PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Evander Semansov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnson Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Semansov
vs
Thomas

167 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Evander Semansov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnson Thomas!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas tries to clinch but Semansov is having none of it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Semansov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Semansov throws a head kick that misses.
Semansov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Thomas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thomas lands in his opponent's guard.
Semansov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thomas is one step ahead there.

Thomas drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Semansov dives on top into guard.
Thomas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thomas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Semansov works to full guard.

Semansov is working an open guard so Thomas takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Semansov just misses with a punch to the body.
Semansov stuffs the takedown attempt from Thomas. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet.

Semansov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Semansov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Semansov dives on top into guard.
Semansov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Semansov postures up.
Semansov tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Semansov isn't so interested in that idea.
Thomas keeping full guard, as Semansov tries to pass.
Semansov pushes down on Thomas's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four 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.
Semansov throwing shots but Thomas is blocking nicely.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Semansov throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
Semansov misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomas.
Thomas has a takedown stuffed.
Evander Semansov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnson Thomas.
Semansov is looking to land body kicks.
Thomas tries to clinch but Semansov moves out of range.
Evander Semansov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Semansov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Semansov misses with a head kick.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Semansov pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnson Thomas dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Semansov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Semansov lands with a shot to the body.
Semansov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Semansov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Semansov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Semansov.
Semansov pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Thomas drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Semansov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thomas defends well.
Thomas is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thomas trying to control from Semansov's half guard. Semansov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Thomas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Semansov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thomas has managed to get both his arms back between Semansov's legs - danger averted.
Thomas passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thomas trying to control from Semansov's half guard. Semansov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Semansov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Thomas stands and steps away. Semansov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Semansov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semansov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Semansov throws a head kick but Thomas moves out of range.
Semansov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Semansov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.
Semansov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Thomas feints and as Semansov raises his hands in defense, Thomas changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thomas works over Semansov with some ground and pound from guard.
Thomas slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is pushing down on Semansov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Semansov is fighting to maintain full guard but Thomas has managed to sneak the leg through.
Thomas content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Thomas escapes and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnson Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Thomas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Semansov moves away.
A head kick misses from Semansov.
Semansov throws a head kick but Thomas moves out of range.

Thomas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thomas lands in his opponent's guard.

Semansov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thomas sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Semansov's guard.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Semansov keeps working.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas controlling the pace.
Thomas working Semansov over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Semansov looking for a kimura from the bottom but Thomas passes into side control!
Semansov taking punishment in the form of punches.
Thomas is staying tight to Semansov's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Semansov is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Semansov gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas has control of Semansov's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Semansov regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Semansov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Semansov is wriggling around trying to escape.

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.
Thomas landing shots from mount.
Thomas content just to control the position here.
Thomas scoring with strikes but Semansov is staying in there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee warns Semansov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnson Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thomas 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnson Thomas!