PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eduard Syroviy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Voodoo People. Syroviy is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Три Буквы . I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Johnson
vs
Syroviy

202 cm
40
250 lbs
31 - 29 - 1

190 cm
29
260 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 31 - 29 - 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 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eduard Syroviy!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Syroviy ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Johnson moves out of range as Syroviy throws a body kick.
Johnson fails with the takedown.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into Syroviy's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Johnson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Syroviy is looking to regain half guard here but Johnson keeps moving and retains side control.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Syroviy is still trying to improve position.

Johnson stands up.
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!
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Syroviy manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Syroviy.
Johnson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Syroviy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Syroviy throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Syroviy keeps the fight on the outside.
Syroviy misses with a leg kick.
Syroviy throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Syroviy jabs Johnson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A slapping leg kick lands for Syroviy.
Syroviy has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syroviy misses with an uppercut. Johnson saw that one coming.
Johnson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Syroviy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson checks a low kick from Syroviy.
Syroviy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Eduard Syroviy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Syroviy throws a leg kick that is checked

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a 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 Syroviy walks away with a smile on his face. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Johnson seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Syroviy closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.
Syroviy lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Syroviy pulls his leg out and moves away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Syroviy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syroviy misses with a lunging right hand
and Johnson counters with an inside leg kick.
Syroviy misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Syroviy scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Syroviy attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Syroviy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A low kick from Syroviy is predictable there
and Johnson counters with a left to the body.
Johnson shoots and misses
and Syroviy counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Syroviy swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Syroviy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson darts in trying to clinch
and Syroviy counters with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syroviy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Syroviy - that will leave a mark!
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Syroviy circles away and keeps his distance.
Syroviy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson checks a leg kick.
Eduard Syroviy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Syroviy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnson was well out of range. Poor timing from Syroviy.
Johnson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Syroviy.
Johnson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Syroviy has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eduard Syroviy dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The crowd cheers as Syroviy lands an impressive looking overhand right. Johnson doesn't seem phased though.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Syroviy circles away and keeps his distance.
Syroviy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Syroviy throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Syroviy tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Johnson is able to avoid easily.
Syroviy stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Syroviy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.
Syroviy throws a head kick that misses.
Syroviy swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Syroviy misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syroviy misses with a low kick.
Syroviy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Syroviy throws a leg kick
and Johnson counters with a solid body kick.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Syroviy shows good takedown defense.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Syroviy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson slips a straight right by Syroviy.
Syroviy misses with a low kick.
Syroviy is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Johnson rather than just go for the knockout.
Syroviy throws a low kick but Johnson moves out of range easily.
Johnson tries to bum rush Syroviy with a series of wild strikes but Syroviy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Syroviy tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Syroviy 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 Thomas Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slapping leg kick lands for Syroviy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syroviy with a jab.
Syroviy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Syroviy checks a low kick from Johnson.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Syroviy.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Syroviy blocks the low kick.
Johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Syroviy avoids it really well and circles away.
Johnson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Thomas Johnson has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syroviy fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Johnson on the side of the head.
Syroviy ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Syroviy getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Syroviy pushes him off.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Syroviy digs a good hook to Johnson's body.
Syroviy throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Syroviy looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
Syroviy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Syroviy lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A leg kick checked by Johnson.
Syroviy connects with a solid leg kick.
Syroviy thuds a left hand into Johnson's body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Syroviy buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Eduard Syroviy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Syroviy throws a right hand that misses

and Johnson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Syroviy lands a body punch in the clinch.
Johnson wants a takedown but no success here.
Syroviy stalling the fight.
Syroviy is working Johnson over against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A short uppercut from Syroviy.

Syroviy breaks from the clinch.
Syroviy connects with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eduard Syroviy 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! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Syroviy jabs Johnson right on the nose. Johnson blinks but takes it well.
Syroviy works Johnson's body with a nice hook.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Syroviy, right into the meat.
Syroviy connects with a solid leg kick.
Johnson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Syroviy!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Syroviy wants to control but Johnson postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Syroviy manages to work his way to half guard, despite Johnson's best efforts.
Syroviy is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Syroviy gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to stand but Syroviy is controlling his posture from full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Syroviy is on top in guard.
Syroviy passes into half guard.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.
Syroviy is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Syroviy passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syroviy is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson holding on.
Johnson manages to get back to half guard.
Syroviy with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Syroviy is just content to waste time from the top position. Johnson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syroviy's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Johnson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Syroviy keeps moving.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Syroviy is keeping the position.
Johnson lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syroviy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Syroviy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Syroviy's head.
Syroviy wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Thomas Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish 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!
Johnson scoring with punches to the head and body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson won't allow Syroviy to sweep him here.
Syroviy working a defensive guard here.
Johnson cracks Syroviy with a solid left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Eduard Syroviy.
I've got Syroviy 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eduard Syroviy!
An out of breath Eduard Syroviy thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.