PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rubin Knowles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Goodbitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Knowles
vs
Goodbitch

160 cm
24
279 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

194 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rubin Knowles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gary Goodbitch!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goodbitch misses with a takedown attempt - Knowles sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Knowles shoots in and gets a takedown into Goodbitch's guard.
Knowles might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Knowles stopping the sweep attempt from Goodbitch.
Knowles trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knowles trying to control but Goodbitch is working from the bottom.

Goodbitch scrambles and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knowles scores with a body shot.
Knowles wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodbitch with a lazy takedown attempt
and Knowles counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Goodbitch is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Goodbitch blocks a head kick by Knowles.
Knowles throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Knowles dodges the punch combination from Goodbitch.
Knowles drops down looking for a counter takedown but Goodbitch sprawls and moves away.
Goodbitch with a poor takedown

and Knowles moves into the clinch.
Rubin Knowles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Goodbitch.
Knowles goes for a takedown attempt but Goodbitch pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Goodbitch closes the distance and clinches up with Knowles, looking for a takedown. Goodbitch pushes Knowles against the cage but Knowles circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Knowles throws a quick counter head kick but Goodbitch was just out of range.
Goodbitch looks winded!
Knowles tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Goodbitch defends well and Knowles ends up having to push Goodbitch into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A head kick by Knowles misses

and Goodbitch counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Knowles!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knowles is trying to get back to half guard.
Knowles parries the strikes from Goodbitch easily there. Goodbitch is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Knowles to escape.
Goodbitch wants to lay and pray for a moment but Knowles keeps working.
Knowles regains half guard.
Knowles blocking the ground and pound attempt from Goodbitch.
Knowles keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Knowles moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Knowles tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodbitch works over Knowles with some ground and pound from guard.
Goodbitch scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Knowles wants to sweep here but Goodbitch controlling him for the moment.
Goodbitch postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Goodbitch is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Goodbitch pushes down on Knowles's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Well, if Goodbitch 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.
Knowles regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goodbitch stopping the sweep attempt from Knowles.
Goodbitch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Knowles really is a fat lump.
Goodbitch is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Goodbitch wants to control from the top but Knowles keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Knowles is on top in guard.

Knowles wants to control from the top but Goodbitch keeps moving.
Goodbitch wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rubin Knowles will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rubin Knowles's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Goodbitch looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Goodbitch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Goodbitch trying to control but Knowles is working from the bottom.
Knowles wants to get back to his feet but Goodbitch is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knowles looking to hit a scissor sweep but Goodbitch is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodbitch tries to free his leg and advance position but Knowles is retaining full guard.
Goodbitch sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Knowles.
Goodbitch is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Knowles tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Goodbitch paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Knowles shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Goodbitch pulls Knowles in close to his closed guard and prevents Knowles from doing any damage or advancing position.
Gary Goodbitch has got the better of the ground game so far.
Knowles's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knowles working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Goodbitch's head.
Knowles trying to control the position from guard on top but Goodbitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Goodbitch tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Goodbitch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Knowles doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Knowles manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Goodbitch is breathing heavily.
Goodbitch not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodbitch is trying hard to land a takedown here. Knowles sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Goodbitch fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knowles, pushing him back against the cage.
Knowles tries to break the clinch but Goodbitch is controlling the position.
Goodbitch keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Knowles's efforts to push away.

Knowles gets control of Goodbitch's arms and successfully pulls guard. Knowles will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Knowles keeping moving, preventing Goodbitch from controlling successfully.
Goodbitch wants to pass the guard but Knowles is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goodbitch throws a strike but Knowles rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Knowles trying to control the position from guard on top but Goodbitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Goodbitch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've been informed that Goodbitch has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Knowles trying to control but Goodbitch is working from the bottom.
Knowles in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Knowles wants to control from the top but Goodbitch keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rubin Knowles will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rubin Knowles's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Knowles wants to clinch up but Goodbitch keeps it at a distance.
Knowles shoots for a double leg takedown but Goodbitch sprawls well. He's pushed Knowles's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Goodbitch keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gary Goodbitch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goodbitch tries to score a power double leg takedown but Knowles sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Goodbitch somewhat.
Knowles attempts a counter takedown but Goodbitch avoids it well and moves away.
Knowles shoots in for a double leg but Goodbitch sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rubin Knowles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knowles throws a head kick that half lands.
Goodbitch shoots in looking for a takedown. Knowles tries to sprawl out of it but Goodbitch keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Knowles manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knowles throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Goodbitch was covering up waiting for the punch and Knowles finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Goodbitch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Knowles is working Goodbitch over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Knowles throwing strikes from guard but Goodbitch blocks nicely.
Goodbitch is pulling down on Knowles's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knowles with a flurry of punches that miss.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Goodbitch holds on and takes a little breather.
Knowles postures up.
Knowles stops Goodbitch from standing up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Knowles slaps away a takedown attempt from Goodbitch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Knowles connects with a high kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodbitch is looking to clinch.
Knowles fails with the takedown.
Rubin Knowles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Knowles.

Knowles gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Goodbitch to score an easy takedown into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Knowles is on top in guard.

Knowles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knowles trying to control the position from guard on top but Goodbitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Goodbitch keeping full guard, as Knowles tries to pass.
Goodbitch keeping moving, preventing Knowles from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Knowles won't allow Goodbitch to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rubin Knowles showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Knowles, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rubin Knowles!