PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Brown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Goddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Brown
vs
Goddell

188 cm
22
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
21
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Imperial Clothing($15)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, James Brown!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Forrest Goddell!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goddell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Goddell takes a swing at Brown's ribcage but misses.
Brown takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Goddell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Goddell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Goddell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Brown moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Goddell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Brown fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Brown fails to land the takedown.
Brown avoids a punch combination nicely.
Goddell cracks Brown with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brown keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Goddell smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Goddell bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Brown! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Brown is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Oh Brown is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Goddell wanted to stand there but Brown had control of the position.
Brown seems to have got his legs back now.
Brown is trying to control the position but Goddell postures up.
Goddell is looking to stand up but Brown won't let him.
Brown tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Goddell wants to stand but Brown is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Goddell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Brown moves away.
Brown shoots for a double leg takedown but Goddell sprawls well. He's pushed Brown's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Goddell swinging wilding here.
Goddell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Brown.
Brown slips a jab and a cross from Goddell.
Nice defenses there by Brown.
Brown ducks under a wild hook from Goddell.
Goddell throws a series of punches but Brown moves out of range.
Goddell misses with a wild combination.
Goddell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Goddell jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Goddell misses with a wild body shot.
Brown has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Brown there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goddell misses the shot to the body.
Goddell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Brown.
Goddell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Brown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Brown. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Brown is defended easily by Goddell.
Goddell throws a hook but Brown blocks it.
Nice uppercut there from Goddell.
No luck for Brown with that takedown attempt.
Goddell ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Brown on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Goddell throws a shot from downtown. Brown moves away and avoids it.
Forrest Goddell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goddell throws a body punch but Brown moves out of range.
Goddell scores with a hook to the body. Brown takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Brown is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice defenses there by Brown.
Goddell is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Brown staying out of range there.
Brown ducks under a wild hook from Goddell.
Goddell thuds a left hand into Brown's body.
Goddell connects with a looping right hand.
Brown steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Goddell.

Brown shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Goddell's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Brown stops Goddell from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forrest Goddell dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A combination from Goddell does no damage.
Brown uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Goddell.
Brown takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Forrest Goddell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goddell throws a combination. Brown tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Goddell throws a jab when Brown was well out of range.
Goddell looks to score with a jab to the body but Brown is just out of range.
Brown takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Goddell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Goddell scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Brown keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Goddell.
Brown looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Goddell is fending him off so far but Brown persists. Nope, Goddell circles away and we're back to standing.
Goddell lands with a right hand.
Brown avoids the body shot from Goddell.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goddell tries to clinch up.
Brown ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Goddell throws a series of strikes that have Brown backpedaling.
Goddell misses with a combination

and Brown counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Goddell wants to get back to his feet but Brown is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Brown postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Brown won't allow Goddell to get back to his feet.
Goddell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Goddell keeping moving, preventing Brown from controlling successfully.
Goddell is wriggling around but Brown manages to pass to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brown prevents Goddell from standing back up.

Brown is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Brown is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Goddell!
Brown won't let Goddell get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Brown scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Goddell?
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Goddell can do anything to dispel that myth.
Brown wants to control the pace but Goddell is squirming around nicely.
Goddell is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Brown lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Goddell hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goddell is trying to stand.
Brown with a couple of short strikes.
Brown breaks from Goddell's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Brown punishing his opponent with strikes.
Brown controlling his opponent.
A nice elbow there by Brown.

Brown is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Goddell can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Goddell wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Brown.
Brown punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown throws some wild stikes that Goddell manages to avoid easily.
Brown throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Brown landing strikes from the mount.
Goddell tries to buck Brown off but he can't manage it.
Goddell is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Brown scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Brown lands a nice shot to the head.
Goddell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Brown. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Brown with a couple of short strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brown wants to control the pace but Goddell is squirming around nicely.
Goddell wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Forrest Goddell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Brown scores a takedown into full mount!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Goddell wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Brown postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Goddell looks a forlorn figure.
Goddell is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Brown has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Brown lands a nice shot to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brown throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Goddell is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Brown landing punches.
Goddell wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Brown working the ground and pound effectively.
Brown scoring with strikes but Goddell is staying in there.

Brown is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Goddell can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Brown lands a nice shot to the head.
Brown throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Goddell's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Brown looking to control but Goddell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Goddell bucks up and throws Brown to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Brown falls off balance throwing a combination
and Goddell counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brown avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Goddell misses with a wild body shot.
Goddell swings for the body but Brown moves out of range.
Goddell connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Goddell cracks Brown with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Brown shoots in and drives through. Goddell sprawls well.

Brown shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Goddell napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Goddell pushes Brown away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Brown gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Brown thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brown throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Brown wants to lay and pray for a moment but Goddell keeps working.
Goddell is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Brown asserts his dominance and retains side control.
James Brown has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Goddell parries the strikes from Brown easily there. Brown is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Goddell to escape.
Brown working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
James Brown overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Goddell is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Forrest Goddell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Goddell gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Brown to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Goddell wants to get back to his feet but Brown is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Brown trying to control the position from guard on top but Goddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brown thows a big elbow that misses.
Brown throws a big right hand that misses.
Brown missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Brown throwing strikes from guard but Goddell blocks nicely.
Goddell wants to get back to his feet but Brown is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Brown showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Goddell 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Forrest Goddell!