PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clifford Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Voodoo People. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Johnson
vs
Smith

202 cm
37
250 lbs
28 - 24 - 1

197 cm
31
258 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

LOD: Affordable Quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 24 - 1, fighting out of London, Thomas Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Clifford Smith!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnson slips a straight right by Smith.
Smith has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Smith with a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Smith looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smith is in close to Johnson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
Johnson wants to stand up but Smith is controlling him.
Smith postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to improve his position but instead Smith has moved into half guard.
Johnson trying to control but Smith postures up.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Smith keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Johnson's head.
Smith thows a huge punch but Johnson dodges it nicely.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Johnson won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Smith thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Johnson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Johnson looks a forlorn figure.
Smith landing strikes from the mount and Johnson is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clifford Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johnson moves away from the strike by Smith.
Johnson has been working on his balance at Rift Fighting Academy, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Smith.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Smith gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
The referee calls for Smith to work.
Johnson taking a breather.
Smith effectively controlling the action here.

Smith decides to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith wriggles free and stands up.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Smith is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Johnson can't fight it off and eventually Smith manages to take the fight to the floor. Johnson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.
Smith trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.

Johnson is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Smith has his hands clasped together but Johnson extends and breaks Smith's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Johnson.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thomas Johnson!
Thomas Johnson thanked the fans post fight for their support.