PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bill Goldberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akira Akiyama is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Goldberg
vs
Akiyama

193 cm
26
265 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

198 cm
37
257 lbs
12 - 14 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
World class MT
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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bill Goldberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akira Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goldberg fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Goldberg.
The fighters circle momentarily. Akiyama darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Akiyama stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Akiyama wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Goldberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akiyama defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Goldberg.
Akiyama connects with a right hand. Goldberg shakes it off.

It looks like Bill Goldberg has been cut.

Goldberg darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Goldberg wants to stand but Akiyama has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Goldberg wants to work for an arm triangle but Akiyama is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Goldberg works his way into side control.
Akiyama really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Goldberg. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Goldberg is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Akiyama has escaped the position, nice work there.
The strikes coming from Goldberg are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Goldberg advances to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Akiyama can do anything to dispel that myth.
Goldberg controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Goldberg dominating with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Goldberg cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Goldberg looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg with good strikes from the mount here!
Goldberg cracks Akiyama with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Akiyama in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Goldberg content just to control the position here.

Goldberg working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Akiyama looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Goldberg! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Bill Goldberg!