PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Jericho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Goulart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jericho comes to the ring accompanied by Dropkick Murphys - Warriors Code. Goulart has chosen Shaggy - Mr. Boombastic as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Jericho
vs
Goulart

175 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

168 cm
23
165 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Jericho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joao Goulart!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jericho moves out of range as Goulart throws a body kick.

Jericho feints and as Goulart raises his hands in defense, Jericho changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Goulart looking for a sweep. Not yet Goulart, not yet.

Goulart is looking for a triangle but Jericho pushes his legs off easily.
Jericho slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Jericho looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Goulart is trying to control Jericho's posture but Jericho avoids it.
Jericho tries to advance to mount but can't.

Jericho wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Goulart, who protects the arm well.
Jericho is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Goulart's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jericho advances nicely into full mount.
Goulart is trying desperately to improve position.
Jericho controlling his opponent.
Goulart is squirming around, avoiding Jericho's attempts to control the action.
Goulart tries to control the position but Jericho now has his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Jericho is persistently looking for the submission but Goulart is defending it well.

Jericho is looking for the choke from the back position but Goulart is controlling his hands well.
Jericho is breathing heavily.
Goulart trying to control but not successfully.
Goulart looking very determined here, making life difficult for Jericho.
Goulart wants to control his opponent's hands but Jericho gets his hands free.
Goulart is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Jericho off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Jericho trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Jericho misses with punches from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jericho is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Goulart has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Goulart avoids the strikes from Jericho.
Goulart is trying to get back to his feet but Jericho has full control of the position and if anything, Goulart has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Goulart is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Jericho looking for the choke from the back.
Goulart really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jericho. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Goulart is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Goulart fending off the submission attempt from Jericho.
Goulart looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jericho avoiding Goulart 's attempts to control his hands.
Goulart is keeping busy.

Goulart defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Goulart tries to break free.

Jericho is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Goulart defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Jericho tries to get the hooks in deep but Goulart pushed the leg off.
Goulart rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Jericho dominated that round.
That's time! Jericho's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jericho closes this distance looking for a takedown but Goulart circles away.
Jericho shoots in looking for a takedown. Goulart tries to sprawl out of it but Jericho keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Goulart manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jericho shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Jericho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jericho looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Goulart throws a hook but Jericho avoids it easily.
Goulart looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Goulart throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jericho.
Jericho avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jericho takes one to the side of the head.
Goulart looks to land a right hand but Jericho moved out of range.
Goulart rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jericho moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Goulart misses with the combination.
Jericho closes this distance looking for a takedown but Goulart circles away.
Goulart tries a low kick but Jericho avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jericho lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Goulart throws a series of punches but Jericho avoids them all with ease.

Jericho shoots in and bounces Goulart off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Goulart tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jericho passes Goulart's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Jericho is trying to control the action in half guard but Goulart is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Jericho is looking for a kimura but Goulart is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jericho to get the leverage.

Goulart is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Jericho pulls his head out easily.

Jericho is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Goulart is just riding it out for now. Jericho eventually gives up the hold.
Jericho stops Goulart from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jericho is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Goulart doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jericho.
Jericho throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Goulart is not content to let Jericho control the position.
Jericho prevents Goulart from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goulart missing with punches from the bottom.
Goulart is trying to get back to full guard.

Jericho 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.
Jericho wants to pass the guard but Goulart is defending well.
Goulart wants to control but Jericho is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Goulart misses with a looping left.
A big left from Goulart misses.

Jericho shoots in and bounces Goulart off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Jericho stays in close to Goulart's body and controls the position.
Goulart keeping moving, preventing Jericho from controlling successfully.
Jericho is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Goulart is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Jericho tries to free his leg and advance position but Goulart is retaining full guard.
Goulart being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Jericho dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jericho shoots in for a double leg but Goulart sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Goulart throws a nice looking combination but Jericho bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Jericho drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Jericho wants to control from the top but Goulart keeps moving.
Jericho stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Goulart swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Goulart keeping moving, preventing Jericho from controlling successfully.
Goulart is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jericho is controlling him.
Jericho passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goulart is not content to let Jericho control the position.
You can see the frustration on Goulart's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jericho misses with a leg kick.
Goulart works over Jericho's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Ricky Jericho has been cut.
Jericho moves out of range as Goulart throws a body kick.
Jericho fails with a takedown attempt.
Goulart throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jericho sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Jericho gets the takedown into side control.

Jericho working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goulart wants to get back to his feet but Jericho drags him back down.
Goulart regains half guard there - taking advantage of Jericho's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Jericho is looking to stall here but Goulart recovers full guard.
Jericho won't allow Goulart to get back to his feet.
Jericho works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Goulart tries to get to full guard but Jericho has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goulart is trying to maintain the position but Jericho is very close to passing his half guard.
Goulart tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Goulart wants to control but Jericho is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jericho uses his free foot to push down on Goulart's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Goulart.
Jericho looking to control but Goulart is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Jericho has control of Goulart's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Goulart regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Jericho trying to control but Goulart is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jericho seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Goulart is holding on tight.
Goulart is looking to improve his position but Jericho isn't that keen on the idea.
Joao Goulart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jericho looking to control but Goulart is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Jericho fails to advance to Goulart's back.
Goulart swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Ricky Jericho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Goulart is trying desperately to improve position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Jericho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jericho, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Jericho!