PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nicolai Demikovic (ranked 6709 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Johnson (ranked 4578 p4p, 0 weight class). Demikovic comes to the cage accompanied by Russian National Anthem. Johnson has chosen Voodoo People as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Demikovic
vs
Johnson

191 cm
54
250 lbs
31 - 36 - 3

202 cm
58
250 lbs
47 - 50 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
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 31 - 36 - 3, fighting out of London, Nicolai Demikovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 47 - 50 - 1, fighting out of London, Thomas Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries for a takedown but Demikovic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Demikovic misses with a double jab.
Johnson throws a head kick but Demikovic moves out of range.
Demikovic is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Johnson.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Demikovic circles away easily

and Demikovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Demikovic.

Demikovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Demikovic.
Nicolai Demikovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Demikovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Demikovic gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Demikovic looking to pass the guard.
Demikovic postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Demikovic looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Demikovic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Demikovic throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demikovic throwing strikes from guard but Johnson blocks nicely.
Demikovic wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Demikovic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Demikovic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Demikovic might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Demikovic tries to pass.

Demikovic stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Demikovic swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demikovic defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Johnson.
Nicolai Demikovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Demikovic looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Johnson looks winded!
Demikovic is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Johnson wants to control but Demikovic is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Demikovic wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Demikovic missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Demikovic seems to be looking for submissions.
Demikovic takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demikovic is looking to advance position but Johnson won't allow it.
Demikovic thows a huge punch but Johnson dodges it nicely.

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

Demikovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Demikovic manages to break the clinch.
Demikovic seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Demikovic closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Johnson quickly recovers to half 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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Johnson is defending against the submission attempts here by Demikovic.
We've been informed that Johnson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Demikovic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolai Demikovic dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson wants to clinch up but Demikovic keeps it at a distance.
Nicolai Demikovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Demikovic swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnson.
Demikovic throws a counter high kick but Johnson was just alert enough to avoid it.
Demikovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Demikovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Demikovic pinned against the cage. Demikovic gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to clinch but Demikovic is having none of it.

Demikovic drives through with a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Demikovic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Demikovic chips away with some ground and pound.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson working a defensive guard but Demikovic manages to pass into side control anyway.
Demikovic tries to move into full mount but can't pass Johnson's legs.
Demikovic knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson defending against the ground and pound.
Demikovic fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Demikovic wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Johnson, who protects the arm well.
Demikovic is chipping away with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Demikovic wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Demikovic creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Demikovic misses with the ground and pound.
Demikovic throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Demikovic scores with a couple of short elbows.

Demikovic looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Demikovic throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Johnson on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Johnson prevents Demikovic from improving position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Demikovic stands up.

Demikovic decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Demikovic stalling.

Demikovic decides to stand up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Demikovic gets the takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolai Demikovic dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Demikovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A counter left hand to the body from Demikovic misses its target.

Demikovic instigates a clinch.

Demikovic lands a takedown into guard.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Demikovic controlling him for the moment.
Demikovic's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Demikovic sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Demikovic has gone for a leg lock! Johnson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Demikovic's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Demikovic is working from the bottom.
Demikovic throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Demikovic on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Demikovic tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Demikovic trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.

Demikovic kicks Johnson off and gets to his feet.
Demikovic looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.

Demikovic shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Johnson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Demikovic throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Johnson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Demikovic.

Demikovic working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Demikovic trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Demikovic is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johnson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Demikovic tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Demikovic has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Demikovic is trying to ground and pound but Johnson uses the momentary lack of control by Demikovic to regain half guard.
Demikovic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thomas Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Demikovic is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Demikovic misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicolai Demikovic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Demikovic 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicolai Demikovic!
During a confident post fight interview, Nicolai Demikovic thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.