PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Inacio Azevedo (ranked 1246 p4p, 1710 weight class) and Bill Goldberg (ranked 195 p4p, 267 weight class). Goldberg has chosen GOLDBERGS WCW INTRO MUSIC as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Azevedo
vs
Goldberg

184 cm
27
194
7 - 2 - 0

187 cm
25
190
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Inacio Azevedo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bill Goldberg!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Goldberg darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Azevedo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Goldberg trying to control the action but Azevedo is working from the bottom.

Azevedo looking for submissions off his back.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Goldberg lands a nice short elbow.

Azevedo looking for submissions off his back.
Goldberg slips a nice elbow through Azevedo's hands, connecting with Azevedo's forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Azevedo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Goldberg working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azevedo looking for submissions off his back.
Azevedo is pressing down on Goldberg's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Goldberg is in close to Azevedo's body, working some short punches and elbows.

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

Azevedo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Azevedo seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Azevedo working for a triangle but Goldberg defends it easily.
Goldberg chips away with some ground and pound.
Goldberg must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Goldberg got a little sloppy there for a moment and Azevedo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Goldberg has managed to get both his arms back between Azevedo's legs - danger averted.
Goldberg wants to control from the top but Azevedo keeps moving.
Goldberg slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Azevedo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Azevedo sneaks back into half guard.

Azevedo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Goldberg working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Goldberg looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Azevedo 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.

Azevedo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Goldberg is looking to take a break and control but Azevedo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Goldberg lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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. Goldberg connects with a nice short shot to Azevedo's temple.
Goldberg looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Azevedo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Goldberg seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Azevedo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Goldberg is nestled in close to Azevedo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg winds up and cracks Azevedo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Azevedo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Goldberg pulls his head out easily.
Goldberg working over Azevedo with some ground and pound. Azevedo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Azevedo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Goldberg pulls his head out easily.
Goldberg lands strikes from half guard.

Azevedo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Goldberg content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Azevedo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Goldberg 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.

Goldberg throws the left hand but Azevedo avoids the punch easily.
Azevedo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Goldberg.
Azevedo feinted with a counter takedown.

Goldberg is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Azevedo's half guard.

Azevedo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Goldberg scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Azevedo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Goldberg pulls his head out easily.
Ground and pound from Goldberg.
Goldberg really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Azevedo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goldberg is nestled in close to Azevedo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Goldberg scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Goldberg scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Azevedo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azevedo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Goldberg looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Goldberg wants to pass the guard but Azevedo is defending well.
Azevedo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Goldberg scores with a couple of nice shots.

Azevedo actively working from the bottom here.

Azevedo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Goldberg pulls his head out easily.
Azevedo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Goldberg's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Goldberg's back!

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg trying to control the hands but Azevedo won't let him.
Goldberg tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Azevedo is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Goldberg to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Goldberg shrugs it off.
Goldberg has decided that throwing punches whilst being mounted is the best he can manage just now.
Goldberg tries to reverse the position but Azevedo maintains control.
Goldberg tries to hold on but Azevedo postures up.

Azevedo is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Goldberg is surviving well by controlling Azevedo's body position as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo avoids the attempt from Goldberg to control.
Bill Goldberg has got the better of the ground game so far.
Goldberg is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Azevedo is staying active.
Goldberg manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Goldberg works his way to full guard. Good work.

Azevedo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Azevedo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Azevedo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Azevedo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goldberg is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Azevedo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Goldberg looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Goldberg looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Goldberg!

Azevedo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Goldberg working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Azevedo is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Goldberg is tapping! Great win for Azevedo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Inacio Azevedo!
Inacio Azevedo retains his middleweight title!
In his post fight interview, Inacio Azevedo gave a big smile as he said 'Outra defesa vamos embora! Obrigado ao meu ginásio, gerente, família e fãs. Thanks to LAFC for opportunity again and fans.Vamos embora!'.
The defeated Bill Goldberg had this to say: 'Rrrrrrrttttrttr'.