PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Clayton Marrentinho (ranked 23227 p4p, 704 weight class) and TJ Goodard (ranked 3456 p4p, 393 weight class). Goodard has chosen Rise of the Titans by-DIMMU BORGIR as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Marrentinho
vs
Goodard

185 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
28
184 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Clayton Marrentinho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, TJ Goodard!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Winston Howard and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goodard misses with a hook to the body
and Marrentinho counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Marrentinho with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Marrentinho blocks a jab.
Goodard shoots in looking for a takedown but Marrentinho manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Goodard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Goodard closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Marrentinho's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Goodard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Marrentinho looking for a sweep. Not yet Marrentinho, not yet.
Goodard content to stall in guard here.
Marrentinho preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goodard advances to half guard.
Goodard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Goodard lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodard thows a huge punch but Marrentinho dodges it nicely.
Nice strikes from Goodard there.
Goodard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Marrentinho is concentrating on defense, preventing Goodard from advancing position.
Goodard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Goodard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Marrentinho trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Goodard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marrentinho's head.
Marrentinho avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Goodard.
Still in half guard, Goodard seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goodard sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Marrentinho defending well though.
Goodard is looking to take a break and control but Marrentinho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Marrentinho regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Goodard.
Goodard lands a couple of digs.
Goodard throwing strikes from guard but Marrentinho blocks nicely.
Goodard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Goodard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Goodard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Marrentinho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodard looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Goodard trying to control the position from guard on top but Marrentinho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Goodard lands a jab to the nose.
Goodard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Goodard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Marrentinho takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
An elbow from Goodard crashes against the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Goodard trying to control the action but Marrentinho is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goodard looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Marrentinho is avoiding damage well.
Marrentinho tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Goodard looking to ground and pound but Marrentinho is blocking nicely.
Goodard with a couple of short strikes.
Goodard lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marrentinho tries to reverse the position but Goodard maintains control.
Goodard throws some wild stikes that Marrentinho manages to avoid easily.
Marrentinho wants to hold on but Goodard pushes him away.
Goodard looking to ground and pound but Marrentinho is blocking nicely.
Marrentinho taking shots to the head.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Marrentinho ducks under a wild hook from Goodard.

Goodard looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Marrentinho!
Goodard tries to score with some ground and pound. Marrentinho controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Marrentinho is trying to improve his position.

Goodard goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Marrentinho has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Goodard but great work by Marrentinho.
Goodard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Marrentinho wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Goodard wants to control but Marrentinho postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goodard is trying to escape the position but Marrentinho is controlling the position.
Goodard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Marrentinho wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Goodard is trying to control Marrentinho's posture but Marrentinho avoids it.
TJ Goodard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Goodard is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodard is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Marrentinho working away.
Goodard regains half guard.
Marrentinho sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Goodard trying to control here.
Marrentinho blocks the strikes from Goodard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Goodard misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Goodard tries to roll over but Marrentinho keeps him under control.
Goodard has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Marrentinho is thwarting Goodard's attempts to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Marrentinho is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marrentinho moves in looking to clinch but Goodard pushes him off.
Marrentinho tries to clinch but Goodard moves out of range.
Marrentinho avoids a punch combination nicely.
Goodard fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Goodard with that takedown attempt.
Marrentinho ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Goodard circles away from the clinch attempt.

Marrentinho rushes Goodard and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knees to the body from Marrentinho.
Goodard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Goodard tries to circle away but Marrentinho has him pinned against the cage.
Marrentinho is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Goodard is defending well for now.
Marrentinho lands a nice knee to the body.
Goodard avoiding damage as Marrentinho throws knees to the body.
Goodard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Marrentinho avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Clayton Marrentinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Goodard.
Marrentinho is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Goodard is breathing heavily.
Marrentinho lands a knee to the head.

It looks like TJ Goodard has been cut.
Marrentinho wants to stall.
Goodard can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marrentinho.
Marrentinho prevents Goodard from breaking the clinch.

Goodard is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Marrentinho can't fight it off and eventually Goodard manages to take the fight to the floor. Marrentinho looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Marrentinho is looking to stand back up but Goodard counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Marrentinho.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Goodard not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Goodard is thwarting Marrentinho's attempts to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Goodard not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Goodard sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Marrentinho defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clayton Marrentinho dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on TJ Goodard's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Goodard misses with a looping right.
TJ Goodard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goodard misses with an uppercut. Marrentinho saw that one coming.
Marrentinho uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Goodard.
Marrentinho tries to clinch up but Goodard circles away and keeps his distance.
Marrentinho fails with an attempt to clinch.
Goodard shoots for a takedown but Marrentinho saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Goodard circles away from the clinch attempt

and Goodard counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Goodard.

Marrentinho scrambles and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Goodard misses.
Marrentinho tried to counter with a leg kick but Goodard avoided it.
Goodard throws a looping overhand right but Marrentinho ducks down to avoid it.
Marrentinho uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Goodard.
Goodard swats away the attempt to clinch by Marrentinho.
Goodard with the counter takedown but Marrentinho avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodard goes for a double leg but Marrentinho avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Marrentinho continues to drive forward.
Marrentinho slips under a jab.
Marrentinho tries to clinch but Goodard moves out of range.

Goodard throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Marrentinho tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Goodard is in Marrentinho's guard.
Goodard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Goodard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Goodard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Goodard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marrentinho pulls Goodard in close to prevent any damage.
Marrentinho wants to sweep here but Goodard controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marrentinho working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Goodard.
Goodard throwing strikes from guard but Marrentinho blocks nicely.
Marrentinho preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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

Goodard shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Goodard showed some decent athleticism there.
Marrentinho gets full guard.
Goodard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marrentinho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marrentinho keeping full guard, as Goodard tries to pass.
Goodard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Goodard throws a big right hand that misses.
Goodard distracts Marrentinho with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Marrentinho is looking to stand up but Goodard isn't so interested in that idea.
Goodard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Goodard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Goodard slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Goodard throws an elbow but Marrentinho slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goodard wants to control but Marrentinho is keeping him busy.
Goodard misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Goodard tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Goodard working the head and body with strikes.
Marrentinho can't do much from the bottom here.
Goodard working the body and head with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marrentinho defending against the ground and pound.
Goodard throwing shots but missing, from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
TJ Goodard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Goodard 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TJ Goodard!
An out of breath TJ Goodard thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.