PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Herrick Goldman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Veli Pirinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Goldman comes to the cage accompanied by Gamma Ray - Blood Religion . On his way into the cage it seems that Herrick Goldman has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Herrick Goldman seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Goldman
vs
Pirinen

165 cm
27
170 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

192 cm
25
180 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Herrick Goldman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Veli Pirinen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goldman scores with a jab to the body.
Goldman moves out of range of the body kick.
Goldman dives in and grabs Pirinen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pirinen pushes down on Goldman's head and hops out.
Goldman scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Pirinen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jab by Pirinen.
Goldman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pirinen.
Goldman misses with a wild body shot.
Pirinen looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Pirinen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Goldman to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pirinen working for a triangle but Goldman defends it easily.
Pirinen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Goldman 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.

Goldman has gone for a leg lock! Pirinen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Goldman's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pirinen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goldman is keeping the position for now.
Goldman controlling Pirinen's posture.
Pirinen postures up.
Goldman keeping moving, preventing Pirinen from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Veli Pirinen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Goldman slips under a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldman scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Pirinen stuffs the takedown attempt from Goldman. Goldman gets slowly back to his feet.
Goldman throws a hook to the side of Pirinen's head but Pirinen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pirinen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Goldman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Veli Pirinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Goldman pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Pirinen back to the cage. Goldman follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Pirinen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Goldman.
Pirinen catches Goldman with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pirinen thows a body shot but no joy.
Pirinen throws out a powerful jab.
Pirinen throws a hook to the side of Goldman's head but Goldman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pirinen misses with a head kick.
Goldman misses with a few strikes there.
Goldman takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Pirinen is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Goldman shoots in for a double leg but Pirinen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herrick Goldman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Pirinen finds it's target.
Goldman takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Pirinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Pirinen.
A big right from Pirinen misses.
Pirinen lands a jab to Goldman's midsection.
Pirinen cracks Goldman with a good jab.
A combination from Pirinen does no damage.
Pirinen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Goldman's hands.
Pirinen throws a low kick, looking for Goldman's leg but Goldman calmly moves out of range.
Veli Pirinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pirinen scores with a push kick.
Pirinen misses with a head kick.
Pirinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Goldman shoots in but no luck this time.
Goldman walks into a straight right hand from Pirinen.
Goldman swings for the body but Pirinen moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pirinen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pirinen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Pirinen lands with a good body shot.
Goldman throws a right and a left that Pirinen avoids nicely.
Goldman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pirinen as he avoids it easily.
Pirinen misses with a body kick.
Pirinen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Goldman on the side of the head.
Goldman scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Goldman moves forwards but Pirinen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Goldman lands a slapping body shot.
Pirinen misses with a head kick.

Goldman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Pirinen tries to get to full guard but Goldman has control of the leg.
Pirinen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Veli Pirinen will probably get the nod.
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.

Pirinen throws a front kick that sends Goldman stumbling back into the cage.

Pirinen tries to sprawl but Goldman drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Goldman wants to work for an arm triangle but Pirinen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Goldman lands a nice short elbow.

Goldman is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pirinen gets full guard.
Pirinen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Goldman!
Pirinen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Pirinen seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Goldman is holding on tight.
Goldman wants to control but Pirinen is having none of it.
Pirinen trying to control but Goldman is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goldman sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Goldman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Goldman is looking to improve his position.
Pirinen content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Goldman is looking to improve his position.
Goldman is staying active underneath Pirinen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Goldman tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Pirinen has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Pirinen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldman can't escape the position.
Goldman is working hard here to advance position.
Pirinen avoids the attempt from Goldman to control.
Pirinen content just to control the position here.
Pirinen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Pirinen wants to control but instead Goldman manages to regain half guard.
Goldman is trying to maintain the position but Pirinen is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pirinen is trying to work for a kimura but Goldman is defending well.
Goldman trying to hold on to Pirinen's head to control him but Pirinen postures up.
Goldman on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Pirinen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Goldman sees it coming and defends easily.
Nice strikes from Pirinen there.
Goldman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Goldman.
Goldman controlling Pirinen's posture.
Goldman keeping full guard, as Pirinen tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goldman is adopting a defensive guard.
Goldman looking for a sweep. Not yet Goldman, not yet.
Pirinen wants to control from the top but Goldman keeps moving.
Goldman wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Goldman moves into the clinch.
Pirinen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pirinen is trying to maintain a safe position but Goldman gets an underhook and turns Pirinen into the cage.
Pirinen lands a left hand.
Pirinen lands a nice elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pirinen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Goldman backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Veli Pirinen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Goldman crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Pirinen - the referee stops the clock and Goldman gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Pirinen. Goldman manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Pirinen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Goldmans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Goldman has closed the distance and engaged Pirinen in a clinch.
Pirinen stalling in the clinch but Goldman improves position.
Goldman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pirinen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pirinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Goldman's elbow.

Pirinen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Goldman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pirinen's waist but Pirinen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Goldman off to one side.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pirinen.
Pirinen thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Goldman if he has to take too many more of those.
Pirinen lands a front kick.
Pirinen is looking to slow Goldman down with leg kicks.
Pirinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Goldman.
Pirinen lands with a slapping head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pirinen misses with a kick to the body.
Pirinen fakes the leg kick and cracks Goldman in the body.
Goldman takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pirinen slips a jab and a cross from Goldman.
Pirinen throws a head kick that misses.
Pirinen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Goldman is looking to wear down Pirinen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Pirinen throws a push kick but Goldman slaps the foot to one side.
Pirinen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Pirinen cracks Goldman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Pirinen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Goldman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Pirinen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Goldman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pirinen trying to control the position.
Pirinen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Goldman.
Pirinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Pirinen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Goldman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Goldman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Herrick Goldman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pirinen has momentary wrist control but Goldman slips an elbow through the middle.
Goldman tries to free his leg and advance position but Pirinen is retaining full guard.

Pirinen has his foot on Goldman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Goldman works his way back into a safe position though.
Goldman distracts Pirinen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pirinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pirinen being controlled here, momentarily.
Pirinen keeping moving, preventing Goldman from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Veli Pirinen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pirinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goldman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pirinen.
Veli Pirinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No joy there for Goldman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Goldman misses with a wild combination.
Pirinen thows a body shot but no joy.
Pirinen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nice body kick from Pirinen.
Goldman tries to clinch up but Pirinen circles away and keeps his distance.
Goldman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herrick Goldman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Goldman does no damage.
Goldman takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pirinen connects with a body shot.
Goldman takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Pirinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goldman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pirinen circles away.
Goldman shoots in looking for a takedown. Pirinen tries to sprawl out of it but Goldman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pirinen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Goldman's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Pirinen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Goldman scrambles back to his feet.
Pirinen stuffs the takedown attempt from Goldman. Goldman gets slowly back to his feet.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pirinen, right into the meat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pirinen scores with a spinning back kick!
Pirinen lands the left hand.
Pirinen lands a head kick. Goldman smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pirinen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Pirinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Pirinen throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Goldman scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Veli Pirinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pirinen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Veli Pirinen!