PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tristan Mkhalele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mkhalele comes into the arena with Noir Désir - Un jour en France blaring out of the sound system. Johnson has chosen Voodoo People as his entrance music. Tristan Mkhalele could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Thomas Johnson's chin.

Mkhalele
vs
Johnson

180 cm
32
270 lbs
15 - 14 - 1

202 cm
33
250 lbs
22 - 18 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Tristan Mkhalele!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 18 - 1, fighting out of London, Thomas Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses with a body shot.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but Mkhalele has taken the fight into the clinch.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but Mkhalele has him pressed against the cage.
Johnson takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Thomas Johnson has been cut.
Johnson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mkhalele looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Johnson tries to circle away but Mkhalele has him pinned against the cage.
Mkhalele throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mkhalele throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Johnson avoiding damage.
Johnson avoiding damage as Mkhalele throws knees to the body.
Mkhalele tries to land knees in the clinch but Johnson avoids the damage to the body.
Mkhalele is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mkhalele down to the mat. Mkhalele avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tristan Mkhalele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Johnson.
Mkhalele pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Mkhalele closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Johnson looking for a takedown.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mkhalele is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Mkhalele trying to land knees to the body.
Mkhalele looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Johnson jumps into guard, dragging Mkhalele to the mat.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Mkhalele controlling him for the moment.
Mkhalele trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mkhalele stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Mkhalele from controlling successfully.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Mkhalele trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tristan Mkhalele just wasn't active enough.
Johnson lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mkhalele stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mkhalele wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mkhalele closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side
and Johnson counters with a series of strikes. Mkhalele will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice sprawl there from Mkhalele as Johnson shoots in.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mkhalele but Mkhalele pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Mkhalele sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mkhalele tries to clinch up.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Mkhalele gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mkhalele throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mkhalele creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mkhalele is pressed up against the cage. Johnson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mkhalele down to the mat. Mkhalele avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Mkhalele is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Mkhalele sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Mkhalele keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mkhalele tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Johnson avoids it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mkhalele.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mkhalele - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Mkhalele keeps him there for the moment.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mkhalele pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mkhalele moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson looking to slow down the pace here.
Mkhalele looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Johnson is trying to break free.
Mkhalele gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mkhalele missing with knees to the body.
Mkhalele lands an elbow that stopped Johnson in his tracks for a moment.

That has opened up Thomas Johnson's cut even more.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mkhalele lands a damaging elbow.

The cut above Thomas Johnson's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Mkhalele controlling the action here for a moment.
Mkhalele looks to throw an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tristan Mkhalele will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Thomas Johnson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mkhalele closes the distance but Johnson moves to the side
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mkhalele tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mkhalele to the ground. Mkhalele escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Mkhalele clinches.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mkhalele smiles and moves away.
Tristan Mkhalele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Johnson.
Mkhalele is looking to clinch.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Mkhalele tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mkhalele manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mkhalele wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Mkhalele landing knees to the body.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mkhalele lands an elbow just above Johnson 's eye.
Mkhalele is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mkhalele lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Thomas Johnson's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Tristan Mkhalele!
Tristan Mkhalele is the new heavyweight champion!
A relieved looking Tristan Mkhalele thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.