PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Tverdovskiy (ranked 679 p4p, 80 weight class) and Roy Johnson (ranked 3502 p4p, 363 weight class). Tverdovskiy's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Oxxxymiron - Tentacles. Johnson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Three 6 Mafia - It's a Fight. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Tverdovskiy
vs
Johnson

180 cm
20
164 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
169 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexander Tverdovskiy!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roy Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Tverdovskiy is just out of range.
Tverdovskiy appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnson gets through Tverdovskiy's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Jab by Johnson.
Tverdovskiy swings away with a body shot that misses
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson jabs Tverdovskiy right on the nose. Tverdovskiy blinks but takes it well.
Tverdovskiy throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tverdovskiy jabs Johnson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tverdovskiy seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
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 misses with a combination
and Tverdovskiy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Johnson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tverdovskiy blocking some punches.
A right handed body shot lands from Tverdovskiy.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tverdovskiy lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tverdovskiy lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Johnson.
Johnson misses with a knee to the head.
Tverdovskiy can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Tverdovskiy slows down the pace here.
Tverdovskiy slows down the pace here.
Tverdovskiy leaning against his opponent.
Johnson lands a left hand.
Johnson misses with some punches.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Tverdovskiy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tverdovskiy lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Johnson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Tverdovskiy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Tverdovskiy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tverdovskiy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson lands a jab to the nose.
Tverdovskiy tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Some wild striking there from Johnson.

Tverdovskiy lands a big head kick that sends Johnson tumbling to the mat! Tverdovskiy takes a step backwards and waves Johnson back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Johnson is rocked!

It looks like Roy Johnson has been cut.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Tverdovskiy pushes him off.
Johnson is still on wobbly legs! Can Tverdovskiy finish him?
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tverdovskiy manages to avoid it.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Tverdovskiy.
Tverdovskiy drops Johnson with a huge uppercut! Johnson drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Tverdovskiy is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexander Tverdovskiy!
Alexander Tverdovskiy retains his lightweight title!
Alexander Tverdovskiy seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.