PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tj Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gauthier Lambert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Johnson
vs
Lambert

182 cm
31
192 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

178 cm
25
189 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Tj Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Gauthier Lambert!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Phil Schofield and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lambert.
Lambert throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Lambert tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lambert manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Lambert catches Johnson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tj Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson tries to keep at a distance but Lambert has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lambert lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but Lambert has him pressed against the cage.

Lambert breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lambert throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Lambert as Johnson shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lambert pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.

Lambert escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gauthier Lambert seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lambert drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.

Lambert manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Lambert. Those never looked like landing.

Johnson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Johnson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lambert tries to kick Johnson off but Johnson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Johnson wants to work for an arm triangle but Lambert is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lambert doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Johnson.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

Johnson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

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.
Johnson stops Lambert from getting back to his feet.

Johnson is working for a kimura but Lambert is defending it quite comfortably.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lambert has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lambert has managed to free his arm - good work.

Johnson is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Lambert as he works his way to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tj Johnson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lambert throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lambert sprawls well. Lambert wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Lambert swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Lambert sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tj Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lambert moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Lambert is looking to clinch.
Lambert lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Lambert fails to land with a series of punches.
Lambert tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Lambert misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Lambert pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lambert breaks the clinch.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No joy there for Lambert, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lambert lands a jab-cross combination.

Lambert clinches with his opponent.
Johnson jumps guard but Lambert stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Johnson jumps guard but Lambert stands there with Johnson around his waist. Johnson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Lambert breaks from the clinch.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Lambert saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Some wild striking there from Lambert.
Lambert misses with a two punch combination.
Lambert rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Johnson gets a double leg takedown into Lambert's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Johnson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lambert manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Johnson has Lambert in his guard.
Lambert has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johnson is proving hard to escape from.

Johnson has his foot on Lambert's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lambert works his way back into a safe position though.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lambert is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.

Lambert avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lambert really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lambert is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lambert gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lambert wants to stand but Johnson is controlling his posture from full guard.

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

Lambert stands and steps away. Johnson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gauthier Lambert seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lambert tries to clinch up.

Lambert rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson jumps guard but Lambert turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Lambert manages to break the clinch.
Lambert misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Lambert sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.

Lambert darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.
Johnson can't get the takedown.

Lambert breaks the clinch.
Lambert misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No joy there for Lambert, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lambert throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lambert tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lambert to the ground. Lambert escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lambert scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gauthier Lambert 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! This is the final round!

A lazy left from Lambert finds it's target.
Tj Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Lambert.
Lambert throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Lambert sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Lambert tries to clinch but Johnson moves out of range.

Lambert drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.
Lambert lands with a right to the head.

Lambert pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A left and a right from Lambert both land. Nice combination.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Lambert sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tj Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lambert misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lambert misses with the combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Lambert scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Lambert sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Johnson gets tackled into the cage by Lambert. Lambert maintains the clinch.

Lambert's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lambert tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lambert doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.

Lambert closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.

Lambert manages to break the clinch.
Lambert tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Lambert. Those never looked like landing.
Lambert throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Lambert lands with a nice combination. Johnson backs away looking to recover.
A combination from Lambert does no damage.
Johnson dives in and grabs Lambert's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lambert pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.
Lambert pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Johnson back to the cage. Lambert follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lambert tries to clinch there but Johnson circles away.
Johnson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lambert throws out the jab.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Johnson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lambert doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Johnson.

Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lambert defends it well.
Johnson prevents Lambert from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Lambert is defending well.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Lambert still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Lambert has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Lambert wants to stand but Johnson has his arm trapped.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lambert tries to get to his feet but Johnson is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Lambert in his guard.

Lambert wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Johnson's closed guard. He's half up but Johnson has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Johnson pivots and extends the arm, Lambert falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Johnson! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tj Johnson!