PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freddie Mercury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Voodoo People. The crowd seem to be enjoying Mercury's choice of entrance music: Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Johnson
vs
Mercury

202 cm
38
250 lbs
29 - 24 - 1

225 cm
29
263 lbs
17 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Convicted Trap House

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 29 - 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 17 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Freddie Mercury!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercury looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Mercury instigates a clinch.

Johnson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Johnson is just content to waste time from the top position. Mercury takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Johnson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mercury swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercury utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson stops Mercury from standing up.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses. Mercury uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Mercury!
Mercury must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mercury being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thomas Johnson wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Mercury pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Mercury.
Mercury misses with a punch to the body.
Mercury lands a body punch in the clinch.
Mercury pushes Johnson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercury tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Mercury back against the cage.

Johnson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Mercury regains guard immediately.
Mercury can't keep his opponent in guard - Johnson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Mercury won't allow it.
Johnson prevents Mercury from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Mercury to regain full guard.
Johnson is looking to pass into half guard but Mercury pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Mercury is in guard.

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

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mercury won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson 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.

Johnson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mercury is aware though and is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Johnson is looking to clinch but Mercury is avoiding it.
Danga de danga de dang - Mercury scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Thomas Johnson has been cut.
Johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mercury avoids it really well and circles away.
Mercury catches Johnson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mercury as he avoids it easily.
Mercury swinging wildly here.

Mercury closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mercury creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mercury misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mercury lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Mercury misses with a body punch.
Johnson takes a shot to the head.
Johnson jumps guard but Mercury stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercury pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mercury lands a left hand.
A nice left hand lands by Mercury.
Mercury scores with an uppercut up the middle.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mercury creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mercury lands a body shot.
Mercury lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Mercury lands a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A shot in the inside from Mercury.
Mercury tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercury misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
Freddie Mercury seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Johnson trying to stall but Mercury improves his position.
Mercury throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnsons head.
Mercury throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Mercury is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mercury is struggling to control the position.
Mercury misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mercury struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Mercury tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Mercury gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.
Mercury tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnson's elbow.

Johnson decides to pull guard.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.

Johnson is working an open guard so Mercury takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Freddie Mercury is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a kick to the body.
Mercury looks to land a right hand but Johnson moved out of range.
Johnson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Johnson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Johnson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Johnson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Johnson tries to move to mount but Mercury blocks the move with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson swings around for an armbar but Mercury sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Johnson's guard.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Mercury defends easily.

Johnson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mercury uses it to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddie Mercury showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thomas Johnson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mercury throws an off balance right hand
and Johnson counters with a head kick. That will keep Mercury thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Mercury moves into the clinch.
Mercury misses with a punch to the body.
Mercury dodges an elbow strike from Johnson.
Mercury stalling against the cage.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Mercury.

Johnson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Mercury felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson with the ground and pound but Mercury uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercury is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Mercury gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mercury being controlled here momentarily.

Mercury avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercury postures up.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing Mercury from standing up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mercury throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mercury throws a leg kick
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Mercury throws a leg kick that is checked
and Johnson counters with a thumping low kick.
Johnson wants to clinch but Mercury slips to the side
and Mercury connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Johnson dives in and scores a takedown into Mercury's guard.
Mercury keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mercury wants to stand and escape but Johnson is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Johnson!
Thomas Johnson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.