PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Petrov (ranked 4514 p4p, 351 weight class) and Hunter Goethals (ranked 23730 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Petrov might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to They want too see me fall. Goethals comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Going Bad by Meek Mill Ft Drake kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Hunter Goethals has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Petrov
vs
Goethals

187 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Viktor Petrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hunter Goethals!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Goethals has closed the distance and engaged Petrov in a clinch.
Goethals manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Petrov wants a takedown.
Petrov tries to score a body lock takedown but Goethals shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Petrov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Goethals is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Petrov is defending well for now.
Goethals pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Goethals blocks the elbow strike.
Goethals is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Goethals jumps into guard, dragging Petrov to the mat.
Petrov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Goethals manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Petrov breaks the clinch.
Petrov takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goethals throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Goethals jabs Petrov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Goethals shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Petrov sprawls well. Petrov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Goethals gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Goethals is defended easily by Petrov.
Petrov throws a sloppy head kick and Goethals moves out of range easily.
Goethals misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Viktor Petrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hunter Goethals.
Goethals scores with a punch to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Goethals feints the counter takedown.
Goethals with a poor takedown

and Petrov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Goethals has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Petrov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Goethals shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Petrov as he avoids it easily.
Goethals tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Petrov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Goethals has his feet on Petrov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Goethals looks winded!

Petrov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Goethals on his heels. He'll look to pass Goethals's guard now, I'm sure.
Petrov wants to get up but he can't break Goethals's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Petrov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Petrov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goethals is trying to keep Petrov in close.
Goethals trying to strike off his back.

Goethals working for a triangle but Petrov defends it easily.
Petrov trying to control but Goethals is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Petrov is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Petrov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Petrov's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Petrov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Goethals has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Petrov has managed to get both his arms back between Goethals's legs - danger averted.
Petrov trying to control but Goethals is working from the bottom.
Petrov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Goethals dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Petrov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Goethals defends well and Petrov ends up having to push Goethals into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Goethals tries to sprawl but Petrov drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Petrov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Goethals is just riding it out for now. Petrov eventually gives up the hold.
Goethals trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goethals is trying to control but Petrov manages to pass to mount!
Petrov controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Petrov moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Goethals has worked his arm free - good work by Goethals!
You can see the frustration on Goethals's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Goethals might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Petrov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Petrov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Goethals to see if he's OK.
Petrov avoids the strikes from the bottom by Goethals.
Goethals manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Petrov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Goethals on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Goethals is trying to maintain the position but Petrov is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Goethals misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Petrov slips a nice elbow through Goethals's hands, connecting with Goethals's forehead.
Petrov stops Goethals from getting back to his feet.

Goethals manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Petrov keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Petrov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Petrov tries to pull guard but Goethals forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viktor Petrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A frustrated look appears on Petrov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Goethals is trying to push Petrov away but Petrov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Petrov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Petrov is trying to maintain a safe position but Goethals gets an underhook and turns Petrov into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goethals throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Petrovs head.
Petrov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Petrov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Goethals is defending well.
Goethals wants to break the clinch but can't.
Petrov tries to pull guard but Goethals won't allow it.
Goethals prevents a takedown attempt there.
Goethals wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Goethals pulls guard.
Goethals working a defensive guard here.
Petrov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goethals trying to keep a closed guard but Petrov is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Goethals 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.

Goethals working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Petrov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Petrov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Petrov trying to control but Goethals is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Goethals looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hunter Goethals will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Goethals darts in looking for a takedown but Petrov gets double underhooks and turns Goethals into the cage.

Goethals gets tackled into the cage by Petrov. Petrov maintains the clinch.
Petrov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Goethals to keep the fight standing.
Petrov is looking for a takedown.
Petrov fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viktor Petrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Petrov has Goethals pressed against the cage, preventing Goethals from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Goethals wants a takedown.
Petrov is trying to break the clinch but Goethals is controlling him.
Petrov looking for a takedown.
Petrov tries to circle away but Goethals has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrov prevents Goethals from breaking the clinch.
Petrov is looking for a takedown.
Petrov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Goethals smiles and moves away.
Goethals tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Petrov shoots in and gets a takedown into Goethals's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goethals bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Petrov's guard.

Goethals passes Petrov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Petrov trying to control here.
Goethals sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Petrov defending well though.
Petrov keeping control of the position.
Petrov continues to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goethals throwing shots but Petrov is blocking nicely.
Goethals trying to control the action but Petrov is working from the bottom.
Petrov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Petrov tries to get out of the position.
Petrov keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Petrov is looking to control Goethals's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Petrov avoid being mounted?
Petrov desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Goethals seems to be looking for submissions.
Petrov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Petrov shoots in looking for a takedown but Goethals manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Petrov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Petrov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Petrov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Goethals explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Goethals closes the distance but Petrov moves to the side
and Petrov counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov tries to clinch up.
Goethals drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Petrov defends it well.

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

Goethals scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Goethals takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
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!
Goethals tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Petrov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Petrov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Goethals!
Goethals trying his best to control but Petrov has mounted him.
Petrov with shots to the head and body - Goethals looks very uncomfortable down there.
Goethals wants to control but Petrov is having none of it.
Viktor Petrov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hunter Goethals is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Petrov goes for an armbar but Goethals turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Goethals.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hunter Goethals comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Goethals has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hunter Goethals!
Our winner, Hunter Goethals, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.