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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Graham Goddard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Bower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Goddard kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Recipe for Bait. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 169 cm
20
160 lbs
4 - 4 - 0 |
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175 cm
25
150 lbs
5 - 4 - 0 |
BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin |
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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
4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Graham Goddard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Bower!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Russell Pearce and Reed Andrews.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goddard moves into the clinch successfully.
Goddard lands a good knee to the midsection. Bower won't want to take too many of those.
Bower tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Goddard avoids it.
Bower wants to break free but Goddard has control.
Bower wants to break free but Goddard has control.
Goddard using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Bower on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bower on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Goddard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bower avoids it.
Bower takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bower avoiding damage as Goddard throws knees to the body.
Goddard works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Bower is pulling down on Goddard's head to control his posture.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Goddard postures up in Bower's guard and throws a big left but Bower blocks it.
Goddard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Goddard 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.
Bower working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Goddard.
Bower looking for a sweep. Not yet Bower, not yet.
Goddard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bower is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Bower gets underhooks to prevent Goddard's takedown attempt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Goddard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bower.
Goddard is breathing heavily.
Bower misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bower trying to control the position but instead, Goddard has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bower into the cage.
Goddard content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Bower tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bower managing to block the knees to the body from Goddard.
Bower is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bower blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Goddard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Goddard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bower has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Goddard trying to land knees to the body.
Bower blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Goddard landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Goddard throws a knee to the head but misses.
A frustrated look appears on Bower's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Goddard stops a takedown attempt from Bower.
Bower tries to circle away but Goddard has him pinned against the cage.
Bower is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Goddard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Graham Goddard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Bower.
Goddard is pressed up against the cage. Bower has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Goddard down to the mat. Goddard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Goddard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goddard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bower.
Goddard circles away from the clinch attempt
and Goddard counters by moving into the clinch.
Goddard lands a good knee to the midsection. Bower won't want to take too many of those.
Goddard with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bower managing to block the knees to the body from Goddard.
Goddard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bower avoids it.
Goddard prevents the takedown attempt.
Goddard landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Goddard trying to land knees to the body.
Bower lands a body punch.
Goddard crunches a lovely knee into Bower's ribcage.
Bower is trying to drag Goddard to the mat but Goddard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Goddard misses with a knee to the head.
Goddard using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bower tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Goddard has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Bower clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
I really don't envy Bower right now.
Goddard avoiding Bower 's attempts to control his hands.
Goddard connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Bower to escape the position.
Goddard softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Goddard landing with strikes.
Bower preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Goddard.
Goddard is striking from the back but Bower escapes and manages to recover to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bower works his way to full guard. Good work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goddard thows a big elbow that misses.
Bower is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Goddard is aware though and is defending well.
Goddard throwing strikes from guard but Bower blocks nicely.
Goddard takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Goddard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Goddard cracks Bower with a solid left hand.
Goddard wants to pass the guard but Bower is keeping the position.
Bower lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Goddard!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Goddard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Graham Goddard dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Bower tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Goddard counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Goddard throwing strikes from guard but Bower blocks nicely.
Bower controls Goddard momentarily but Goddard frees himself.
Bower keeping full guard, as Goddard tries to pass.
Goddard with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bower trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bower is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bower working Goddard over with strikes.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower stands up out of the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bower fails with a takedown attempt.
Matt Bower seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bower avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Goddard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bower.
Bower looks to clinch
and Goddard counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bower throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Goddard stands and throws Bower's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bower wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Goddard cracks Bower with a big right hand but Bower just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goddard avoids the strikes from the bottom by Bower.
Bower throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Goddard tries for a kimura but Bower is defending well.
Bower tries to buck Goddard off but Goddard is having none of it.
Bower regains half guard, as Goddard was trying to land strikes.
Bower is looking to improve his position.
Goddard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Goddard is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bower is just riding it out for now. Goddard eventually gives up the hold.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bower looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bower tries to clinch but Goddard moves away
and Goddard counters with a thumping low kick.
Goddard stuffs the takedown attempt from Bower. Bower gets slowly back to his feet.
Goddard rushes Bower and presses him up against the cage.
Goddard has Bower pushed against the cage.
Goddard missing with knees to the body.
Goddard prevents Bower from breaking the clinch.
Bower wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Goddard has him pressed against the cage.
Goddard has hold of one of Bower's legs. Bower is fighting the takedown attempt but Goddard gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goddard has gone for a leg lock! Bower slips out almost immediately though and dives into Goddard's guard.
Bower in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bower accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bower has gone for a leg lock! Goddard slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bower's guard.
Goddard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Goddard throwing strikes but missing.
Goddard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bower is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bower is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Graham Goddard dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
Bower tries to clinch but Goddard moves away
and Goddard finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Goddard shoots in for a takedown but Bower shows good takedown defense.
Bower tries to clinch but Goddard is having none of it.
Bower 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.
Goddard looking for a guillotine here but Bower defends easily.
Bower scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bower preventing the sweep.
Graham Goddard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Goddard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bower cracks Goddard with a solid left hand.
Bower connects with a couple of short punches.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower trying to control but Goddard is working from the bottom.
Bower is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Bower scoring with some ground and pound.
Bower trying to control but Goddard is working from the bottom.
Goddard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bower is aware though and is defending well.
Bower is looking to work some ground and pound but Goddard has wrist control.
Goddard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bower.
Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bower tries to close the distance and clinch but Goddard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bower tries to clinch up.
Bower tries to close the distance and clinch but Goddard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
That's two 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.
Goddard clinches up against the cage.
Bower manages to break the clinch.
Bower is looking to clinch.
Bower tries to clinch but Goddard is having none of it.
Bower fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bower shoots in for a takedown but Goddard shows good takedown defense.
Bower moves out of range as Goddard strikes.
Goddard throws out a leg kick but Bower moves out of range and Goddard only half commits.
Bower takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bower fails in his attempt to clinch.
Goddard misses the shot to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bower moves in looking to clinch but Goddard pushes him off.
Bower throws a head kick that misses.
Goddard wants to land a leg kick but Bower is out of range.
Goddard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bower, pushing him back against the cage.
Bower escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bower wants to clinch but Goddard slips to the side
and Goddard counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bower!
Goddard working Bower over with strikes here.
Goddard lands a big shot there that rocks Bower but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Bower is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bower regains half guard.
Goddard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bower avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Goddard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bower works his way to full guard. Good work.
Goddard stopping the sweep attempt from Bower.
Goddard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Goddard postures up in Bower's guard and throws a big left but Bower blocks it.
Goddard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matt Bower has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bower is on top in guard.
Bower got a little sloppy there for a moment and Goddard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bower has managed to get both his arms back between Goddard's legs - danger averted.
Goddard 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.
Bower keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Goddard's head.
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 Graham Goddard.
Well Goddard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Graham Goddard!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
66% |
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