PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between David Goliath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and anton rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Goliath
vs
rua

195 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, David Goliath!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, anton rua!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
rua chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Goliath closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Goliath wants to take a breather but rua is having none of it.
Goliath working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on rua's thigh. rua counters though and makes it back to full guard.
rua working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Goliath.
Goliath trying to control but rua is working from the bottom.

Goliath has gone for a leg lock! rua slips out almost immediately though and dives into Goliath's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
rua trying to control but Goliath is working from the bottom.

Goliath has his foot on rua's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. rua works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Goliath is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Goliath working a defensive guard here.
rua pushes down on Goliath's leg and manages to get into half guard.
rua is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goliath is keeping the position for now.
Goliath is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Goliath throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
rua has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Goliath is proving hard to escape from.
rua must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Goliath pulls rua in close to prevent any damage.

Goliath looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
rua throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rua wants to control from the top but Goliath keeps moving.
rua would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Goliath is retaining full guard.
rua wants to control from the top but Goliath keeps moving.
Goliath on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Goliath tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Goliath looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Goliath keeping moving, preventing rua from controlling successfully.

Goliath has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but rua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
rua forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that David Goliath will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

rua doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Goliath counters with a shoot takedown. rua fights it but they end up in guard.
rua can't keep his opponent in guard - Goliath advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Goliath is looking for a kimura here.
rua trying to control here.
rua is looking for a sweep. Goliath is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

rua is defending against the submission attempts here by Goliath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goliath working rua over with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Goliath looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Goliath trying to mount his opponent but rua defends it.

Goliath seems to be working for a kimura but rua defends the submission attempt.
Goliath looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Goliath is trying to control the action in half guard but rua is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
rua trying to control but Goliath postures up.
rua is not content to let Goliath control the position.
Goliath controlling the pace.
rua is trying to maintain the position but Goliath is very close to passing his half guard.

Goliath is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rua tries to roll over but Goliath keeps him under control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
rua missing with a left hand there. Goliath was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Goliath showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from rua.
rua fails with the takedown

and Goliath counters with a single leg into guard. rua didn't expect that.
rua is breathing heavily.
Goliath passes rua's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Goliath missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Goliath slows the pace down in half guard.
Goliath thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goliath trying to mount his opponent but rua defends it.
Goliath working over rua with some ground and pound. rua looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Goliath wants to lay and pray for a moment but rua keeps working.
Goliath content to control rather than advance.
rua taking some punishment here, with Goliath in his half guard.
rua blocking the ground and pound attempt from Goliath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Goliath dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Goliath paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Goliath shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

rua gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Goliath tries for a takedown but rua manages to get underhooks.
Goliath drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Goliath. That's going to take a lot out of him.

rua gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Goliath regains guard.

rua got a little sloppy there for a moment and Goliath has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, rua has managed to get both his arms back between Goliath's legs - danger averted.

Goliath is looking for a triangle but rua pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Goliath utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rua postures up in Goliath's guard and throws a big left but Goliath blocks it.
rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
rua trying to control but Goliath is working from the bottom.

rua gets to his feet - Goliath follows without any prompting.
Goliath takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
rua shoots for a takedown but Goliath saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters circling a little - rua finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

rua pushes Goliath up against the cage in a clinch.
rua wants a takedown.
rua working Goliath over with knees to the body.
Goliath tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. rua just stands there and leans against the cage.
rua gets underhooks to prevent Goliath's takedown attempt.

rua's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Goliath with a poor takedown

and rua counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by rua.

rua pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Goliath is trying hard to land a takedown here. rua sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Goliath circles away from the clinch attempt.
rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Goliath paws at him with a jab and circles away.
rua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Goliath as he jumps to the side.

Goliath gets a takedown into half guard.
Goliath not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

rua has one foot on Goliath's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Goliath shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
David Goliath is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Goliath with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Goliath seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down rua for as long as he can get away with.
Goliath trying to control the action but rua is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Goliath is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
rua pushes Goliath off looking to stand but Goliath dives back in and keeps control.
David Goliath overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Goliath seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. rua is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). David Goliath!