PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zain Retherford (ranked 2046 p4p, 195 weight class) and Dilon Goncalves (ranked 2236 p4p, 207 weight class). Goncalves has chosen TAPOUT 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.

Retherford
vs
Goncalves

175 cm
22
150 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
150 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Fast

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zain Retherford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dilon Goncalves!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Goncalves forces Retherford back against the cage and clinches.
Retherford has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Goncalves is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Retherford is defending well.
Retherford scores with a shoulder strike.
Goncalves misses with a hook from the clinch.
Goncalves swings wildly with an uppercut but Retherford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Goncalves misses with a punch on the inside.
Goncalves swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Goncalves fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Retherford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Retherford lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Goncalves backwards.
Retherford has a couple of punches blocked by Goncalves.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Retherford.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Retherford.
Retherford misses with some punches.
Retherford pressing his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goncalves is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Retherford pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Goncalves misses with the head strike.
Come on Retherford - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Goncalves tries to land knees in the clinch but Retherford avoids the damage to the body.
Retherford blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Retherford gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Goncalves.
Zain Retherford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dilon Goncalves.
Goncalves throws a punch but it's blocked by Retherford.
A right hook to the body lands for Retherford.
Retherford scores with a shoulder strike.
Goncalves wants a takedown.
Goncalves misses with some punches.
Retherford doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stalling in the clinch from Retherford.
Retherford struggles to land a body shot inside as Goncalves controls his hands.
A short uppercut from Retherford.
Still in the clinch, Retherford scores with a nice short uppercut.
Retherford lands with a short shot to the head.
Retherford on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Retherford lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Goncalves is trying to pull guard but Retherford has him pressed against the cage.
Retherford manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Goncalves tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Retherford blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Retherford lands a hook that snaps the head of Goncalves backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Retherford works on Goncalves's body with a couple of short punches.
Retherford on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Retherford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Retherford displaying some good clinch control by pressing Goncalves up against the cage.
Retherford tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Retherford works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Goncalves looks winded!
A hook to the body from Retherford.
Retherford lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Still in the clinch, Retherford scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short uppercut from Retherford.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Retherford.
Goncalves swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Goncalves has a couple of punches blocked by Retherford.
Goncalves wants a takedown but no success here.
Retherford lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Goncalves fails to land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Retherford.
Retherford will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Goncalves up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves is trying to pull guard but Retherford turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Retherford lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Goncalves manages to pull guard.
Retherford's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Retherford postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Retherford landing some decent shots from guard.
Retherford working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Retherford 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.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Retherford content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Retherford landing some decent shots from guard.
Retherford controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Retherford working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Goncalves throws his legs up looking for a submission but Retherford uses it to pass to side control.
Retherford is putting a hurting on Goncalves here, landing some big shots from side control.
Retherford is looking to take a break and control but Goncalves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Retherford working the ground and pound.
Retherford trying to control the action but Goncalves is working from the bottom.
Retherford creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Retherford working the head with strikes.
Retherford trying to control the position but Goncalves is working away.
Goncalves is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zain Retherford dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Goncalves goes for a double leg but Retherford avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Retherford continues to drive forward.
Goncalves misses with a takedown

and Goncalves is countered with a crisp right hand from Retherford that sends him to the canvas! Retherford follows him to the mat into side control.

Goncalves is rocked!

It looks like Dilon Goncalves has been cut.
Retherford wants to control but Goncalves is keeping him busy.
Goncalves is still in real trouble! Can Retherford finish him?
Goncalves takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Retherford trying to control the action but Goncalves is working from the bottom.
Goncalves is looking for a sweep.
Goncalves seems to have recovered his senses.
Retherford cracks Goncalves with a big elbow.
Goncalves takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Goncalves is trying to get back to half guard.
Retherford taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Retherford looks up at the clock and then as Goncalves takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Retherford smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Goncalves is trying to improve his position.
Retherford landing a few strikes.
Retherford in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Retherford trying to control the position but Goncalves is working away.
Retherford just content to control the position.
Goncalves tries to buck Retherford off but Retherford is having none of it.
Retherford cracks Goncalves with a big right hand but Goncalves just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves is looking for a sweep.
Goncalves is working to avoid the ground and pound but Retherford connects with a decent elbow.
Retherford wants to lay and pray for a moment but Goncalves keeps working.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Retherford is chipping away with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Retherford moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Goncalves is looking for a sweep.
Goncalves is working to avoid the ground and pound but Retherford connects with a decent elbow.
Retherford trying to control the action but Goncalves is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves being controlled for a moment.
Goncalves tries to buck Retherford off but Retherford is having none of it.
Retherford cracks Goncalves with a big right hand but Goncalves just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Goncalves tries to bench press Retherford off him but Retherford keeps the position.
Retherford is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Goncalves tries to bench press Retherford off him but Retherford keeps the position.
Retherford wants to lay and pray for a moment but Goncalves keeps working.
Retherford lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Retherford landing a few strikes.
Retherford trying to control the action but Goncalves is working from the bottom.
Goncalves is looking for a sweep.
Goncalves takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Retherford cracks Goncalves with a big right hand but Goncalves just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Goncalves is trying to improve his position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Retherford has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Goncalves is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zain Retherford dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dilon Goncalves's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Goncalves takes a swing at Retherford's ribcage but misses.
Retherford tries to counter with a takedown but Goncalves is quick to defend against it.
Goncalves misses with a jab, cross combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Goncalves.
Goncalves loads up on a big right hand but Retherford slips the punch.

Goncalves ducks straight into an uppercut from Retherford and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Goncalves manages to regain guard straight away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Goncalves being controlled here, momentarily.
Retherford distracts Goncalves with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Goncalves is looking for a triangle but Retherford pushes his legs off easily.
Retherford is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Goncalves takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Goncalves tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Retherford working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Retherford is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Retherford lands a couple of elbows.

Goncalves looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Retherford has picked Goncalves up and slammed him! Goncalves can't keep hold of the triangle and Retherford manages to pass to side control!
Retherford working the body and head with strikes.
Retherford in side control, just content to control the action for now.
A big shot lands for Retherford! That's hurt Goncalves! Will he recover? Retherford fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zain Retherford!
Zain Retherford bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.