PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Talbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarmo Goyf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Goyf has chosen Disturbed - Asylum as his entrance music. 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.

Talbert
vs
Goyf

185 cm
29
220 lbs
21 - 12 - 1

187 cm
28
212 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Sam Talbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tarmo Goyf!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goyf misses with a head kick.
Talbert blocks a head kick by Goyf.
Goyf throws a combination that misses
and Talbert connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Goyf checks the leg kick.
Talbert is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Goyf jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Talbert moves out of range as Goyf strikes.
A slapping leg kick lands for Talbert.

Talbert drives through with a takedown into Goyf's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Talbert loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Goyf looking to hit a scissor sweep but Talbert is one step ahead there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Goyf is controlling Talbert's posture.
Talbert preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talbert is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Talbert stopping the sweep attempt from Goyf.
Talbert is looking to work some ground and pound but Goyf has wrist control.
Our spies down at at Montreal Fighter's Gym (5* Sparring) inform us that Goyf has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Talbert is looking to work some ground and pound but Goyf has wrist control.
Goyf controlling the position.
Talbert stands up over Goyf, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Goyf controlling the position.
Let's hope that Goyf has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Goyf has momentary wrist control but Talbert slips an elbow through the middle.
Talbert showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Goyf bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Talbert's guard.

Goyf trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Talbert can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Goyf controls the pace.

Talbert looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Talbert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goyf sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Goyf trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Talbert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Talbert is working hard here to advance position.
Goyf is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Goyf.
Talbert not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Goyf controls from within his opponent's guard.
Goyf trying to control but Talbert is working from the bottom.
Talbert tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goyf controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice defenses there by Goyf.
Talbert lands a nice shot that snaps Goyf's head back.
A telegraphed right hand from Talbert misses the target.
Talbert checks the leg kick.
Goyf takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Talbert throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick from Goyf lands but Talbert takes it in his stride.
Talbert throws a hook to the side of Goyf's head but Goyf sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Talbert misses.
Tarmo Goyf is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Goyf lands a big right hand that sends Talbert crashing to the mat! Goyf stays standing though and waves Talbert back to his feet!

Talbert is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Talbert feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Talbert throws a big right hand that misses.
Talbert throws a big elbow that misses.
Goyf looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Talbert tries to free his leg and advance position but Goyf is retaining full guard.
Goyf wants to stand up but Talbert is controlling him.
Goyf looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Goyf is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Talbert won't allow Goyf to sweep him here.
Goyf utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Goyf keeping moving, preventing Talbert from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tarmo Goyf will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Talbert shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Talbert was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Talbert misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Goyf sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Goyf tries to get to full guard but Talbert has control of the leg.
Talbert is trying to control the action in half guard but Goyf is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Goyf wants to improve his position but Talbert is controlling well.
Talbert seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goyf is controlling Talbert's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Talbert lands a nice short elbow.
Talbert wants to lay and pray for a moment but Goyf keeps working.
Goyf tries to roll over but Talbert keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goyf trying to control from the bottom.
Goyf won't allow Talbert to pass to mount.
Talbert prevents Goyf from improving his position.
Talbert seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Goyf does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ground and pound from Talbert.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Talbert lands a nice short elbow.
Sam Talbert overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Goyf is pressing down on Talbert's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Goyf looking for a sweep. Not yet Goyf, not yet.
Talbert makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Talbert is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Talbert throws a big elbow that misses.
Talbert preventing the sweep.
Goyf utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Talbert wants to pass the guard but Goyf is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talbert with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Goyf controls Talbert momentarily but Talbert frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Talbert accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Goyf is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Goyf wants to sweep but no luck.
Goyf is trying to control the position but Talbert postures up.
Talbert lands a couple of digs.
Talbert in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Talbert trying to control but Goyf is working from the bottom.
Talbert loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Goyf is trying to control the position but Talbert postures up.
Talbert throwing strikes but missing.
Talbert wants to control from the top but Goyf keeps moving.
Goyf looking to hit a scissor sweep but Talbert is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goyf managing to control the position.
Goyf tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Talbert stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Goyf swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Talbert keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Goyf's head.
Talbert loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Talbert pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goyf is keeping the position for now.
Goyf pulls Talbert in close to prevent any damage.
Talbert preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Talbert wants to control from the top but Goyf keeps moving.
Goyf wants to sweep but no luck.
Talbert wants to control from the top but Goyf keeps moving.
Talbert controlling from the top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Talbert tries to free his leg and advance position but Goyf is retaining full guard.
Goyf avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Talbert has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Goyf pulls Talbert in to control the position.
Goyf trying to keep a closed guard but Talbert is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Goyf throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Goyf throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Goyf slips under a jab from Talbert.
Goyf misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Talbert checks a low kick from Goyf.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Talbert dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Goyf tries a head kick but it misses.
Goyf throws a series of punches but Talbert avoids them all with ease.
Goyf takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Talbert lands a nice looking body shot.
Talbert throws a body punch but Goyf moves out of range.
Tarmo Goyf seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Talbert scores with a hook.
A head kick misses from Goyf.
Sloppy strikes from Talbert. Those never looked like landing.
Talbert keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Goyf.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talbert throws the left hand but Goyf avoids the punch easily.
Goyf throws a series of punches but Talbert avoids them all with ease.
It looked like Talbert wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Good shot there by Goyf.

Goyf moves into range and clinches up with Talbert.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talbert doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Talbert is looking to take this one to the mat.
Goyf throws a head punch that misses.
Goyf missing with knees to the body.
Goyf with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Goyf tries a body shot but Talbert blocks it.
Goyf misses with a punch on the inside.
Goyf being controlled against the cage.
Goyf using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goyf lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Talbert backwards.
Goyf lands a right hand.
Goyf tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Talbert's elbow.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Talbert.
Goyf comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Talbert leaning against his opponent.
Talbert is looking to control Goyf's arms but Goyf gets an underhook and turns him. Now Talbert has his back to the cage.
Goyf misses with some punches.
Goyf blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Goyf goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Goyf creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Talbert is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talbert blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Goyf misses with a knee to the head.
Talbert managing to block the knees to the body from Goyf.
Goyf stops a takedown attempt from Talbert.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Talbert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Goyf swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Talbert prevents a body shot from Goyf.
Talbert blocks an uppercut.
Goyf blocks a body shot from Talbert.
Stalling in the clinch from Talbert.
Goyf misses with a knee to the head.
Talbert is trying to drag Goyf to the mat but Goyf just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talbert misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Talbert dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Talbert avoids the elbow strike from Goyf, against the cage.
Talbert is trying to break the clinch but Goyf is controlling him.
Talbert trying to control the position but instead, Goyf has worked for underhooks and has pushed Talbert into the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A bit of stalling here from Talbert.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tarmo Goyf comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Goyf 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Tarmo Goyf!
Tarmo Goyf decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.