PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josh Godcheck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Godcheck comes to the ring accompanied by Higher Ground by The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Thiago is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Drake - Forever. Josh Godcheck has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Godcheck
vs
Thiago

178 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

190 cm
25
183 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Josh Godcheck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paulo Thiago!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thiago avoids the body shot from Godcheck.
Godcheck scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Thiago shoots in looking for a takedown. Godcheck tries to sprawl out of it but Thiago keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Godcheck manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Godcheck changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thiago fails to land the takedown.
Thiago looks gassed!
Godcheck with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Godcheck fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Godcheck wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Good exchange - Godcheck coming out on top.

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

Thiago is rocked!
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.
Godcheck trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thiago is still in real trouble! Can Godcheck finish him?
Godcheck is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Godcheck prevents Thiago from getting back to his feet.
Thiago seems to have recovered his senses.
Thiago can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Godcheck controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Godcheck stops Thiago from standing up.
Godcheck with a flurry of punches that miss.
Godcheck wants to pass the guard but Thiago is keeping the position.
Godcheck's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Thiago wants to stand up but Godcheck is controlling him.
Godcheck wants to control from the top but Thiago keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thiago is trying hard to land a takedown here. Godcheck sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Josh Godcheck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Thiago.

Thiago gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Godcheck is looking to work some ground and pound but Thiago has wrist control.
Godcheck working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Godcheck's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Godcheck forces his way into half guard.
Thiago is trying to stand.
Godcheck is looking to advance position but Thiago won't allow it.
Thiago is looking to escape.
Godcheck passes the guard and advances to mount!

Godcheck has hold of Thiago's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Thiago manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Thiago trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Godcheck pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Godcheck is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Thiago has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Thiago is trying to stand.
Godcheck sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
BOOM! Godcheck connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Godcheck content just to control the position here.
Godcheck with the ground and pound from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Godcheck scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Thiago?
Godcheck tries to control but Thiago wriggling away.
Thiago is in a horrible position here. Godcheck smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Godcheck won't let Thiago get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Godcheck cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Godcheck lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Godcheck dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Godcheck cracks Thiago with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Godcheck scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Godcheck stops Thiago from getting back to his feet.
Godcheck seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Godcheck throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thiago looks like he's trying to stand up.
Godcheck working Thiago over with strikes.
Godcheck tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thiago knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Godcheck is taking a breather. Thiago says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Thiago with a lazy takedown attempt

and Godcheck counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Godcheck landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Thiago is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Godcheck looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Thiago wants to get back to his feet.
Thiago is refusing to be controlled, as Godcheck sits in half guard.
Thiago wants to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Godcheck misses with a two punch combination.

Godcheck drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Godcheck postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Godcheck postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thiago is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Godcheck is chipping away with strikes.
Thiago is trying to buck Godcheck off.
Godcheck scores with a couple of short elbows.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Godcheck bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thiago's head.

Godcheck scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Godcheck throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Thiago avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Godcheck.
Thiago pushes Godcheck away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Godcheck gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Thiago takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Godcheck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thiago keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago is pushing Godcheck's head away, looking to escape. Godcheck manages to hold on to the position though.
Godcheck is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thiago can do to turn this around?

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A lazy left from Godcheck finds it's target.
Godcheck swinging wildly here.
Thiago shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Godcheck decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thiago's guard.
Godcheck stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thiago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Godcheck has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Thiago is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Thiago fails to pull guard.
Josh Godcheck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Thiago.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Godcheck turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Godcheck manages to end up in side control.
Godcheck prevents Thiago from escaping the position.

Thiago throws Godcheck to one side and escapes!
Godcheck throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thiago fails with the takedown

and Godcheck counters with a takedown into side control.
Thiago is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Godcheck is controlling him well.
Josh Godcheck overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thiago takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Godcheck trying to control the action but Thiago is working from the bottom.
Thiago is trying to buck Godcheck off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Godcheck dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Thiago scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Thiago wants to stand up but Godcheck has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Godcheck moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Thiago is looking to stand up but Godcheck won't let him.
Godcheck is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thiago wants to stand but Godcheck has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago preventing the sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Godcheck shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Thiago's guard.
Godcheck might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Godcheck slips nicely into half guard.
Thiago tries to kick Godcheck off but Godcheck keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Godcheck looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thiago wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thiago has his takedown stuffed

and Godcheck counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Godcheck won't allow Thiago to get back to his feet.
Thiago is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Godcheck controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Godcheck with a nice head shot there.
Thiago is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Godcheck lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Godcheck throws a nice looking combination but Thiago bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago fails with the takedown
and Godcheck counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Thiago thinking.
Thiago gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Godcheck counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Josh Godcheck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Thiago.
Thiago wants to stand but Godcheck is controlling the position.
Thiago is wriggling around but Godcheck manages to pass to half guard.
Godcheck stops Thiago from getting back to his feet.
Godcheck trying to control from half guard but Thiago is working away.
Godcheck drops an elbow to the side of Thiago's head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thiago doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Godcheck counters with a nice uppercut.
Josh Godcheck is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paulo Thiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago shoots and misses

and Godcheck counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Godcheck slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Paulo Thiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thiago is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Godcheck is controlling him.
Godcheck trying to control but Thiago is working from the bottom.
Thiago wants to stand and escape but Godcheck is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Godcheck looking to pass the guard.
Godcheck throwing strikes from guard but Thiago blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Godcheck showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Godcheck has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Godcheck!