PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Fine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Goldstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tom Goldstein struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. The key to victory for Joe Fine has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Fine
vs
Goldstein

192 cm
22
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Fine !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tom Goldstein!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fine shoots in for a double leg but Goldstein sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fine throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Goldstein's waist but Goldstein gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fine off to one side.

Goldstein fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Fine sprawls well initially but Goldstein persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fine is looking for a sweep. Goldstein is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Goldstein tries to pass to full mount but Fine defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Goldstein is trying to work for a kimura but Fine is defending well.
Fine wants to get back to his feet.
Goldstein wants to pass the guard but Fine is defending well.
Fine is trying to control but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fine will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fine connects with the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fine drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Goldstein looks gassed!
Fine scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Goldstein to see if he's OK.
Fine fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Fine misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Fine stands up and beckons Goldstein to his feet.
Goldstein tries for a takedown but Fine circles away easily

and Fine counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Fine .

Goldstein working for a triangle but Fine defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Fine avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fine postures up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fine content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Goldstein escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fine gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fine slips nicely into half guard.

Goldstein looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Goldstein is trying to get back to full guard.
Goldstein is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fine scores with a couple of nice shots.
Goldstein is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Goldstein keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Fine scores a takedown into full mount!
Goldstein is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
BOOM! Fine connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Fine tries to control but Goldstein wriggling away.
Goldstein tries to lock up and control but Fine gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Fine wants to finish this one by submission but Goldstein is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Fine .

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fine has hold of Goldstein's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Goldstein manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Goldstein wants to control but Fine is having none of it.

Fine stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Fine gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Goldstein counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Fine . That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Goldstein trying to control the action but Fine is working from the bottom.
Fine wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Fine actively working from the bottom here.
Fine looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Fine dominated that round.
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.

Goldstein looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Fine !
Fine keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Goldstein fails to move to back control.
Goldstein wants to control the pace but Fine is squirming around nicely.

Fine defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Goldstein.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fine is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Goldstein looking to secure an arm triangle but Fine defends it well.
Fine is desperately trying to improve his position but Goldstein has a good base and remains in mount.
Fine wants to hold on but Goldstein pushes him away.
Goldstein is trying to take his opponent's back.
Fine manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Goldstein looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Goldstein is working for a kimura but Fine is defending it quite comfortably.
Fine has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Goldstein is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Goldstein is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Fine moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fine wants to get back to his feet but Goldstein is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Goldstein won't allow Fine to sweep him here.
Fine tries to strike from the bottom.

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

Goldstein scores a takedown into full mount!
Goldstein wants to control the pace but Fine is squirming around nicely.
Fine is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goldstein controlling his opponent.
Fine bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Goldstein pulls Fine in close to his closed guard and prevents Fine from doing any damage or advancing position.
Goldstein trying to keep a closed guard but Fine is proving a slippery customer.
Goldstein wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fine trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fine works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Fine decides to stand up.
Fine with a lazy takedown attempt

and Goldstein counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Goldstein is working for a kimura but Fine is defending it quite comfortably.
Fine punching from the bottom.
Fine manages to get to full guard.

Fine working for a triangle but Goldstein defends it easily.

Goldstein is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Goldstein showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Goldstein tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fine swivels and escapes.
Fine shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Goldstein counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fine 's guard now.
Goldstein looking to pass the guard.
Goldstein trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Fine manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Goldstein looking to control.

Fine gets to his feet. Goldstein looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Fine doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Goldstein counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fine 's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Goldstein won't allow Fine to sweep him here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Goldstein stays in close to Fine 's body and controls the position.
Fine wants to stand and escape but Goldstein is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Goldstein drops back looking for a leg! Fine is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fine manages to kick Goldstein off! Goldstein jumps back into Fine 's guard.
Goldstein trying to control the position from guard on top but Fine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fine can't keep his opponent in guard - Goldstein advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Fine makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Fine .
Fine looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Goldstein looking to pass the guard.

Goldstein drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Goldstein jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fine is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Fine is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Goldstein looking for a guillotine here but Fine defends easily.
Fine tries to free his leg and advance position but Goldstein is retaining full guard.
Goldstein is controlling Fine 's posture.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fine content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Goldstein controls Fine momentarily but Fine frees himself.

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

Goldstein working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fine doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fine manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Goldstein keeping full guard, as Fine tries to pass.
Fine slips nicely into half guard.
Fine thows a huge punch but Goldstein dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Goldstein won't allow Fine to pass to mount.
Fine tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Goldstein.
Goldstein is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fine 's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fine 's back!

Fine is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Goldstein gets his way!
Fine prevents Goldstein from getting a body triangle.

Fine defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Goldstein looking to break Fine 's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Fine remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Goldstein will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Fine breaks Goldstein's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Goldstein looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fine is one step ahead there.

Fine gets to his feet. Goldstein looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Goldstein comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Goldstein has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Goldstein!