PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Goodman (ranked 5549 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cruz Orozco (ranked 4668 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Goodman has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Goodman
vs
Orozco

216 cm
18
151 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

176 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Goodman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cruz Orozco!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Orozco shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Goodman napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Goodman explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Orozco takes the fight into the clinch.

Orozco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Orozco forces Goodman back against the cage and clinches.
Goodman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Orozco's efforts to push away.
Goodman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Orozco gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Goodman manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Orozco keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
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!
Goodman effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodman is trying to drag Orozco to the mat but Orozco just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Goodman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Orozco pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Orozco lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Orozco seems content to control.
Orozco seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Goodman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Goodman wants to control but Orozco is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Orozco sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Goodman defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orozco throws a strike but Goodman avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Orozco trying to control the position from guard on top but Goodman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Goodman looking for subs off his back but Orozco has passed one foot through into half guard.
Orozco wants to control but Goodman is keeping him busy.
Orozco tries to stand and escape but Goodman is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Goodman looking for submissions off his back.
Orozco is figuring out what he wants to do next.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Orozco is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Goodman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Orozco.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Orozco looks to land a combination but Goodman avoids it well.

Orozco has taken the fight to the clinch.
Orozco prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Goodman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Orozco.

It looks like Steve Goodman has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Orozco pulls guard.
Goodman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Goodman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Orozco is proving hard to escape from.
Orozco controls Goodman momentarily but Goodman frees himself.
Goodman lands a couple of elbows.
Goodman scoring with some ground and pound.

Goodman gets to his feet. Orozco looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Orozco throws a body kick that misses.

Orozco closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Goodman makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cruz Orozco will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Steve Goodman's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Goodman goes for a double leg but Orozco avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Orozco continues to drive forward.
Orozco is looking to clinch but Goodman is avoiding it.
Goodman moves out of range of the body kick from Orozco.
Orozco misses with a double jab
and Goodman counters with a one-two to the body.

Orozco looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Goodman is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Goodman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Goodman manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodman wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Goodman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Goodman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Orozco has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Goodman is proving hard to escape from.
Orozco stays in close to Goodman's body and controls the position.
Goodman keeping moving, preventing Orozco from controlling successfully.

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.
Orozco is looking to pass into half guard but Goodman pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Goodman is in guard.

Goodman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Orozco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Goodman works over Orozco with some ground and pound from guard.
Goodman looking to sit in guard and control but Orozco gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Goodman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Orozco got a little sloppy there for a moment and Goodman has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Orozco has managed to get both his arms back between Goodman's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodman keeping moving, preventing Orozco from controlling successfully.

Goodman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Orozco gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Orozco tries to stand but Goodman is controlling from the bottom.
Orozco content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Orozco wants to stand but Goodman is controlling his posture from full guard.
Orozco trying to control the position from guard on top but Goodman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Orozco is looking to stand up but Goodman won't let him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Goodman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Steve Goodman's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Goodman gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Orozco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Goodman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Orozco manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Goodman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Orozco enables Goodman to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Orozco manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Orozco manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Goodman is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Orozco gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Orozco drags the fight down to the ground.
Goodman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Steve Goodman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Goodman stopping the sweep attempt from Orozco.
Orozco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Goodman postures up and lands a big shot to Orozco's brow.
Orozco wants to stand but Goodman is controlling the position.
Goodman won't allow Orozco to sweep him here.
Orozco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Goodman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Orozco is proving hard to escape from.
Goodman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Goodman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goodman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Goodman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Orozco is trying to hold Goodman in close to prevent damage but Goodman has managed to pass into half guard.
Orozco keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Goodman there.
Orozco trying to control but Goodman postures up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Goodman connects with a nice short shot to Orozco's temple.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Goodman connects with a nice short shot to Orozco's temple.
Goodman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Orozco defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orozco trying to control here.
Orozco really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Goodman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Goodman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Orozco keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Orozco is trying to maintain the position but Goodman is very close to passing his half guard.
Orozco regains full guard. Nicely done.
Goodman working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Goodman with a nice head shot there.
Goodman with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Goodman working some strikes from top position.
Goodman postures up and lands a big shot to Orozco's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goodman content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Orozco pushes Goodman off and scrambles back to his feet.
Orozco lands with a kick to the temple. Goodman shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Orozco tries to land a front kick but Goodman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Orozco fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Goodman sprawls well initially but Orozco persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Goodman is controlling Orozco's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Goodman trying to control here.
Orozco wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cruz Orozco.
I think Orozco 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Cruz Orozco!