PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ollie Strauss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Godbolt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Godbolt is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Trenches by Pop Evil. This should be a great matchup!

Strauss
vs
Godbolt

185 cm
21
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
194 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ollie Strauss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matthew Godbolt!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strauss misses with a double jab

and Godbolt counters with a single leg into guard. Strauss didn't expect that.
Godbolt throwing strikes from guard but Strauss blocks nicely.
Strauss is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Godbolt looking to pass the guard.
Godbolt trying to control but Strauss is working from the bottom.
Godbolt is working Strauss over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Strauss looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Strauss not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Godbolt trying to control but Strauss is working from the bottom.
Godbolt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Strauss tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Strauss manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Godbolt is desperately trying to improve his position but Strauss has a good base and remains in mount.
Godbolt gets back to half guard.

Strauss seems to be working for a kimura but Godbolt defends the submission attempt.

Strauss looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Strauss trying to control from half guard but Godbolt is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strauss is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Godbolt sees it coming and defends easily.
Godbolt slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Strauss slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Godbolt is looking to regain half guard here but Strauss keeps moving and retains side control.
Strauss trying to control the position but Godbolt is working away.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Godbolt tries to buck Strauss off but Strauss is having none of it.

Strauss tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Godbolt manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strauss is trying to get back to full guard.

Godbolt is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Godbolt throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Strauss to regain full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Godbolt's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Godbolt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Strauss trying to keep a closed guard but Godbolt is proving a slippery customer.
Strauss wants to sweep here but Godbolt controlling him for the moment.

Strauss escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Godbolt gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strauss has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Godbolt has passed into side control.
Strauss is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Strauss is not content to let Godbolt control the position.
An elbow from Godbolt crashes against the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Strauss is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Godbolt is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Strauss knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Godbolt 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.

Strauss looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Godbolt closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Godbolt tries to pass to full mount but Strauss defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strauss wants to control but Godbolt is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Godbolt has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Godbolt lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Strauss is looking for a sweep. Godbolt is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Godbolt works his way into full mount!
Strauss bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Godbolt is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Strauss is aware though and is defending well.
Strauss trying to control the position from guard on top but Godbolt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Godbolt is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Godbolt looking for a sweep. Not yet Godbolt, not yet.
Strauss trying to control the position from guard on top but Godbolt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Strauss drops back looking for a leg! Godbolt is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Godbolt manages to kick Strauss off! Strauss jumps back into Godbolt's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Godbolt is on top in guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Godbolt with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Godbolt landing some decent shots from guard.
Godbolt stopping the sweep attempt from Strauss.
Strauss looking to control.
Matthew Godbolt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Strauss is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Godbolt is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Godbolt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strauss swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Godbolt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Strauss is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Godbolt is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Godbolt trying to control the position from guard on top but Strauss is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Godbolt forces his way into half guard.
Strauss regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Godbolt.
Godbolt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Godbolt preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strauss keeping moving, preventing Godbolt from controlling successfully.
Godbolt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Strauss utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Godbolt postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Godbolt pushes down on Strauss's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Strauss trying to control but Godbolt postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Godbolt looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Godbolt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Godbolt drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Strauss taking punishment in the form of punches.
Godbolt throws a strike aimed at the side of Strauss's head but Strauss avoids it well.

Godbolt is trying to get an arm triangle but Strauss is defending well.
Godbolt trying to control the action but Strauss is working from the bottom.

Godbolt tries for a kimura but Strauss is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strauss wants to control but Godbolt postures up.
Godbolt scores with a couple of short elbows.
Godbolt moves into full mount!
Godbolt lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Strauss hang on?

Godbolt is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Strauss can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Godbolt landing shots from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strauss is trying to reverse the position but instead Godbolt has taken his back - oops!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strauss showing good submission defense here.

Godbolt is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Strauss defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Godbolt throwing strikes and Strauss squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.
Godbolt looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Godbolt working Strauss over with strikes here.
Strauss working to try and regain half guard.
BOOM! Godbolt connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Godbolt is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Godbolt looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Godbolt wants to control the pace but Strauss is squirming around nicely.
Strauss is in a horrible position here. Godbolt smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Godbolt moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Strauss has worked his arm free - good work by Strauss!
Godbolt advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strauss takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ollie Strauss has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strauss bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Godbolt keeping moving, preventing Strauss from controlling successfully.

Godbolt working for a triangle but Strauss defends it easily.
Strauss stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Godbolt swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Strauss preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Godbolt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Godbolt has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Godbolt!
During a confident post fight interview, Matthew Godbolt thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.