PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edison Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirkwood Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edison Johnston has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Johnston
vs
Thomas

158 cm
20
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 2

185 cm
24
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
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 - 4 - 2, fighting out of New York, Edison Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kirkwood Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Dean Styles and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas looking to score a takedown here. Johnston is defending well but Thomas drives through and ends up in Johnston's guard.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas throwing strikes but missing.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Johnston keeps moving.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Johnston keeps moving.
Thomas is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kirkwood Thomas.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas scores with punches from side control.
Johnston is looking to regain half guard here but Thomas keeps moving and retains side control.
Johnston could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Thomas throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Thomas tries to move to mount but Johnston blocks the move with his legs.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnston keeps working.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Johnston has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is looking to regain half guard here but Thomas keeps moving and retains side control.
Thomas wants to control but Johnston is keeping him busy.
Thomas wants to control for a moment but Johnston uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston is positioning himself well to prevent Thomas advancing to mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thomas throwing shots but Johnston is blocking nicely.
Thomas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thomas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johnston defends it well.
Thomas thows a huge punch but Johnston dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Johnston's head.
Thomas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas trying to control from Johnston's half guard. Johnston has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Thomas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnston swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thomas throws a big elbow that misses.
Johnston avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnston keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Johnston pulls Thomas in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirkwood Thomas dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnston takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Edison Johnston has been cut.
Thomas lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Johnston gets tackled into the cage by Thomas. Thomas maintains the clinch.
Johnston tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thomas smiles and moves away.
Johnston shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thomas as he jumps to the side.
Edison Johnston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Thomas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnston, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thomas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edison Johnston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johnston.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thomas obliges.
Thomas lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Thomas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Thomas cracks Johnston with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.

Thomas gets a double leg takedown into Johnston's guard.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas throwing strikes from guard but Johnston blocks nicely.
Thomas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thomas trying to control but Johnston is working from the bottom.
Johnston controls Thomas momentarily but Thomas frees himself.
Johnston utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thomas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnston works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thomas passes into half guard.
Thomas not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thomas throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Johnston to regain full guard.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Johnston keeps moving.
Thomas forces his way into half guard.
Thomas is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnston is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Thomas with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Thomas wants to take a breather but Johnston is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas seems to be looking for submissions.
Thomas misses with a head shot. Johnston uses the momentum to regain guard.
Thomas preventing the sweep.
Thomas throwing strikes from guard but Johnston blocks nicely.
Johnston can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Thomas controls the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirkwood Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Edison Johnston's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Thomas rushes Johnston and presses him up against the cage.
Thomas lands a good knee to the midsection. Johnston won't want to take too many of those.
Thomas scores with a knee to the head.
Thomas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Johnston drags the fight down to the ground.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thomas looking to sit in guard and control but Johnston gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thomas will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas has control of Johnston's left arm, preventing Johnston from doing any damage.

Johnston drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnston jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thomas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnston passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Thomas is doing well to control the position and prevent Johnston from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Johnston manages to mount him!
Thomas is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thomas is looking to improve his position but Johnston isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Thomas tries to lock up and control but Johnston gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Thomas is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thomas throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet.
Thomas is working to get back to half guard.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is in a horrible position here. Johnston smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Thomas manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Thomas wants to control but Johnston is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas tries to roll over but Johnston keeps him under control.
Edison Johnston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kirkwood Thomas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kirkwood Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kirkwood Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thomas has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30

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