PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yoge Girma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Placido Domingo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Girma
vs
Domingo

177 cm
23
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Yoge Girma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Placido Domingo!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Domingo throws a series of strikes that have Girma backpedaling.
Domingo closes the distance and clinches up with Girma, looking for a takedown. Domingo pushes Girma against the cage but Girma circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Girma takes the fight into the clinch.
Girma goes for a takedown attempt but Domingo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Domingo throws a body punch but Girma moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Domingo gets tackled into the cage by Girma. Girma maintains the clinch.
Girma tries to pull guard but Domingo holds him up against the cage and eventually Girma drops back down to his feet.
Girma has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Domingo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoge Girma. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Domingo decides to pull guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Domingo keeping moving, preventing Girma from controlling successfully.
Girma could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Domingo is pulling down on Girma's head. It's preventing any offense from Girma, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Girma trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Girma trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Domingo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Girma postures up in Domingo's guard and throws a big left but Domingo blocks it.

Domingo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Girma stopping the sweep attempt from Domingo.
Domingo keeping moving, preventing Girma from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Yoge Girma wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Domingo slaps away a takedown attempt from Girma, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Girma slips a jab from Domingo.
Girma looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Domingo is fending him off so far but Girma persists. Nope, Domingo circles away and we're back to standing.
Girma misses with a wild body shot.
Girma closes the distance and clinches up with Domingo, looking for a takedown. Girma pushes Domingo against the cage but Domingo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Domingo fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Domingo shoots in and bounces Girma off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Girma controls Domingo momentarily but Domingo frees himself.
Domingo trying to control the position from guard on top but Girma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Domingo preventing the sweep.
Girma seems keen to control Domingo's posture.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Domingo won't allow Girma to sweep him here.
Girma is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Domingo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Girma sprawls well. Girma wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Domingo gets slowly back to his feet.
Domingo is looking to clinch.
Girma throws the kick towards the body but Domingo avoids it.
Domingo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Girma as he jumps to the side.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Domingo instigates a clinch.
Domingo stalling in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Girma goes for a takedown attempt but Domingo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Girma dodges the punch combination from Domingo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Placido Domingo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Domingo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Domingo tries to advance to mount but Girma denies him.
Domingo wants to stand but Girma has his arm trapped.
The strikes coming from Domingo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Girma prevents Domingo from improving position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Domingo throws a strike aimed at the side of Girma's head but Girma avoids it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Girma's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Check out the look on Domingo's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Girma tries to improve position but can't.
Girma is working hard here to advance position.
You can see the frustration on Girma's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Domingo is chipping away with strikes.
Domingo working away.

Domingo goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Girma has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Domingo but great work by Girma.
Girma cracks Domingo with a big right hand but Domingo just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Girma tries to advance to mount but Domingo denies him.
Domingo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Girma looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Domingo flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Domingo tries to get to full guard but Girma has control of the leg.
Girma throwing shots but Domingo is blocking nicely.
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!
Domingo controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Domingo wants to improve his position but Girma is controlling well.
Girma is trying to control the action in half guard but Domingo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Yoge Girma has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Girma throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Domingo's waist but Domingo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Girma off to one side.
Domingo fails with an attempt to clinch.

Girma gets a double leg takedown into Domingo's guard.
Domingo is trying to keep Girma in close.
Domingo being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Domingo wants to get back to his feet but Girma is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Girma's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Yoge Girma has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Girma stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Girma wants it to stay on the feet.
Domingo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Girma shoots in and bounces Domingo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Girma wants to control from the top but Domingo keeps moving.
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 Yoge Girma will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Girma fails with a takedown attempt.
Domingo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Girma enables Domingo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Girma manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Domingo wants to control from the top but Girma keeps moving.
Domingo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Domingo wants to stand but Girma has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Domingo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Placido Domingo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Girma goes for a double leg but Domingo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Domingo continues to drive forward.
Domingo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Girma avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Girma ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Girma no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Domingo trying to control but Girma is working from the bottom.
Girma keeping full guard, as Domingo tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Domingo looking to sit in guard and control but Girma gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Girma trying to control but Domingo is working from the bottom.
Domingo controls Girma momentarily but Girma frees himself.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Girma tries to stand but Domingo is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Domingo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Girma gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Domingo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Domingo has a closed guard, preventing Girma from standing up.
Domingo keeping moving, preventing Girma from controlling successfully.
Girma stops Domingo from standing up.
Domingo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Girma is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Domingo working a defensive guard here.

Yoge Girma has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Girma ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Horrible takedown by Girma or perhaps it was just good defense by Domingo which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoge Girma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Domingo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Girma counters by moving into the clinch.
Domingo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Girma wants to take the fight to the mat but Domingo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Placido Domingo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Domingo 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Placido Domingo!
Judge Josh West scores the fight for Placido Domingo!
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight for Placido Domingo!

Placido Domingo wins by unanimous decision!