PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Emet Golem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evangelos Ergazakis (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.

Golem
vs
Ergazakis

195 cm
32
217 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

187 cm
25
220 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Emet Golem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Evangelos Ergazakis!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ergazakis drives through with a takedown into Golem's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ergazakis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ergazakis trying to control the position from guard on top but Golem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Golem pulls Ergazakis in to control the position.
Ergazakis trying to control the position from guard on top but Golem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ergazakis's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ergazakis slips nicely into half guard.

Ergazakis is looking for a kimura but Golem is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ergazakis to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ergazakis slows the pace down in half guard.

Ergazakis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golem is looking to escape.
Ergazakis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Golem knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Golem is looking to control Ergazakis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Golem avoid being mounted?
Ergazakis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Golem's head.
Ergazakis is keen to just control but Golem is a slippery customer.
Ergazakis passes to side control.

Ergazakis goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Golem rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Ergazakis's guard! Nice work there by Golem!

Ergazakis has his foot on Golem's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Golem works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ergazakis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Golem doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Golem manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ergazakis wants to sweep here but Golem controlling him for the moment.
Ergazakis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ergazakis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ergazakis looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Golem has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Golem seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ergazakis seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Golem postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ergazakis wants to sweep here but Golem controlling him for the moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ergazakis wants to improve his position but instead Golem has moved into half guard.
Ergazakis wants to control but Golem is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Ergazakis actively working from the bottom here.
Golem content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Golem connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ergazakis momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Evangelos Ergazakis will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Golem throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ergazakis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ergazakis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ergazakis fails to land the takedown.
Ergazakis shoots in for a double leg but Golem sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Golem misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A nice combination there by Golem.

It looks like Evangelos Ergazakis has been cut.
Golem lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ergazakis at a distance.
Golem tries to bum rush Ergazakis with a series of wild strikes but Ergazakis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ergazakis uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Golem.
Ergazakis appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Golem throws a hook but Ergazakis avoids it easily.
Sloppy strikes from Ergazakis. Those never looked like landing.
Golem throws the left hand but Ergazakis avoids the punch easily.
Golem throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Golem definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Golem misses with a two punch combination.
Ergazakis feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Golem's calf.
Golem misses with an uppercut.
Jab from Golem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golem takes one to the side of the head.
Ergazakis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Golem was well out of range. Poor timing from Ergazakis.
Golem lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ergazakis circles away quickly and effectively.

Ergazakis darts in and clinches Golem up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Golem.
Golem throws a punch but it's blocked by Ergazakis.
Ergazakis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Golem blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Golem misses with a punch on the inside.
Golem lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Golem.
Ergazakis blocks an uppercut.
Ergazakis connects with a nasty looking knee right to Golem's face.
Golem lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Golem is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ergazakis can do to turn this around?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Golem misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ergazakis has a couple of punches blocked by Golem.
Ergazakis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Golem's elbow.
Golem softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ergazakis looking to throw knees to the head but Golem is blocking nicely.
Golem fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ergazakis with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Golem has a couple of punches blocked by Ergazakis.
Golem misses with a punch on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Golem as Ergazakis tries to tie him up.
Golem working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Golem swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ergazakis looking to stall.
Golem managing to block the knees to the body from Ergazakis.
Golem lands with a left to the head.
Ergazakis drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Emet Golem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evangelos Ergazakis.
Ergazakis is looking to take this one to the mat.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Golem.
Golem blocking some punches.
Golem fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ergazakis with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Golem as Ergazakis tries to tie him up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Golem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Golem.

Ergazakis is rocked!
Golem working aggressively here.
Ergazakis is still on wobbly legs! Can Golem finish him?

Ergazakis is trying to trip Golem. He has hold of a leg but Golem is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ergazakis persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Ergazakis seems to have recovered his senses.

Ergazakis postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Golem is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ergazakis, into his guard.

Ergazakis is breathing heavily.
Golem tries to stand but Ergazakis is controlling from the bottom.
Golem preventing the sweep.
Golem knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ergazakis on the ground.
Ergazakis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Ergazakis working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ergazakis is working for a kimura but Golem is defending it quite comfortably.
Golem is staying active underneath Ergazakis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Well, if Ergazakis is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Ergazakis is working for a kimura but Golem is defending it quite comfortably.
Ergazakis prevents Golem from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emet Golem dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Evangelos Ergazakis's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ergazakis gets a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Golem fails to land.
Golem throws a head punch that misses.
Ergazakis working Golem over with knees to the body.
Golem tries to work over Ergazakis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ergazakis.
Golem lands with a light punch inside.
Golem misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ergazakis lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Golem fails to land.
Ergazakis tries to land a knee to the head but Golem blocks with his arms.
Golem working aggressively here.
Golem works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Golem.
Golem lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ergazakis with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Golem swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ergazakis misses with a hook from the clinch.
Golem softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Golem.
Ergazakis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Golem tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ergazakis's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A head punch on the inside from Golem fails to land.
Ergazakis manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Golem throws a punch but it's blocked by Ergazakis.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ergazakis.
Golem throws a head punch that misses.
Ergazakis misses with a punch on the inside.
Ergazakis can't find room to land a body shot as Golem controls the action.
Ergazakis pushes Golem back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ergazakis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Golem avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Golem.
Golem makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ergazakis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Golem throws a punch but it's blocked by Ergazakis.
Emet Golem has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Golem prevents a takedown attempt there.
Golem misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golem on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Golem lands with a right to the head.
Golem misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ergazakis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Golem avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Emet Golem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evangelos Ergazakis.
A head punch on the inside from Golem fails to land.
Golem lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Golem - that landed with a thud.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ergazakis tries a knee to the head but Golem blocks it.
Golem tries a body shot but Ergazakis blocks it.
Golem prevents a body shot from Ergazakis.
Golem misses with the head strike.
Ergazakis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Golem drops Ergazakis onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Ergazakis is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Golem lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Ergazakis to his knees! Golem keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Emet Golem!
A victorious Emet Golem thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.