PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Amir Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Quinton Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Johnson
vs
Thomas

175 cm
22
192 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Amir Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Quinton Thomas!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas misses with a kick to the body.
Thomas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Johnson pinned against the cage. Johnson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Johnson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thomas to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Thomas stands up and waves to Johnson to follow him.
Quinton Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thomas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Johnson sprawls well initially but Thomas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas controlling the action here.
Johnson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johnson tries to get out of the position.

Thomas looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Thomas passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thomas sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Thomas goes for an armbar but Johnson turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Johnson.
Johnson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thomas lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Johnson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Thomas tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Thomas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Johnson looks a forlorn figure.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thomas on the ground.

Thomas looking for a guillotine from mount but Johnson is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.
Thomas trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quinton Thomas dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.
Johnson moves out of range of the body kick from Thomas.
Thomas shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Thomas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Johnson's half guard.

Thomas seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to improve his position but Thomas is controlling well.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Thomas thows a huge punch but Johnson dodges it nicely.
Thomas uses his free foot to push down on Johnson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Johnson.
Thomas trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thomas misses with some ground and pound and Johnson recovers position to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Thomas lands a nice short elbow.
Johnson is looking for a sweep. Thomas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thomas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thomas preventing the sweep.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thomas stands up from Johnson's guard - Thomas perhaps looking for a knockout.
Johnson throws a good cross that connects.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quinton Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Some wild striking there from Johnson.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thomas.
Thomas tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Johnson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson lands a really nice looking cross but Thomas seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Johnson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown. Thomas fights it but they end up in guard.
Amir Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Quinton Thomas.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thomas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Thomas blocks nicely.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Johnson postures up in Thomas's guard and throws a big left but Thomas blocks it.
Thomas tries to strike from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thomas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Quinton Thomas has been cut.
Johnson connects with a looping right hand.
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!
Johnson with a nice cross.
Johnson scores with a one two! Thomas had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Thomas gets caught flat footed, as Johnson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Quinton Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas has momentary wrist control but Johnson slips an elbow through the middle.
Quinton Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thomas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson cracks Thomas with a solid left hand.
Thomas thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson scoring with some ground and pound.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Thomas blocks nicely.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johnson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johnson looks to throw the jab but Thomas is out of range.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Amir Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Thomas blocks nicely.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Amir Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thomas has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!