PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ivar Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rhys Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Johansson
vs
Phillips

178 cm
22
168 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

175 cm
25
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivar Johansson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rhys Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johansson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johansson 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.
Phillips is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Phillips can't keep his opponent in guard - Johansson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Johansson is looking for a kimura but Phillips is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Johansson to get the leverage.
Phillips is looking to escape.

Johansson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Phillips has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johansson 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.
Johansson trying to control from half guard but Phillips is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Johansson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Phillips pushes Johansson off looking to stand but Johansson dives back in and keeps control.

Johansson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Phillips has managed to free his arm - good work.
Phillips looks like he's trying to stand up.
Phillips is refusing to be controlled, as Johansson sits in half guard.

That's two 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.
Johansson thows a huge punch but Phillips dodges it nicely.

Johansson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Phillips defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johansson trying to control the action but Phillips is working from the bottom.
Phillips wants to get back to his feet.
Well, if Johansson 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.
Phillips has hold of Johansson's hands but Johansson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson slips a nice elbow through Phillips's hands, connecting with Phillips's forehead.
Johansson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Johansson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Phillips tries to kick Johansson off but Johansson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Phillips has hold of Johansson's hands but Johansson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Johansson lands with a punch from half guard.
Johansson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Johansson controlling the action here.
Nice strikes from Johansson there.
Johansson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson is keen to just control but Phillips is a slippery customer.
Nice strikes from Johansson there.

Phillips is rocked!
Johansson trying to control the pace.
Phillips is still in real trouble! Can Johansson finish him?
Johansson lands a big elbow - Phillips is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Johansson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ivar Johansson!
Our winner, Ivar Johansson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.