PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shakim Goethe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bastian Rolfes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shakim Goethe could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Bastian Rolfes's chin.

Goethe
vs
Rolfes

170 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

186 cm
19
217 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Control Nutrition

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shakim Goethe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bastian Rolfes!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Franklyn Lucas and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rolfes tries for a takedown but Goethe sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Goethe shoots and misses

and Rolfes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Goethe won't be happy with that.
Rolfes advances to full mount.
Rolfes takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rolfes's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Rolfes avoids the attempt from Goethe to control.
Rolfes takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Rolfes has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Rolfes moves to the back position.
Goethe is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Rolfes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bastian Rolfes just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rolfes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rolfes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rolfes looking to pass the guard.
Rolfes advances position into side control!
Rolfes in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goethe wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Goethe could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rolfes taking a breather here.
I looks like Rolfes might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Rolfes tries to advance to mount but Goethe denies him.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rolfes just content to control the position.
Goethe throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolfes controlling the position from side mount.
Goethe tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Goethe's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rolfes takes a little break here. Goethe wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rolfes advances to full mount.
Rolfes looking to control and managing it successfully.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bastian Rolfes just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rolfes shoots and misses

and Goethe counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Goethe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Goethe looking to sit in guard and control but Rolfes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rolfes stays in close to Goethe's body and controls the position.
Rolfes tries to free his leg and advance position but Goethe is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bastian Rolfes dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rolfes with a poor takedown

and Goethe counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rolfes manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Rolfes scores with a takedown into Goethe's guard.
Rolfes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rolfes passes Goethe's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Goethe is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rolfes is looking to advance position but Goethe won't allow it.
Rolfes is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Goethe!
Rolfes moves to the back.
Rolfes trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Goethe doesn't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goethe wants to escape the position.
Rolfes controlling from the back.
Goethe is covering up but some of the strikes from Rolfes are getting through and doing damage.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bastian Rolfes just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rolfes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rolfes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Goethe is looking to improve his position.
Bastian Rolfes has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolfes perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rolfes passes to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rolfes has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Goethe!
Rolfes controlling his opponent.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bastian Rolfes just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Goethe gets caught flat footed, as Rolfes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bastian Rolfes 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. This is the final round!

Rolfes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rolfes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rolfes looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rolfes postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Goethe looks a forlorn figure.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rolfes works his way to his opponent's back.
Rolfes is riding his opponent, not letting Goethe buck him off.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bastian Rolfes just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rolfes changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Goethe looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Goethe is looking for a sweep.
Rolfes passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Goethe!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goethe is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Rolfes has taken his back.
Rolfes trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Goethe doesn't escape.
Rolfes gets his hands free as Goethe looks to control.
Rolfes controlling from the back.

Rolfes has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Goethe has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolfes has good solid back control here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Bastian Rolfes just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rolfes feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goethe wants to sweep but no luck.
Rolfes seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bastian Rolfes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rolfes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 26:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bastian Rolfes!