Johnny Thompson | GladiatEire FC 2

Summary

Johnny Thompson breaks down a hard-fought decision win at Gladiator Fighting Championship, talking through heavy exchanges on the feet, extended grappling along the cage and the late push that helped secure the final round. He explains how his team at Fight Academy prepares him…

Transcript (youtube_captions)

All right, we're back. Hi >> everyone. Uh, welcome. Uh, glad Yeah. Gladiator fighting championship. Uh, we're here. I have here Mr. Johnny Thompson. Johnny Thompson. Go ahead. Bring it in. >> Yeah. Right on. Uh, fight. First of all, congratulations, sir. Um, >> what was that? What was that decision like for you? Was that did you expect that or >> the first round he was starting to I felt he was catch me sometimes. It's hard to know sometimes you're in there. I knew the second round with the coach says believe in myself. Felt a bit heavy going to the fight. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And then the third round I was able to take him down to get back and secure that round. So, and he was 21 up. >> Well, when you guys were standing up, you know, doing some boxing together, there's a lot of heavy hands back and forth. So, um uh good job on you and good job for taking him as well. Um >> some big shots. >> Oh, yeah. Absolutely. >> Definitely. >> Um >> but for the I say for the most of the fight, uh you guys are kind of on the ground. You were fighting off the fighting off the cage. Um and then it was kind of a wrestle between you having this back and kind of you being on top. Um are those positions you kind of excel at or like talk to me about it? >> We do fing we do a lot of grapple and bar positions. Good position. We're always on the back and out back on the wall. A lot of wall work up a fight. So you're you're comfortable when you're there. You're you're resting as such and letting him work. >> Okay. >> Right on. Um now towards the very end there um you had his back, you had your legs wrapped right around him. Uh you were trying to slip in the the rear naked choke. Um but he it was either too high or he kept popping his head out. Like was that that frustrating for you or how were you what were you thinking? >> Yeah, his defense was very good. Every time I was going over under, he was getting out and then I had to keep switching. Then he get kept getting burst and near. You use the keys to get out and had to push him away from it and that was close. But uh no, I felt like I was secured around the one I was comfortable and got the triangle in, you know. >> Absolutely. Um you you you kind of had the body lock and then as kind of he would try to to wrestle his way out of it, um you'd lose it a bit and at the end there I just have to comment on this because I'm a leg lock guy, right? I like ankle locks. I love all that. Um, you know, so at one point you had both your legs inside in between his legs and they're crossed. I thought for sure he was going to he was going to uh compound on that, but I think he was distracted with the strikes he was taking from the top. Um, and then I noticed you right away. Sorry. Did you notice you doing that? Because it looked like you kind of like snapped your feet out of there. Um, like you like you had realized that's the position they were in. >> I remember to be honest with you, but like uh No, I don't. >> No. Okay, >> that's that might have to rewatch it back and then get talking to you. >> Yeah. Um, you know, like I said, it was like I said, I'm a leg lock, ankle lock guy. Um, I like to train from those shitty positions as well. Um, so I always try to capitalize on u people misplacing their ankles and stuff. Uh, so you're striking like you look very good, you look very comfortable on your feet. Um, you know, what is it? What do you do to you know to maintain that comfort level? again fight academy just the best place to be you know all the best fighters there come getting high high level rounds you can't be can't really be bad anywhere you know they exel you just from training with them but I felt like my arms were quite heavy nor was striking I think a bit sharper turn you have to watch it back to know how well I was doing but I did catch them I always was catching him but then he was catching me some nice shots too >> absolutely yeah >> but no my arms did feel heavy I don't know just get them fight sometimes you don't feel 100% but as long as I got the win through how how'd you feel coming into this were you kind of comfortable were you a bit nervous or like what was it like? >> Had the best camp to be honest. Well, I couple of pull out so quite been in camp quite long and just stay dedicated and consistent and got this opportunity and my original opponent pulled out and uh Marty stood up or picked up I went up to 65 k 61 so it took us up weight class. Um maybe that was the difference on him but uh no no I felt good going into this fight. >> Definitely. >> Um what what's what's one takeaway like what what are you walking out of here and that you're not going to forget? Well, uh, I'll not forget it was an unreal night, but I was very calm in there. I felt this fight, I wanted to be in the moment. I felt Rory Burke there and March and I felt like I wasn't in the moment, so I took a time to breathe and uh, be present. >> There we go. All right. Now, yeah. >> Um, so like just one on this like what's this what's this fight mean to you? And then what are you going to are you going to what's this fight mean to you? And then how are you going to use it to propel yourself forward? >> Well, it's good coming off a loss, so you've got your mental barrier, too. So, I was able to end that year and a win as such. And uh to go kind of reach for misses here on Saturday. So, that'll be our re uh uh enjoyment thing as such. And then I'll still be training up until then. And then back for Christmas. I really stop fully, you know, never take much of a break and this was in the holidays just to say boys fight. You need to be on ball constantly. >> Heck yeah. All right, brother. Um, do you want to shout anything out? You want to >> Just want to thank all my coaches and all my teammates for the work they put into this and yeah, we're we're doing something great academy. >> Right on. Um, and everyone be sure to check out uh Original Animals. Uh, they're kind enough to sponsor uh myself today. Um, they sponsored a giveaway for me as well. Um, so everyone check them out, Original Animals. Uh, check out the website original animals.co.uk. Um, give them a follow. Give me a follow. Um, and sir, thank you very much. I appreciate your time. Congratulations again and until next time. Okay. >> Thank you. It's yours. >> All right, brother.