PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jax Marciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Goldberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marciano
vs
Goldberg

185 cm
26
221 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

193 cm
26
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jax Marciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bill Goldberg!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Goldberg fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Marciano, pushing him back against the cage.

Goldberg gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Marciano regains guard.
Goldberg is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Goldberg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marciano is keeping the position for now.

Marciano is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Goldberg defends well.
Goldberg tries to free his leg and advance position but Marciano is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goldberg stands and throws Marciano's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Goldberg wants to stand but Marciano has his arm trapped.
Marciano could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goldberg controls the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Marciano is trying to get back to half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
We've been informed that Goldberg has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Goldberg shoots in but no luck this time.
Goldberg stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Goldberg wants it to stay on the feet.
Marciano misses with a takedown attempt - Goldberg sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Marciano fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jax Marciano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marciano swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Goldberg holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Marciano drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Goldberg gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Goldberg decides to pull guard.
Goldberg pulls Marciano in close to his closed guard and prevents Marciano from doing any damage or advancing position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Goldberg can do anything to dispel that myth.
Marciano wants to pass the guard but Goldberg is keeping the position.
Goldberg wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg wants to stand but Marciano is controlling the position.

Goldberg throws his legs up looking for a submission but Marciano uses it to pass to side control.
Goldberg seems a little lost for a moment, as Marciano dominates the positioning.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Goldberg as Marciano shoots in.
No luck for Marciano with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Goldberg gets a takedown into half guard.
Goldberg not doing much here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Goldberg working Marciano over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Goldberg 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.

Nice sprawl there from Marciano as Goldberg shoots in.
Marciano fails with a takedown attempt.
Marciano shoots in for a takedown but Goldberg shows good takedown defense.
Goldberg slips a straight right by Marciano.

Marciano gets tackled into the cage by Goldberg. Goldberg maintains the clinch.

Goldberg turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Goldberg manages to end up in side control.
Marciano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Goldberg wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Goldberg tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goldberg scores with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goldberg working the ground and pound from side control.
Goldberg lands some shots froms side control.
Goldberg tries to stand but Marciano controls the position and pulls Goldberg into his guard.
Goldberg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marciano is keeping the position for now.
Goldberg stays in close to Marciano's body and controls the position.
Goldberg forces his way into half guard.
Marciano won't allow Goldberg to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Marciano missing with punches from the bottom.
Goldberg is taking a breather. Marciano says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Goldberg pushes Marciano up against the cage in a clinch.
Goldberg is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Marciano to keep the fight standing.

Marciano escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Goldberg closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Marciano to the mat! Marciano manages to get full guard.

Marciano working for a triangle but Goldberg defends it easily.
Goldberg passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Goldberg has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marciano is working to avoid the ground and pound but Goldberg connects with a decent elbow.
Goldberg wants to stand but Marciano has his arm trapped.
Goldberg content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Marciano is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Goldberg wants to stand but Marciano is controlling his arm.
Goldberg lands a few punches from side control.
Marciano wants to control but Goldberg postures up.
Marciano trying to remain calm as Goldberg controls from the top position.
Marciano is trying to get back to half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice takedown defense from Marciano. No joy for Goldberg on that attempt.
Marciano tries to counter with a takedown but Goldberg is quick to defend against it.
Jax Marciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Goldberg.

Goldberg bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Goldberg 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! And we move into the final round!

Goldberg shoots for a takedown but Marciano saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Marciano tries to score a power double leg takedown but Goldberg sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Marciano somewhat.

Marciano clinches with his opponent.

Goldberg pulls guard effortlessly.
Goldberg keeping moving, preventing Marciano from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goldberg trying to keep a closed guard but Marciano is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Goldberg has his foot on Marciano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Marciano works his way back into a safe position though.
Goldberg throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Goldberg is controlling Marciano's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marciano slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Marciano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Goldberg working for a triangle but Marciano defends it easily.
Marciano preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Goldberg stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Goldberg wants it to stay on the feet.
Marciano looks for a takedown but Goldberg sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jax Marciano. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Goldberg manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Marciano on his heels. He'll look to pass Marciano's guard now, I'm sure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marciano looking for a sweep. Not yet Marciano, not yet.
Goldberg working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Marciano is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Goldberg content to stall in guard here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

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.
Goldberg lands a couple of digs.
Goldberg advances position into side control!
Goldberg is looking to take a break and control but Marciano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marciano looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Goldberg closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bill Goldberg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Goldberg 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill Goldberg!