PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Magnus Forsberg (ranked 4350 p4p, 4670 weight class) and Peter Joshua (ranked 545 p4p, 558 weight class). The key to victory for Magnus Forsberg has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Forsberg
vs
Joshua

191 cm
18
211
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
205
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Magnus Forsberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Peter Joshua!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joshua gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Forsberg tries to circle away but Joshua has him pinned against the cage.
Forsberg wants to get back to striking at distance but Joshua won't allow it.
Forsberg wants to get back to striking at distance but Joshua won't allow it.

Joshua manages to break the clinch.
Forsberg uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Joshua.

Joshua moves into the clinch.
Forsberg is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Joshua's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Joshua has Forsberg up against the cage in a clinch.

Joshua breaks from the clinch.
Forsberg throws a right and a left that Joshua avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joshua takes one to the chin there.

It looks like Peter Joshua has been cut.
Forsberg fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Joshua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Forsberg moves away.
No luck for Joshua with that takedown attempt.
Joshua shoots in looking for a takedown but Forsberg manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Joshua's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Forsberg misses with a body shot

so Joshua counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Joshua sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Joshua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Forsberg works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forsberg wants to get back to his feet but Joshua passes into half guard.
Forsberg keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Joshua stalling.
Let's hope that Joshua has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joshua decides to return to a standing position.
Forsberg misses with a wild combination.

Joshua gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Forsberg looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Joshua breaks from the clinch.
Forsberg connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Forsberg swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Joshua drops his hands momentarily and Forsberg takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forsberg throws a jab when Joshua was well out of range.
Joshua with the counter takedown but Forsberg avoids it easily.

Joshua gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Joshua jumps guard and drags Forsberg to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Joshua bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Forsberg's guard.

Joshua content to stall in guard here.

Forsberg is working an open guard so Joshua takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Forsberg lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Forsberg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Joshua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Peter Joshua's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

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

Joshua breaks the clinch.
Forsberg lands a nice hook to Joshua's body. Joshua takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Forsberg gets caught flat footed, as Joshua shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Forsberg is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Joshua dives into side control.
Forsberg is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joshua is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Forsberg's shoulder. That is not cool.
Forsberg is looking to get back to his feet here but Joshua is keeping cool and he's managed to take Forsberg's back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joshua slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joshua is continuing to stall.
Joshua throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Forsberg trying to get back to his feet but Joshua is in full control for now.
Forsberg covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Joshua controlling from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Forsberg trying to get back to his feet but Joshua is in full control for now.
Joshua missing with strikes from the back.
Forsberg avoids the strikes from Joshua.
Forsberg is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joshua trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Forsberg doesn't escape.
Joshua throwing wild punches that miss their target.

Forsberg defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Joshua's arms.

Forsberg preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Joshua.
Forsberg wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Forsberg is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Joshua struggling to land strikes to the head as Forsberg covers up.
Forsberg trying to get back to his feet but Joshua is in full control for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Joshua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Peter Joshua's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Forsberg scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Joshua throws a nice looking combination but Forsberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Forsberg lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Forsberg.

Joshua closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Joshua lands in his opponent's guard.
Forsberg wants to get back to his feet but Joshua passes into half guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joshua scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forsberg is trying to stand up here but Joshua is controlling him well.
Joshua looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Joshua has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Joshua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Joshua is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Forsberg tries to kick Joshua off in order to stand up. Joshua Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
The referee asks Joshua politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Joshua prefers to stall for the moment though.
Forsberg is looking to get back to his feet here but Joshua is keeping cool and he's managed to take Forsberg's back.
Joshua controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Joshua.
Forsberg trying to get back to his feet but Joshua is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joshua misses with an elbow to the head.
Peter Joshua has got the better of the ground game so far.
Forsberg wants to get back to his feet.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Joshua controlling the positon.
Forsberg is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Forsberg trying to get back to his feet but Joshua is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Joshua throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Joshua is riding his opponent, not letting Forsberg buck him off.
Magnus Forsberg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Peter Joshua is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Forsberg is trying to get back to his feet but Joshua has full control of the position and if anything, Forsberg has just worked his way into a worse spot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Joshua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Joshua winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Joshua!