PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolai Demikovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Voodoo People. Demikovic has chosen Russian National Anthem as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Demikovic

202 cm
50
250 lbs
42 - 41 - 1

191 cm
47
250 lbs
29 - 33 - 2

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 42 - 41 - 1, fighting out of London, Thomas Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 33 - 2, fighting out of London, Nicolai Demikovic!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Donald Grub and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Demikovic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
Johnson has Demikovic pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Demikovic manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson lands a good knee to the midsection. Demikovic won't want to take too many of those.
Demikovic goes for a takedown attempt but Johnson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Demikovic stuffs the takedown.
Demikovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Johnson sprawls well. He's pushed Demikovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Demikovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thomas Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicolai Demikovic.
Johnson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Demikovic has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Demikovic forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Demikovic looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Demikovic jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Demikovic is proving hard to escape from.
Johnson postures up in Demikovic's guard and throws a big left but Demikovic blocks it.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Demikovic wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson postures up in Demikovic's guard and throws a big left but Demikovic blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson postures up in Demikovic's guard and throws a big left but Demikovic blocks it.
Johnson looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Johnson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson stops Demikovic from standing up.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Demikovic is keeping the position for now.
Johnson won't allow Demikovic to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Demikovic darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Johnson pushes Demikovic off and gets back to his feet.
Nicolai Demikovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Demikovic moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right from Demikovic.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Demikovic takes the fight into the clinch.
Johnson looking for a takedown.

Johnson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Demikovic clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
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!
Demikovic covering up well under a series of strikes from Johnson.
Demikovic trying to control the hands but Johnson breaks the grip.
Johnson is trying to stick to Demikovic's back but Demikovic is turning into Johnson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Johnson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Demikovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demikovic looking to pass the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Johnson holds on and takes a little breather.
Demikovic passes into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Demikovic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johnson defending well though.
Demikovic is thwarting Johnson's attempts to control the position.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Demikovic throwing shots but Johnson is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nicolai Demikovic will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Demikovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Demikovic loads up on a big right hand but Johnson slips the punch.

Demikovic darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.
Demikovic can't get the takedown.
Johnson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Demikovic.
Thomas Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicolai Demikovic.
Demikovic tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johnson just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Demikovic gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Johnson is trying to escape back to his feet but Demikovic uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Demikovic tries to score with some ground and pound. Johnson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Demikovic.

Demikovic swings around for an armbar but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Demikovic's guard.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Demikovic is keeping the position.
Johnson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Demikovic gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Johnson escapes and gets back to his feet.
Demikovic moves to clinch but Johnson breaks away
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Demikovic has taken the fight to the clinch.

Demikovic gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Johnson regains guard.
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!
Demikovic throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Demikovic passes Johnson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Johnson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thomas Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Demikovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Demikovic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Johnson kicks Demikovic off and gets to his feet.
Demikovic fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demikovic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Johnson throws a head kick but Demikovic moves out of range.
Demikovic is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Demikovic moves into the clinch.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Demikovic to keep the fight standing.
Demikovic drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Johnson gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Johnson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Demikovic trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Demikovic clinches with his opponent.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.
Thomas Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Johnson clinches with his opponent.
Johnson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Johnson is looking for a takedown.

Johnson jumps into guard, dragging Demikovic to the mat.
Demikovic with a nice head shot there.
Demikovic controls from within his opponent's guard.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Johnson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Demikovic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Demikovic tries a quick counter leg kick but Johnson is wise to it.
Demikovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Demikovic moves out of range easily.
Johnson tries to clinch but Demikovic is having none of it.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Demikovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Demikovic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
As Demikovic tries to get set, Johnson tries to push him back and clinch up but Demikovic manages to avoid the attempt.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Demikovic pinned against the cage. Demikovic gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses with a leg kick

and Demikovic counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.

Johnson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Demikovic off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in but Demikovic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Demikovic, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Johnson clinches with his opponent.

Demikovic has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Johnson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Johnson is in bad spot here.

Demikovic is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Demikovic is looking for the choke from the back position but Johnson is controlling his hands well.
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 is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Demikovic is looking for a choke. Johnson gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Johnson manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Demikovic keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson trying to control but Demikovic is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson won't allow Demikovic to sweep him here.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Demikovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Demikovic keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Demikovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Demikovic, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Demikovic rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Demikovic forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Demikovic pulls guard.
Demikovic is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nicolai Demikovic.
I think Demikovic 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicolai Demikovic!
A victorious Nicolai Demikovic thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.