PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Golovkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Little Rick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Golovkin
vs
Rick

165 cm
27
135 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

174 cm
25
150 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mikhail Golovkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Little Rick!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Steve Montenegro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Golovkin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Golovkin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Golovkin landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rick is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Golovkin connects with a couple of short punches.
Rick is trying to control the position but Golovkin postures up.
Golovkin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Rick is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Golovkin is aware though and is defending well.
Golovkin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rick works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Golovkin throwing strikes but missing.
Golovkin postures up in Rick's guard and throws a big left but Rick blocks it.
Golovkin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rick lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Rick wants to pass the guard but Golovkin is keeping the position.

Rick avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Golovkin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Golovkin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rick is fighting to break Golovkin's control of his arms but Golovkin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rick trying to control but Golovkin is working from the bottom.
Rick engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Golovkin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rick defends well.

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

Golovkin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Golovkin has his foot on Rick's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rick works his way back into a safe position though.
Rick passes Golovkin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Golovkin tries to roll over but Rick keeps him under control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rick in particular looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Rick shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rick showed some decent athleticism there.
Rick seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Golovkin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Golovkin trying to hold on to Rick's head to control him but Rick postures up.
Golovkin regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rick preventing the sweep.
Golovkin keeping full guard, as Rick tries to pass.
Golovkin is trying to control the position but Rick postures up.
Golovkin keeping moving, preventing Rick from controlling successfully.
Rick tries to free his leg and advance position but Golovkin is retaining full guard.
Golovkin wants to sweep here but Rick controlling him for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Golovkin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Rick looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rick looks winded!
Golovkin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin is looking to advance position but Rick won't allow it.
Rick on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Golovkin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Golovkin is looking to advance position but Rick won't allow it.
Golovkin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Golovkin lands strikes from half guard.

Rick looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Golovkin lands strikes from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rick is looking to improve his position.
Rick has hold of Golovkin's hands but Golovkin slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Rick is rocked!
Golovkin is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Rick is hurt! He's hurt bad - Golovkin fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Rick from any more punishment! Congratulations to Golovkin! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mikhail Golovkin!
A very excited looking Mikhail Golovkin rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.