PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vincent Thorne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson has chosen It's A Fight as his entrance music. 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.

Thorne
vs
Johnson

179 cm
24
165 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
169 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
-OVERDOSE Factory-

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vincent Thorne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andy Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Steve Erwin and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson avoids the head kick by Thorne.
Thorne throws a nice inside leg kick.
Thorne connects with a solid leg kick.
Johnson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Thorne throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Thorne jabs at Johnson's body.
Thorne fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.

Thorne gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Thorne is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorne is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thorne working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thorne wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Thorne is retaining full guard.
Johnson is in close to Thorne's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Thorne keeps moving.

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thorne has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between Thorne's legs - danger averted.
Johnson trying to control but Thorne is working from the bottom.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thorne swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Andy Johnson was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thorne utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Thorne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorne pulls Johnson in close to his closed guard and prevents Johnson from doing any damage or advancing position.

We're going to have a standup here because Vincent Thorne wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Johnson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thorne did well to prevent Johnson getting side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
Johnson 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.

Andy Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Thorne misses with a combination
and Johnson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thorne is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Thorne circles away and we're back to standing.
Thorne doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
Thorne changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thorne throws a low kick but it's checked well by Johnson.
Johnson lands with a nice body punch.
Johnson looks to throw the jab but Thorne is out of range.
Thorne misses with a looping left.
A jab from Johnson misses.
A shot to the liver by Johnson. Beautiful body shot.
Johnson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Thorne takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.
Vincent Thorne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thorne tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorne misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No joy there for Thorne, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Thorne.
Thorne looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.

Johnson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Thorne's guard.
Johnson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Thorne wants to get back to his feet but Johnson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Thorne working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a strike but Thorne rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing Thorne from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has his hands on Thorne's head, controlling the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Andy Johnson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Thorne throws the kick towards the body but Johnson avoids it.
Thorne ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Thorne keeps Johnson at a distance using the push kick.
Thorne throws a series of strikes that have Johnson backpedaling.
Thorne takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Thorne sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Thorne.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Thorne down.
Johnson lands a slapping body shot.
Thorne throws a lazy head kick
and Johnson counters with a low kick, right behind Thorne 's knee.
Vincent Thorne is winning the standup battle so far.
Thorne misses with a straight right.
Thorne is looking to clinch.
Vincent Thorne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thorne throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thorne circles away quickly and effectively.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thorne misses with a series of wild punches.
Thorne is looking to land body kicks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson blocks the body kick.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vincent Thorne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Johnson.
Johnson lands a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andy Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Thorne.
Thorne moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Thorne throws a shot from downtown. Johnson moves away and avoids it.
A jab from Thorne finds it's way through Johnson's defenses.
Thorne throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Thorne misses with a body kick.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Thorne throws a sloppy head kick
and Johnson counters with an outside leg kick.
Thorne tries to clinch up

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
Thorne parries the strikes from Johnson easily there. Johnson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Thorne to escape.
Johnson lands a few punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson swings around for an armbar but Thorne sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Johnson's guard.
Johnson controlling the position.
Thorne wants to stand and escape but instead Johnson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Thorne's brow.
Johnson prevents Thorne from getting back to his feet.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorne keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Johnson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thorne's head.
Vincent Thorne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Thorne gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thorne in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Andy Johnson.
The fighters circling - Thorne throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thorne throws a leg kick that misses.
Vincent Thorne is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thorne!
Thorne bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Thorne decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Johnson, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorne stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Thorne.
Johnson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
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!
Thorne slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thorne throws an overhand right that lands on Johnson's shoulder, as Johnson tries to avoid the shot.
Thorne throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thorne shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Johnson!
Andy Johnson decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.