PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abe Goldman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichi Ijima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ijima is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Alphabetical #1 - Karera Musication. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Goldman
vs
Ijima

190 cm
36
190 lbs
34 - 17 - 0

178 cm
27
202 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

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 34 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abe Goldman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ichi Ijima!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ijima tries for a takedown but Goldman circles away easily
and Ijima takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ijima ducks under a wild hook from Goldman.

Ijima closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Goldman's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ijima with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ijima wants to control from the top but Goldman keeps moving.
Ijima makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Goldman wants to stand and escape but Ijima is having none of it.
Ijima missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Goldman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ijima working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ijima throws an elbow that misses. Goldman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ijima's guard. Nice move by Goldman!
Ijima tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ijima lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Goldman!
Goldman avoids a series of strikes thrown by Ijima.
Goldman is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at NEXUS GYM that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ijima cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldman is trying desperately to improve position.
Goldman takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ijima landing strikes, looking to finish!
Goldman in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Ijima lands with some strikes.
Goldman blocking the ground and pound.
Ijima looking to ground and pound but Goldman is blocking nicely.
Ijima lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ijima working for a guillotine from mount but Goldman is in no mood to give up.
Goldman trying desperately to get to his feet.
Ijima lands a big shot there that rocks Goldman but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Goldman wants to control but Ijima is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Goldman regains half guard.
Ijima thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ijima seems to be working for a kimura but Goldman defends the submission attempt.
Ijima trying to control the action but Goldman is working from the bottom.
Ijima is stalling here. Goldman is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ijima seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Goldman has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ijima is looking to regain half guard here but Goldman keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichi Ijima 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.

Goldman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ijima manages to avoid it.
Ijima dives in and grabs Goldman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Goldman pushes down on Ijima's head and hops out.
Goldman scores with a jab. Ijima acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Goldman throws a big shot that misses.

Ijima shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ijima wants to take a breather but Goldman is having none of it.
Ijima passes to full mount!
Ijima with the ground and pound from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ijima is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Goldman can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
BOOM! Ijima connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Goldman tries to hold on but Ijima pushes him away.
Ijima throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Ijima throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Ijima controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ijima lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Goldman really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ijima in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Goldman blocking the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ijima looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ijima looking to control but Goldman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ijima lands a couple of good shots and Goldman has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Ijima has good solid back control here.
The referee is taking a good look at Goldman as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Ijima!
Goldman is taking damage to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ijima scores with punches from the back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Goldman grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Ijima throwing sloppy strikes.
Ijima has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Goldman.

Ijima has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Goldman covering up well and avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichi Ijima showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Goldman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ijima sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Ijima closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Goldman quickly recovers to half guard.
Ijima is trying to control. Goldman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ijima thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Goldman's head.
Goldman is trying to stand.
Ijima landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ijima thows a huge punch but Goldman dodges it nicely.
Ijima thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ijima stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goldman taking some punishment here, with Ijima in his half guard.
Ijima is nestled in close to Goldman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ijima is looking to take a break and control but Goldman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Goldman is trying to get back to full guard.
Ijima trying to control from half guard but Goldman is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ijima missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Goldman has hold of Ijima's hands but Ijima slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Goldman is refusing to be controlled, as Ijima sits in half guard.
Ijima missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ijima throwing shots but Goldman is blocking nicely.
Goldman taking some punishment here, with Ijima in his half guard.

Ijima is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Goldman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ijima.
Goldman wants to get back to his feet.
Abe Goldman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goldman is staying active underneath Ijima, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Ijima is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Goldman to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Ijima throws a strike but Goldman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ijima is trying to keep Goldman in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ichi Ijima comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ijima 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichi Ijima!
A very excited looking Ichi Ijima made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.