zeke Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Forolov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Forolov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Forolov goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Johnson turns into him and now he's in Forolov's guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forolov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Forolov 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.

Forolov 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.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mark Forolov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Forolov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Forolov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Forolov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Forolov!