PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nate Gonzales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Goldberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Goldberg has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Mike Goldberg will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gonzales
vs
Goldberg

203 cm
23
260 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

192 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

Deadly Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nate Gonzales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Goldberg!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goldberg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gonzales swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goldberg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gonzales closes the distance and clinches up with Goldberg, looking for a takedown. Gonzales pushes Goldberg against the cage but Goldberg circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gonzales shoots in for a double leg but Goldberg sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Goldberg fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gonzales, pushing him back against the cage.
Gonzales on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gonzales tries to pull guard but Goldberg won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Gonzales. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gonzales tries for a takedown. No joy.

Gonzales is trying to trip Goldberg. He has hold of a leg but Goldberg is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gonzales persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Goldberg wants to stand but Gonzales is controlling the position.
Gonzales is looking to work some ground and pound but Goldberg has wrist control.
Goldberg wants to stand and escape but Gonzales is having none of it.
Goldberg looks gassed!
Gonzales trying to control but Goldberg is working from the bottom.
Gonzales tries to free his leg and advance position but Goldberg is retaining full guard.
Gonzales pushes down on Goldberg's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Goldberg pushes Gonzales off looking to stand but Gonzales dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gonzales has Goldberg up against the cage in a clinch.
Gonzales is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gonzales's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Gonzales wants a takedown.
Gonzales jumps guard but Goldberg stands there with Gonzales around his waist. Gonzales gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gonzales tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Goldberg smiles and moves away.
Goldberg darts in trying to clinch

so Gonzales counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg is looking to stand up but Gonzales isn't so interested in that idea.

Goldberg has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Gonzales off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Mike Goldberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goldberg closes the distance looking to clinch

and Gonzales counters with a shoot takedown. Goldberg fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gonzales drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gonzales jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Goldberg wants to stand but Gonzales is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzales sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Goldberg's guard.
Gonzales is keen to just control but Goldberg is a slippery customer.
Goldberg looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gonzales looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gonzales prevents Goldberg from standing back up.

Gonzales looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Goldberg wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Gonzales is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Goldberg sees it coming and defends easily.
Gonzales stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gonzales throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Gonzales 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. Gonzales eventually gives up the hold.
Goldberg is trying to stand back up but Gonzales is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Gonzales 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.

Gonzales fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goldberg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gonzales tries for a takedown but Goldberg sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Goldberg tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gonzales counters with a shoot takedown. Goldberg fights it but they end up in guard.

Goldberg is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gonzales is aware though and is defending well.
Goldberg wants to stand and escape but Gonzales is having none of it.
Goldberg is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Gonzales avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Goldberg is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gonzales is working Goldberg over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Goldberg keeping moving, preventing Gonzales from controlling successfully.
Goldberg really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gonzales. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Goldberg has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Gonzales off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Goldberg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gonzales paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Gonzales shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gonzales was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Goldberg is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Gonzales will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gonzales lands with some strikes.

Gonzales looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Goldberg tries to lock up and control but Gonzales gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gonzales looking to control but Goldberg is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Goldberg is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg tries to hold on but Gonzales postures up.
Goldberg wants to try and get back to his feet.
Nate Gonzales overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gonzales lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Goldberg really wants to buck Gonzales off and get back to his feet.
Goldberg in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Goldberg taking shots to the head.
Gonzales lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Goldberg is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Goldberg tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gonzales won't let Goldberg get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gonzales jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Goldberg manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Gonzales throws an elbow but Goldberg slips to the side and avoids it well.
Goldberg is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Goldberg tries a head kick but it misses.
Goldberg tries to clinch up.

Goldberg clinches.
Goldberg prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Gonzales. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gonzales takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gonzales wants a takedown.
Goldberg tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gonzales misses with a body punch.
Goldberg misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gonzales.

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.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Goldberg obliges.
Gonzales is trying to break the clinch but Goldberg has him pressed against the cage.
Goldberg unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gonzales lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gonzales drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Goldberg gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gonzales avoiding damage as Goldberg throws knees to the body.

Gonzales jumps guard and drags Goldberg to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Goldberg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Goldberg won't allow Gonzales to sweep him here.
Goldberg looking to pass the guard.
Goldberg pushes down on Gonzales's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Goldberg is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Gonzales dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Goldberg tries to clinch up but Gonzales circles away and keeps his distance.
Goldberg clinches but Gonzales breaks the clinch

and Gonzales counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gonzales.
Gonzales wants to control from the top but Goldberg keeps moving.
Gonzales advances position into side control!

Gonzales looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Gonzales thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Goldberg is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gonzales wants to control but Goldberg is keeping him busy.

Goldberg explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Goldberg has closed the distance and engaged Gonzales in a clinch.
Gonzales is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Goldberg gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gonzales goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gonzales goes for a takedown in the clinch but Goldberg prevents it.
Goldberg looking to throw knees to the head but Gonzales is blocking nicely.
Gonzales has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Goldberg avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Gonzales. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Gonzales.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzales tries to break the clinch but Goldberg is controlling the position.
Goldberg fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gonzales misses with the head strike.
Gonzales tries for a takedown but Goldberg manages to get underhooks.
Goldberg missing with knees to the body.
Gonzales goes for a takedown attempt but Goldberg pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Goldberg is looking to clinch.
Nate Gonzales is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gonzales shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Goldberg sprawls well. Goldberg wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gonzales gets slowly back to his feet.
Goldberg tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gonzales decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Goldberg's guard.
Gonzales prevents Goldberg from getting back to his feet.
Gonzales passes Goldberg's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Goldberg is trying to stand back up but Gonzales is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Gonzales is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gonzales is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Goldberg doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gonzales.
Goldberg is trying to stand up here but Gonzales is controlling him well.

Gonzales seems to be working for a kimura but Goldberg defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Gonzales is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gonzales trying to mount his opponent but Goldberg defends it.
Goldberg trying to control from the bottom.

Gonzales is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Goldberg has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gonzales tries to pass to full mount but Goldberg defends it.
Gonzales working Goldberg over with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Gonzales showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gonzales, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Gonzales!