PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tony Goldman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joesph Ely (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Goldman
vs
Ely

165 cm
24
135 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

176 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tony Goldman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joesph Ely!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ely clinches up with Goldman and pushes him back against the cage.

Goldman gets control of Ely's arms and successfully pulls guard. Goldman will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Goldman lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ely!
Ely is wriggling around trying to escape.

Goldman is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Ely can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Goldman has hold of Ely's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ely manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Ely is trying to escape the mount.

Goldman with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ely working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ely sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Goldman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ely is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Goldman trying to pass the guard but Ely defending well.
Ely taking some punishment here, with Goldman in his half guard.
Goldman looks to land a strike but Ely avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Goldman passes Ely's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Goldman is thwarting Ely's attempts to control the position.
Ely tries to kick Goldman off but Goldman keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Goldman is working for a submission of some sort.
Goldman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ely is controlling Goldman's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Goldman is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ely has managed to free his arm - good work.

Goldman is trying to work for a kimura but Ely is defending well.
Goldman wants to pass to mount but Ely is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ely is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Goldman's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Goldman's back!
Goldman trying to control the position but Ely manages to sink in the hooks.
Goldman rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Goldman is not content to let Ely control the position.
Goldman is pressing down on Ely's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ely trying to control the position from guard on top but Goldman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ely throws a big right hand that misses.
Ely tries to stand but Goldman is controlling from the bottom.
Ely postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ely throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Goldman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ely must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tony Goldman just wasn't active enough.

Ely feints and as Goldman raises his hands in defense, Ely changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Goldman wants to sweep here but Ely controlling him for the moment.
Ely controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ely postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ely slips nicely into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Goldman is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ely's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ely's back!
Goldman misses with a punch to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Goldman dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Goldman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ely pinned against the cage. Ely gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Ely shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Goldman is trying to defend but Ely finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Goldman wants to get back to full guard.

Ely is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Goldman defends it well.
Goldman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Goldman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ely trying to control the position from guard on top but Goldman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ely being controlled here momentarily.
Ely postures up.
Ely controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tony Goldman.

Goldman tries to sprawl but Ely drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Goldman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ely throwing strikes from guard but Goldman blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldman lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ely!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Goldman cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Goldman looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Goldman in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Goldman is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ely has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Ely tries to lock up and control but Goldman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ely is working to get back to half guard.
Tony Goldman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goldman working the ground and pound effectively.
Ely sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Ely kicks off Goldman and gets to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Goldman.
Goldman falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ely counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ely missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Goldman working a defensive guard here.
Goldman manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goldman breaks from Ely's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ely tries to reverse the position but Goldman maintains control.
Goldman landing strikes from the mount.
Goldman avoids the attempt from Ely to control.
Goldman in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Goldman 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.
Ely is wriggling around trying to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ely is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Goldman thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
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 Tony Goldman will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Goldman fails with a takedown attempt.
Ely stuffs the takedown attempt from Goldman. Goldman gets slowly back to his feet.
Goldman shoots in for a takedown but Ely shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Goldman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ely closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Goldman did well to prevent Ely getting side control.

Ely is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Goldman defends it well.
Goldman wants to get back to full guard.
Goldman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ely.

Ely stands up out of the half guard.
Goldman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ely sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ely looking to score a takedown here. Goldman is defending well but Ely drives through and ends up in Goldman's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ely wants to pass the guard but Goldman is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ely throws a big right hand that misses.
Ely trying to control the position from guard on top but Goldman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Goldman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ely postures up.
Ely has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Goldman is proving hard to escape from.
Goldman managing to control the position.
Ely is looking to stand up but Goldman won't let him.
Goldman 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Goldman gets caught flat footed, as Ely shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Goldman is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ely makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ely looking to pass the guard.

Ely thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Goldman keeping moving, preventing Ely from controlling successfully.
Goldman is trying to keep Ely in close.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ely trying to control the position from guard on top but Goldman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ely stopping the sweep attempt from Goldman.
Ely scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ely throws an elbow that misses. Goldman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ely's guard. Nice move by Goldman!
Goldman is looking to work some ground and pound but Ely has wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ely is on top in guard.
Goldman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ely is one step ahead there.
Tony Goldman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ely being controlled here momentarily.
Ely wants to control from the top but Goldman keeps moving.
Ely stopping the sweep attempt from Goldman.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Goldman can't keep his opponent in guard - Ely advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joesph Ely comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Goldman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tony Goldman!
A relieved looking Tony Goldman thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.