PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Johnsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tronic Thermo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnsson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Kashmir - Led Zeppelin. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnsson
vs
Thermo

180 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gunnar Johnsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tronic Thermo!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Steven Brown and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnsson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thermo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thermo tries to bench press Johnsson off him but Johnsson keeps the position.
Johnsson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thermo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Johnsson.
Thermo is not content to let Johnsson control the position.
Johnsson landing strikes.

Thermo is rocked!
Johnsson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Thermo is still in real trouble! Can Johnsson finish him?
Thermo takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Johnsson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Johnsson throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnsson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Thermo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Johnsson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Thermo down.
Check out the look on Johnsson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Johnsson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Thermo struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnsson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Thermo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Thermo tries to buck Johnsson off but Johnsson is having none of it.
Thermo seems to have recovered his senses.
Johnsson working the head and body with strikes.
Johnsson throws an elbow but Thermo slips to the side and avoids it well.
Johnsson misses with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thermo struggling a bit here.
Thermo is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Johnsson is staying active.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thermo is not content to let Johnsson control the position.
Johnsson has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Johnsson is breathing heavily.
Johnsson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Thermo?
Thermo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Johnsson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
A nice elbow there by Johnsson.
Johnsson prevents Thermo from getting the reversal.
Johnsson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Thermo's face.
Johnsson landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson raining down shots from the mount!
Johnsson looking to finish Thermo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Thermo!
Johnsson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Johnsson dominating with strikes here.
Johnsson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Thermo looks a forlorn figure.

Johnsson looking for a guillotine from mount but Thermo is having none of it.
Thermo slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Johnsson drops an elbow to the side of Thermo's head.
Johnsson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thermo defending well though.
Johnsson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Johnsson working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Johnsson working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnsson is nestled in close to Thermo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Johnsson uses his free foot to push down on Thermo's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Thermo.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Johnsson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Johnsson lands a big elbow.
Johnsson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Johnsson goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Thermo is on top in guard.

Johnsson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnsson wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Johnsson 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.

Thermo keeps the fight on the outside.
Thermo keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnsson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thermo swivels and escapes.
Johnsson tries to clinch up but Thermo circles away and keeps his distance.
Gunnar Johnsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnsson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thermo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thermo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thermo swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnsson.
Johnsson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thermo pinned against the cage. Thermo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnsson wants to clinch up but Thermo keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thermo keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnsson wants to clinch.
Johnsson shoots for a double leg takedown but Thermo sprawls well. He's pushed Johnsson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gunnar Johnsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnsson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnsson misses with a takedown attempt - Thermo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnsson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnsson fails with the takedown.
Johnsson fails with the takedown.
Tronic Thermo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnsson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thermo but Thermo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thermo circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thermo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Johnsson's head backwards.
Thermo throws a right hand that Johnsson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnsson also avoids with ease.

Johnsson clinches up with Thermo and pushes him back against the cage.

Johnsson manages to break the clinch.
Johnsson tries to clinch but Thermo is having none of it.
Johnsson is looking to clinch.

Johnsson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnsson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thermo's head.
Johnsson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thermo's head.
Johnsson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Johnsson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Thermo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Thermo has escaped and now he's on top!

Johnsson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thermo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Johnsson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thermo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gunnar Johnsson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thermo distracts Johnsson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Johnsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnsson, not yet.

Johnsson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Johnsson keeping moving, preventing Thermo from controlling successfully.
Johnsson is striking from the bottom but Thermo uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Johnsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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.
Johnsson tries to get to full guard but Thermo has control of the leg.
Johnsson moves into full guard.
Johnsson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Thermo stopping the sweep attempt from Johnsson.
Johnsson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Johnsson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Johnsson wants to finish this one by submission but Thermo is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Johnsson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thermo swats away the attempt to clinch by Johnsson.

Johnsson pushes Thermo up against the cage in a clinch.
Thermo prevents the takedown attempt.
Thermo wants to break free but Johnsson has control.
Johnsson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johnsson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thermo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Johnsson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thermo tests Johnsson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Johnsson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gunnar Johnsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnsson takes one on the button.
Johnsson tries to clinch there but Thermo circles away.
Johnsson tries to close the distance and clinch but Thermo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Johnsson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnsson is trying to control the action in half guard but Thermo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johnsson is thwarting Thermo's attempts to control the position.
Johnsson tries to pass to full mount but Thermo defends it.
Johnsson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Johnsson throwing shots but Thermo is blocking nicely.
Johnsson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thermo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnsson scores with a couple of nice shots.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thermo cracks Johnsson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thermo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thermo swinging wilding here.
Thermo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johnsson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thermo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Johnsson tries to close the distance and clinch but Thermo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Johnsson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Johnsson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thermo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Thermo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnsson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnsson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thermo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Thermo circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnsson tries to close the distance and clinch but Thermo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thermo keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice straight punches there by Thermo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thermo.
Johnsson is looking to clinch but Thermo is avoiding it.
Thermo circles away from the clinch attempt.

Johnsson scores with a takedown into Thermo's guard.
Johnsson thows a big elbow that misses.
Tronic Thermo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Thermo looking for a guillotine here but Johnsson defends easily.
Johnsson lands a couple of digs.

Johnsson is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Thermo has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Johnsson is looking to defend but Thermo has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Johnsson! Thermo pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Johnsson taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Tronic Thermo!