PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Giri Essex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saul Goodman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Essex comes to the cage accompanied by Wonderful Place. Giri Essex has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Essex
vs
Goodman

173 cm
20
168 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
19
166 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Dynamic Nutrition $25 159 Recovery

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Giri Essex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Saul Goodman!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Essex wants to clinch.
Essex wants to clinch

and Goodman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Goodman.
Goodman is looking to advance position but Essex has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Goodman keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Goodman can do anything to dispel that myth.

Essex has hold of Goodman's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Goodman manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Essex can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Goodman is looking to escape.
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.
Goodman can't escape the position.
Essex looking to control but Goodman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Goodman regains half guard.

Goodman actively working from the bottom here.
Goodman is trying to stand.

Goodman actively working from the bottom here.
Goodman wants to control but Essex is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Goodman actively working from the bottom here.
Goodman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Goodman.

Goodman looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Essex has picked Goodman up and slammed him! Goodman can't keep hold of the triangle and Essex manages to pass to side control!
Goodman wants to control but Essex postures up.
Goodman sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Essex trying to control from half guard but Goodman is working away.
Essex not landing any meaningful shots this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Goodman is trying to get back to full guard.

Goodman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Essex tries to stand and escape but Goodman is controlling the position.

Goodman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Essex keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Goodman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Essex pulls his head out easily.
Essex blocks the strikes from Goodman.
Essex is trying to control the action in half guard but Goodman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Essex wants to stand but Goodman has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Goodman is staying active underneath Essex, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Essex throws a strike but Goodman avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Essex advances to half guard.
Goodman gets back to full guard.

Goodman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Goodman keeping moving, preventing Essex from controlling successfully.

Essex drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Essex jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Goodman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Essex can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Essex might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Essex stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Goodman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Goodman 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.

Goodman drives through with a takedown into Essex's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Goodman trying to control but Essex is working from the bottom.
Goodman throws an elbow that misses. Essex uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Goodman's guard. Nice move by Essex!

Goodman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Goodman is looking for a triangle but Essex pushes his legs off easily.
Goodman wants to sweep here but Essex controlling him for the moment.

Goodman isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Essex stacks Goodman on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Essex!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodman is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Essex is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Goodman is trying to escape the mount.
Goodman is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Goodman stops Essex from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Goodman sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Essex performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goodman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Goodman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Goodman is looking to improve his position.
Goodman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Essex tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Goodman.
Essex controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Essex wants to control from the top but Goodman keeps moving.

Goodman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Essex is aware though and is defending well.
Essex is pushing down on Goodman's leg trying to pass to half guard. Goodman is fighting to maintain full guard but Essex has managed to sneak the leg through.
Essex is looking to take a break and control but Goodman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Essex is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Goodman defends it well.
Goodman works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goodman has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Essex has passed into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Goodman is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Essex off and has taken his back!

Goodman working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Essex is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Goodman is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Goodman is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Essex defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Goodman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Essex gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Goodman drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Goodman is looking for a takedown.
Goodman has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Essex is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Giri Essex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Goodman.
Goodman wants to take the fight to the mat but Essex manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Goodman has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Essex avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Essex is pressed up against the cage. Goodman has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Essex down to the mat. Essex avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Goodman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Essex throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Essex closes the distance looking to clinch

and Goodman counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Essex lands a body shot.
Essex makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Essex manages to break the clinch.
Essex connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Essex tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Giri Essex is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Goodman throws a wild hook but Essex just manages to duck under it and - ooooh! Goodman gets nailed by a brutal uppercut which crumples him back against the cage! The referee jumps in - Essex raises his hands in celebration and walks away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Giri Essex!
An out of breath Giri Essex thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.