PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Graham Goddard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rico comes to the cage accompanied by The Fight Song. Goddard has chosen Recipe for Bait 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?

Rico
vs
Goddard

170 cm
24
147 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

169 cm
20
160 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Predator Nutrition

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Rico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Graham Goddard!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Russell Pearce and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rico tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Goddard throws a chopping leg kick but Rico manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rico throws a hook but Goddard avoids it easily.
Rico connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Goddard takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A slapping leg kick lands for Goddard.
Rico displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Goddard.
Rico misses with a jab, cross combination.
Goddard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Goddard throws a sloppy head kick and Rico moves out of range easily.
A jab lands there for Rico.
Goddard moves in looking to clinch but Rico pushes him off.
Goddard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rico avoids it really well and circles away.

Rico forces Goddard back against the cage and clinches.
Rico is pressed up against the cage. Goddard has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rico down to the mat. Rico avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Johnny Rico has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Graham Goddard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rico drives through and clinches with Goddard against the cage.

Goddard has Rico pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Goddard pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rico tumbling to the mat - Goddard dives into Rico's guard.
Rico seems keen to control Goddard's posture.
Rico utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rico is on top in guard.
Rico preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goddard looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rico puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Rico stands up from half guard.

Rico has closed the distance and engaged Goddard in a clinch.
Rico lands with a short shot to the head.
Rico wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A right hook to the body lands for Rico.

Rico breaks the clinch.
Rico checks a low kick from Goddard.
Goddard wants to land a leg kick but Rico is out of range.
Goddard closes the distance and clinches up with Rico, looking for a takedown. Goddard pushes Rico against the cage but Rico circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rico throws a lazy head kick

and Goddard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rico's guard.
Goddard looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rico controls Goddard momentarily but Goddard frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goddard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rico looking to hit a scissor sweep but Goddard is one step ahead there.
Goddard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rico works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Goddard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Goddard looking to pass the guard.
Rico tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rico cracks Goddard with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Rico has managed to clinch.
Rico has had enough of the clinch but Goddard keeps him there for the moment.
Goddard is working for takedown but Rico is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rico doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rico wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Goddard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rico gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rico effectively controlling the action here.
Goddard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rico prevents it.
Goddard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rico prevents it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Goddard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rico prevents it.
Rico is trying to force a seperation but Goddard has the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rico lands the left hand.
Goddard throws a lazy head kick
and Rico counters with a stiff right hand.
Rico takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Goddard is looking to score with low kicks.
Goddard avoids the body shot from Rico.
Rico avoids the head kick by Goddard.
Goddard needs to keep his hands up - Rico had a free shot at his head there.
Rico throws a series of strikes that have Goddard backpedaling.
Rico fails in his attempt to clinch.
Goddard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rico swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Graham Goddard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goddard ducks right into an uppercut from Rico.

Goddard is rocked!
Rico misses with a hook.
Goddard is still on wobbly legs! Can Rico finish him?
Goddard drops his hands momentarily and Rico needs no second invitation. He sets himself and throws a perfect high kick, that clips Goddard just on the top of the head. Goddard drops like a sack of potatoes to the canvas, out cold! Oooooooh yeah! Stick a fork in Goddard - he's done!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Johnny Rico!