PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnnie Solomon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Fox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Solomon
vs
Fox

219 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue 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, Johnnie Solomon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steve Fox!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Solomon avoids the head kick by Fox.
Fox looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Fox closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fox lands in his opponent's guard.
Solomon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Solomon controlling the position.
Fox trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Solomon pulls Fox in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Solomon looking for a sweep. Not yet Solomon, not yet.
Fox missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Solomon is trying to control the position but Fox postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon managing to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Fox gets a takedown into half guard.
Solomon is looking to control Fox's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Solomon avoid being mounted?
Solomon is refusing to be controlled, as Fox sits in half guard.
Fox is thwarting Solomon's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon is looking to improve his position.
Solomon is holding on to half guard well.
Solomon tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon shoots in for a takedown but Fox shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Solomon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Solomon tries to clinch but Fox moves out of range.

Fox gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Solomon wants to break free but Fox has control.

Fox has picked Solomon up - he's going for a ride! Fox dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Solomon pushes Fox off and gets back to his feet.
Solomon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fox avoids it really well and circles away.

Fox has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Solomon breaks from the clinch.
Solomon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Fox shoots in and gets a takedown into Solomon's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Solomon trying to keep a closed guard but Fox is proving a slippery customer.
Fox preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Fox dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fox avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Solomon gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Solomon is adopting a defensive guard.
Fox looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Solomon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Solomon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fox manages to get himself to full guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Solomon trying to control the position from guard on top but Fox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fox is breathing heavily.
Solomon working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox working a defensive guard but Solomon passes into half guard.
Solomon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fox keeps working.
Fox is looking for a sweep. Solomon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Solomon content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Solomon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Solomon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Solomon content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two 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.
Solomon wants to take a breather but Fox is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Fox scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Solomon is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Fox has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Fox working away.
Solomon is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fox is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Solomon stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Solomon can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon is looking to regain half guard here but Fox keeps moving and retains side control.
Solomon is trying to control Fox's posture but Fox avoids it.
Solomon gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Fox wants to pass the guard but Solomon is defending well.
Solomon is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Solomon moves into full guard.
Solomon is pulling down on Fox's head. It's preventing any offense from Fox, at least for the moment.
Solomon controls Fox momentarily but Fox frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steve Fox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Solomon throws the kick towards the body but Fox avoids it.
Steve Fox is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Solomon tries to work over Fox's front leg with a kick but Fox checks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fox avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Solomon darts in and clinches Fox up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Fox will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Fox feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Solomon trying to control the position here.
Solomon trying to keep a closed guard but Fox is proving a slippery customer.
Solomon is pulling down on Fox's head to control his posture.
Fox must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Solomon is trying to control the position but Fox postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Solomon managing to control the position.
Solomon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fox takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Fox is trying to get back to full guard.
Solomon slows the pace down in half guard.
Solomon is looking to take a break and control but Fox is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Well, if Solomon is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Solomon trying to control the action but Fox is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon works his foot free and advances to mount.
Solomon controlling from the full mount.
Fox holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Solomon tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Solomon stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Solomon clinches with his opponent.
Solomon stalls.
Solomon tries to pull guard but Fox holds him up against the cage and eventually Solomon drops back down to his feet.
Solomon stalling the fight.
Fox has Solomon pushed against the cage.
Solomon wants to get back to striking at distance but Fox won't allow it.
Steve Fox is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Fox successfully pulls guard.

Fox is working an open guard so Solomon takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Fox avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Solomon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Solomon has managed to clinch.
Johnnie Solomon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Solomon misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fox.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnnie Solomon showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fox has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Steve Fox!