PBP Commentary

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

Johnson
vs
Psolas

166 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

190 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rey Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Christos Psolas!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Psolas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Psolas falls off balance throwing a combination
and Johnson counters with a three punch combo that has Psolas backing up. Psolas nods at Johnson to acknowledge the strikes.
Psolas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Psolas looks to clinch
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Johnson clinches up against the cage.

Johnson gets control of Psolas's arms and successfully pulls guard. Johnson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson controlling Psolas's posture.
Psolas looks winded!
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson pulls Psolas in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Johnson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Johnson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Psolas throws a combination that misses
and Johnson counters with a three punch combo that has Psolas backing up. Psolas nods at Johnson to acknowledge the strikes.
Psolas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Johnson gets a clinch.

Johnson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Johnson in particular looking to stall.
Psolas 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.
Psolas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson slips a nice elbow through Psolas's hands, connecting with Psolas's forehead.

Johnson decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.

Johnson gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Christos Psolas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Johnson stands up out of the half guard.

Johnson instigates a clinch.

Johnson jumps guard.
Johnson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Psolas's guard.

Psolas being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Psolas, pushing him back against the cage.
Psolas is looking to break free of the clinch but Johnson has double underhooks.
Johnson taking a breather.
Johnson leaning against his opponent.
Johnson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Psolas pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Johnson gets control of Psolas's arms and successfully pulls guard. Johnson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johnson rushes Psolas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Psolas's efforts to push away.
Johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Psolas's efforts to push away.
Psolas tries to circle away but Johnson has him pinned against the cage.
Johnson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Psolas fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Psolas has managed to clinch.
Johnson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Psolas is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Psolas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Psolas can't break the clinch.

Johnson successfully pulls guard.
Johnson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to strike off his back.
Johnson working a defensive guard here.
Johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Psolas manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Psolas is working an open guard so Johnson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Johnson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Psolas up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson pulls guard.

Johnson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Johnson controls Psolas momentarily but Psolas frees himself.
Johnson is pulling down on Psolas's head to control his posture.
Johnson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Psolas can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Johnson controls the pace.

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

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands up.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Psolas can do to turn this around?

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.
Psolas wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knees to the body from Johnson.
Johnson leaning his opponent against the cage.
Johnson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rey Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Psolas pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rey Johnson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rey Johnson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Psolas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Psolas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Johnson counters with a three punch combo that has Psolas backing up. Psolas nods at Johnson to acknowledge the strikes.
Psolas wants to clinch.
Psolas wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Johnson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Johnson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Johnson is stalling here.
Psolas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Psolas is trying to keep an underhook but Johnson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Johnson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Johnson darts in and clinches Psolas up against the cage.

Johnson manages to pull guard.
Johnson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Psolas manages to get himself to full guard.

Johnson pushing down on Psolas's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson decides to stand and escape the position.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.

Johnson tightens his grip and picks Psolas up, before dumping him to the ground. Psolas manages to land in guard.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Psolas has wrist control.

Johnson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Psolas swinging wildly 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 closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Psolas fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Johnson instigates a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Johnson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Johnson stalling the fight.
Psolas is trying to break the clinch but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.

Johnson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Johnson decides to stand up.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged Psolas in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Psolas uses from the top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Johnson is on top in guard.

Johnson controlling from the top position.

Johnson stands up and waves to Psolas to follow him.
Christos Psolas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rey Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rey Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:25
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:25
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rey Johnson!