PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thor Odinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Goldberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Odinson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Amon Amarth - Twilight of The Thunder God. Joe Goldberg has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Odinson
vs
Goldberg

185 cm
22
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thor Odinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Goldberg!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Odinson blocks a head kick by Goldberg.
Goldberg fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Odinson checks it well.

Odinson shoots in and bounces Goldberg off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Goldberg is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Odinson working some strikes from top position.
Odinson wants to pass the guard but Goldberg is keeping the position.
Goldberg is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Odinson is controlling him.

Odinson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Odinson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Goldberg trying to keep a closed guard but Odinson is proving a slippery customer.
Odinson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Odinson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Odinson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Goldberg is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Odinson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Odinson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Odinson 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.

Goldberg sneaks out the side door and pushes Odinson away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Goldberg lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Goldberg throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Odinson's waist but Odinson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Goldberg off to one side.
A combination from Goldberg does no damage.
Odinson shoots in looking for a takedown. Goldberg tries to sprawl out of it but Odinson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Goldberg manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Goldberg swinging wilding here.
Goldberg keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Odinson is breathing heavily.
Odinson blocks a head kick by Goldberg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg throws a series of punches but Odinson moves out of range.
Odinson shoots in for a takedown but Goldberg shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Odinson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Goldberg as Odinson shoots in.
Goldberg tries a head kick but it misses.
Goldberg keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Goldberg throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Odinson shoots in looking for a takedown. Goldberg tries to sprawl out of it but Odinson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Goldberg manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Odinson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Goldberg misses with a looping left.
Odinson closes the distance and clinches up with Goldberg, looking for a takedown. Odinson pushes Goldberg against the cage but Goldberg circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Odinson.
Goldberg lands with a nice combination. Odinson backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Thor Odinson has been cut.
Odinson misses with a takedown attempt - Goldberg sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Odinson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Odinson gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Odinson throwing shots but Goldberg is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odinson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Odinson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Goldberg's head.
Odinson wants to free his trapped foot but Goldberg is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Odinson is working hard here to advance position.

Odinson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Thor Odinson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Odinson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Goldberg is fending him off so far but Odinson persists. Nope, Goldberg circles away and we're back to standing.
Odinson throws a right and a left that both miss.

Odinson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Odinson postures up in Goldberg's guard and throws a big left but Goldberg blocks it.
Odinson thows a big elbow that misses.
Odinson stands and throws Goldberg's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Odinson working the head and body with strikes.
Goldberg takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Odinson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Goldberg taking a bit of punishment here - Odinson scoring with strikes.
Goldberg prevents Odinson from improving position.
Goldberg tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Odinson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Goldberg's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Goldberg is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Goldberg's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Odinson tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thor Odinson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thor Odinson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Goldberg shoots in for a double leg but Odinson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Odinson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Odinson trying to pass the guard but Goldberg defending well.

Goldberg makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Odinson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Goldberg circles away.
Odinson fails to land the takedown.
Odinson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Goldberg throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Odinson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goldberg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Goldberg misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Goldberg fails with an attempt to clinch.
Goldberg tries a head kick but it misses.
Odinson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Goldberg's waist but Goldberg gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Odinson off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Odinson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Odinson has a takedown stuffed.

Odinson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odinson prevents Goldberg from getting back to his feet.
Goldberg working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Odinson.
Odinson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Goldberg works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Odinson looking to pass the guard.
Odinson throws a big right hand that misses.
Goldberg preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Odinson landing with the ground and pound.

Odinson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Odinson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Odinson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Odinson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Odinson is in close to Goldberg's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Odinson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odinson postures up and lands a big shot to Goldberg's brow.
Odinson tries to free his leg and advance position but Goldberg is retaining full guard.
Odinson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Goldberg taking punishment in the form of punches.
Odinson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Goldberg is avoiding damage well.
Odinson looks up at the clock and then as Goldberg takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Odinson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Odinson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Goldberg, who protects the arm well.
Goldberg struggling a bit here.
Goldberg is looking for a sweep.

Odinson swings around for an armbar but Goldberg sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Odinson's guard.
Odinson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odinson looking for a sweep. Not yet Odinson, not yet.
Odinson keeping moving, preventing Goldberg from controlling successfully.
Odinson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Odinson wants to hit a switch here but Goldberg passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Odinson there!
Odinson gives up his back whilst trying to strike.
Odinson tries to escape the position.
Goldberg punches the canvas rather than the man.
Goldberg is trying to stick to Odinson's back but Odinson is turning into Goldberg. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Goldberg's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Odinson.
Odinson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Odinson is fighting to break Goldberg's control of his arms but Goldberg is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

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.
Odinson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Odinson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Goldberg works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Odinson shoots in and drives through. Goldberg sprawls well.
Goldberg swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Goldberg works the jab nicely.
Odinson slips under a jab from Goldberg.
Odinson swats away the attempt to clinch by Goldberg.
Goldberg stuffs the takedown.
A nice combination there by Goldberg.
Goldberg misses with a two punch combination.
No luck for Odinson with that takedown attempt.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Goldberg, right into the meat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Odinson.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Odinson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Goldberg knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Odinson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thor Odinson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Thor Odinson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Odinson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Goldberg taking some punishment here, with Odinson in his half guard.
Goldberg tries to roll over but Odinson keeps him under control.
Odinson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Goldberg defending well though.
Goldberg blocking the ground and pound attempt from Odinson.

Odinson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Odinson wants to pass the guard but Goldberg is defending well.
Goldberg trying to hold on to Odinson's head to control him but Odinson postures up.

Odinson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Goldberg is just riding it out for now. Odinson eventually gives up the hold.
Odinson wants to pass to mount but Goldberg is defending the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Goldberg bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Goldberg wants to clinch up but Odinson keeps it at a distance.
Odinson has a takedown stuffed.
Odinson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Goldberg's waist but Goldberg gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Odinson off to one side.
Goldberg is looking to slow Odinson down with leg kicks.
Goldberg misses with a two punch combination.
Thor Odinson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Goldberg misses with the combination.
Odinson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Goldberg pinned against the cage. Goldberg gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Odinson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Odinson takes a kick to the side of the head.

Odinson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Odinson lands in his opponent's guard.
Odinson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Goldberg swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odinson forces his way into half guard.
Odinson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Odinson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Odinson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thor Odinson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Odinson seems to be working for a kimura but Goldberg defends the submission attempt.
Ground and pound from Odinson.
Odinson works his way into side control.

Odinson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Goldberg, who protects the arm well.
An elbow from Odinson crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odinson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Goldberg is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Odinson is controlling him well.
Goldberg is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The strikes coming from Odinson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Goldberg wants to control but Odinson postures up.
Goldberg pushes Odinson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Odinson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Odinson avoids a kick to the body.
Odinson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Goldberg pinned against the cage. Goldberg gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Goldberg scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Odinson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Odinson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Odinson tries to advance to mount but can't.

Odinson has hold of Goldberg's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Goldberg tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Odinson cranks the arm and Goldberg screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Goldberg, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Thor Odinson!