PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Major Hicks (ranked 25678 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Goodard (ranked 6629 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hicks
vs
Goodard

179 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

182 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Major Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, TJ Goodard!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goodard tries a head kick but it misses.
Hicks is looking to counter with head kicks.

Hicks gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Goodard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Goodard throws a big elbow that misses.
Goodard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Goodard is working Hicks over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goodard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hicks keeping full guard, as Goodard tries to pass.
Hicks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Goodard won't allow Hicks to get back to his feet.
Goodard looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Goodard manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hicks on his heels. He'll look to pass Hicks's guard now, I'm sure.
Goodard postures up.
Goodard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks looking for a sweep. Not yet Hicks, not yet.
Goodard controls from within his opponent's guard.
Goodard sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hicks's guard.

Goodard is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hicks is just riding it out for now. Goodard eventually gives up the hold.
Goodard is pressing down on Hicks's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hicks is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodard moves into full mount! Hicks won't be happy about that!
Goodard controlling from mount.
Goodard working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goodard controlling his opponent.
Hicks has given up his back.

Hicks is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Goodard gets his way!

Goodard patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Goodard dominated that 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.

Goodard closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hicks to the mat! Hicks manages to get full guard.
Hicks is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Goodard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hicks looking for a sweep. Not yet Hicks, not yet.
Goodard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Goodard works over Hicks with some ground and pound from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goodard is in close to Hicks's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Goodard wanted to stand there but Hicks had control of the position.
TJ Goodard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Goodard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodard postures up and lands a big shot to Hicks's brow.
Goodard's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hicks has momentary wrist control but Goodard slips an elbow through the middle.
Goodard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Goodard passes Hicks's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Goodard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Goodard controlling the action here.
Goodard scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Goodard working over Hicks with some ground and pound. Hicks looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Goodard not doing much here.
Goodard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck for Goodard with that takedown attempt.
Goodard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hicks pinned against the cage. Hicks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hicks throws a jab when Goodard was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Goodard shoots in and drives through. Hicks sprawls well.
Hicks feinted with a counter takedown.
Major Hicks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Goodard.
Hicks shoots in for a takedown but Goodard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hicks throws a head kick but Goodard moves out of range.
TJ Goodard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hicks throws a lazy head kick

and Goodard counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Goodard's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Goodard is continuing to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hicks has his foot on Goodard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Goodard works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Goodard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hicks gets caught flat footed, as Goodard shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hicks is wriggling around but Goodard manages to pass to half guard.

Goodard working Hicks over with strikes.
It looks like Goodard is going to stand back up.
Goodard perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goodard moves into full mount! Hicks won't be happy about that!
Goodard lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Hicks is rocked!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodard connects with a bit shot that sees Hicks covering up! More strikes from Goodard and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Goodard is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). TJ Goodard!