PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stanislav Strakapoud (ranked 2389 p4p, 2941 weight class) and Satoru Gojo (ranked 312 p4p, 378 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Satoru Gojo enters the cage!

Strakapoud
vs
Gojo

192 cm
19
212
2 - 0 - 0

192 cm
25
220
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers $110 160q Rec&St

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stanislav Strakapoud!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Satoru Gojo!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Roberts and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strakapoud misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Strakapoud shoots in but no luck this time.

Gojo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Strakapoud struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gojo trying to control the action but Strakapoud is working from the bottom.
Gojo connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Strakapoud some visible discomfort.
Strakapoud tries to bench press Gojo off him but Gojo keeps the position.
Strakapoud is working hard here to advance position.
Strakapoud is working to avoid the ground and pound but Gojo connects with a decent elbow.
Gojo scoring with punches from side control.
Strakapoud tries to buck Gojo off but Gojo is having none of it.
Gojo taking a breather here.
Gojo scoring with punches from side control.
Strakapoud being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gojo cracks Strakapoud with a big right hand but Strakapoud just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Strakapoud gets back to half guard.
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. Gojo connects with a nice short shot to Strakapoud's temple.
Gojo drops an elbow to the side of Strakapoud's head.
Gojo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Strakapoud is trying to get back to full guard.
Gojo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gojo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gojo content to control rather than advance.
Strakapoud taking some punishment here, with Gojo in his half guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Strakapoud is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gojo pulls his head out easily.
Gojo is nestled in close to Strakapoud, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gojo drops an elbow to the side of Strakapoud's head.
Gojo slips a nice elbow through Strakapoud's hands, connecting with Strakapoud's forehead.
Gojo prevents Strakapoud from improving his position.
Still in half guard, Gojo seems content to control.
Gojo slips a nice elbow through Strakapoud's hands, connecting with Strakapoud's forehead.
Gojo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Strakapoud looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Well, if Gojo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Strakapoud is refusing to be controlled, as Gojo sits in half guard.
Gojo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Strakapoud with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strakapoud trying to control from the bottom.
Gojo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gojo trying to mount his opponent but Strakapoud defends it.

Strakapoud looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gojo trying to control from half guard but Strakapoud is working away.

Strakapoud looking for submissions off his back.
Strakapoud is looking for a sweep. Gojo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gojo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Strakapoud with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gojo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gojo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Strakapoud manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strakapoud escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gojo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gojo working some strikes from top position.
Gojo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gojo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Strakapoud has momentary wrist control but Gojo slips an elbow through the middle.
Gojo tries to free his leg and advance position but Strakapoud is retaining full guard.
Gojo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gojo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gojo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Strakapoud has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gojo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gojo wants to pass the guard but Strakapoud is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gojo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gojo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Satoru Gojo 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.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Strakapoud.

Gojo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Strakapoud's half guard.
Strakapoud manages to get to full guard.
Gojo stands and throws Strakapoud's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gojo in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Strakapoud tries to buck Gojo off but Gojo is having none of it.
Gojo scores with a couple of short elbows.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strakapoud tries to bench press Gojo off him but Gojo keeps the position.
Gojo in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Strakapoud gets back to half guard.
Gojo lands strikes from half guard.
Gojo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gojo controlling the pace.
We've been informed that Gojo has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Strakapoud manages to get to full guard.
Gojo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gojo stands and throws Strakapoud's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gojo creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gojo cracks Strakapoud with a big right hand but Strakapoud just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Strakapoud taking a bit of punishment here - Gojo scoring with strikes.
Strakapoud is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Strakapoud takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Strakapoud takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gojo scores with a couple of short elbows.
Gojo is working Strakapoud over with some ground and pound from side control.
Strakapoud takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Strakapoud is looking for a sweep.
Gojo controls the position.
Gojo working away.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Gojo landing strikes.
Satoru Gojo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Strakapoud is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gojo controls the position.
Strakapoud tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gojo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Strakapoud is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Brloh, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Strakapoud gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gojo not doing much here.
Gojo is nestled in close to Strakapoud, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gojo lands with a punch from half guard.

Strakapoud is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gojo pulls his head out easily.
Gojo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Strakapoud is looking to improve his position.
Gojo controlling the action here.
Gojo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gojo slows the pace down in half guard.

Strakapoud looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gojo working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gojo drops an elbow to the side of Strakapoud's head.
Strakapoud on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Strakapoud is staying active underneath Gojo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strakapoud is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gojo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gojo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Nice strikes from Gojo there.

Strakapoud looking for submissions off his back.

Strakapoud is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gojo pulls his head out easily.
Strakapoud is looking to improve his position.
Gojo lands strikes from half guard.
Strakapoud is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gojo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gojo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gojo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gojo lands strikes from half guard.

Strakapoud is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gojo pulls his head out easily.
Gojo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Gojo working over Strakapoud with some ground and pound. Strakapoud looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Satoru Gojo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gojo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gojo lands strikes from half guard.
Gojo is keen to just control but Strakapoud is a slippery customer.
Gojo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Strakapoud is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gojo pulls his head out easily.
Gojo wants to pass to mount but Strakapoud is defending the position.

Strakapoud actively working from the bottom here.
Strakapoud on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Gojo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice strikes from Gojo there.
Gojo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gojo works his way into full mount!
Gojo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strakapoud sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Gojo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Strakapoud has hold of Gojo's hands but Gojo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Strakapoud is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gojo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gojo's back!
Gojo wants to get back to his feet.

Gojo 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 Strakapoud gets his way!

Gojo defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gojo is trying to get back to his feet but Strakapoud has full control of the position and if anything, Gojo has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Gojo is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strakapoud looking for the RNC.
Gojo is trying to get back to his feet but Strakapoud has full control of the position and if anything, Gojo has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Strakapoud is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Gojo is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Gojo fending off the submission attempt from Strakapoud.
Gojo is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strakapoud is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Gojo is defending well though. Strakapoud let's go of the attempt for now.
Gojo wants to get back to his feet.

Gojo is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Gojo is trying to get back to his feet but Strakapoud has full control of the position and if anything, Gojo has just worked his way into a worse spot.

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.

Strakapoud is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Gojo 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 Strakapoud gets his way!
Stanislav Strakapoud has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gojo trying to get back to his feet but Strakapoud is in full control for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Strakapoud is looking for a choke. Gojo gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Gojo manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.

Strakapoud looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Stanislav Strakapoud.
Well Gojo 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

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