PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bill Goldberg (ranked 4421 p4p, 2149 weight class) and Andriy Yarmalenko (ranked 185 p4p, 75 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Goldberg
vs
Yarmalenko

198 cm
46
217
30 - 38 - 0

197 cm
25
258
10 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Fantasy Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 38 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bill Goldberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andriy Yarmalenko!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yarmalenko changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Goldberg looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Yarmalenko working the head with strikes.
Yarmalenko working the ground and pound but Goldberg is defending the strikes.
Yarmalenko working the strikes but Goldberg uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Yarmalenko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Yarmalenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Yarmalenko is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Goldberg is just riding it out for now. Yarmalenko eventually gives up the hold.

Yarmalenko seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goldberg avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yarmalenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yarmalenko throws a strike but Goldberg avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yarmalenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yarmalenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yarmalenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Yarmalenko has gone for a leg lock! Goldberg slips out almost immediately though and dives into Yarmalenko's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Goldberg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Goldberg with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Yarmalenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Goldberg postures up and lands a big shot to Yarmalenko's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yarmalenko wants to stand but Goldberg is controlling the position.
Goldberg is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Goldberg lands a couple of elbows.
Goldberg works over Yarmalenko with some ground and pound from guard.
Goldberg postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Goldberg postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Goldberg stops Yarmalenko from standing up.
Goldberg postures up in Yarmalenko's guard and throws a big left but Yarmalenko blocks it.
Yarmalenko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Goldberg throws an elbow that misses. Yarmalenko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Goldberg's guard. Nice move by Yarmalenko!

Yarmalenko postures up in Goldberg's guard and throws a big left but Goldberg blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yarmalenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yarmalenko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yarmalenko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Goldberg wants to get back to his feet but Yarmalenko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Goldberg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Goldberg 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.
Goldberg working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yarmalenko.
Yarmalenko postures up in Goldberg's guard and throws a big left but Goldberg blocks it.
Yarmalenko throws a big elbow that misses.

Yarmalenko 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!

Yarmalenko is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Yarmalenko is avoiding damage well.
Goldberg in side control lands a decent elbow.
Yarmalenko regains half guard, as Goldberg was trying to land strikes.
Yarmalenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Goldberg.
Goldberg looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yarmalenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Goldberg.
Goldberg thows a huge punch but Yarmalenko dodges it nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Goldberg lands a nice short elbow.
Goldberg working Yarmalenko over with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

A slapping body kick lands there for Yarmalenko.

Yarmalenko moves into the clinch.
Goldberg misses with a hook from the clinch.
Goldberg misses with a short punch on the inside.

Yarmalenko pulls Goldberg into guard.
Yarmalenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Goldberg in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Goldberg postures up in Yarmalenko's guard and throws a big left but Yarmalenko blocks it.
Goldberg stands up over Yarmalenko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Goldberg scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yarmalenko has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Goldberg has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Goldberg fails to land.
Goldberg throws a head punch that misses.
Yarmalenko blocks an uppercut.
Yarmalenko lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Yarmalenko lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Goldberg or not.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goldberg misses with some punches.
Yarmalenko blocks a body shot from Goldberg.

Yarmalenko drags the fight down to the ground.
Goldberg throws a strike but Yarmalenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Yarmalenko wants to pass the guard but Goldberg is keeping the position.
Goldberg is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yarmalenko is controlling him.
Goldberg preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yarmalenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yarmalenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Goldberg has wrist control.
Yarmalenko throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Goldberg avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Andriy Yarmalenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yarmalenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Yarmalenko throwing strikes but missing.
Yarmalenko postures up in Goldberg's guard and throws a big left but Goldberg blocks it.
Yarmalenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goldberg is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yarmalenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Yarmalenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yarmalenko throwing strikes from guard but Goldberg blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yarmalenko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yarmalenko throws a big elbow that misses.
Yarmalenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Yarmalenko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bill Goldberg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Yarmalenko moves into the clinch successfully.
Goldberg misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A right hand to the body from Yarmalenko.
Yarmalenko lands with a light punch inside.

Yarmalenko has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Goldberg uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg stops Yarmalenko from standing up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yarmalenko can do anything to dispel that myth.

Yarmalenko pushes Goldberg off and gets back to his feet.
Goldberg takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Yarmalenko rushes Goldberg and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yarmalenko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Goldberg pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Yarmalenko turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Yarmalenko manages to end up in side control.
Goldberg avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Yarmalenko.
Yarmalenko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yarmalenko throws an elbow but Goldberg slips to the side and avoids it well.
Yarmalenko in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andriy Yarmalenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Yarmalenko closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Goldberg's guard.

Goldberg is still looking wobbly from the end of the last round!
Yarmalenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Oh Goldberg is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Yarmalenko throwing strikes but missing.
Yarmalenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yarmalenko postures up in Goldberg's guard and throws a big left but Goldberg blocks it.
Goldberg seems to have got his legs back now.
Yarmalenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Goldberg works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yarmalenko throwing strikes from guard but Goldberg blocks nicely.
Yarmalenko postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Goldberg covers up, he's hurt! Yarmalenko keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Yarmalenko and the ref steps in to end the fight! Yarmalenko can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Andriy Yarmalenko!