PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jack Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Graham Goddard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Goddard has chosen Recipe for Bait as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thomas
vs
Goddard

174 cm
21
171 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

169 cm
22
156 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Graham Goddard!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goddard takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Thomas misses with a double jab.
Thomas cracks Goddard with a right hand to the side of the head.

Goddard looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thomas!
Goddard is landing with some decent strikes but Thomas is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Goddard cracks Thomas with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Goddard controlling the pace for now.
Goddard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Goddard with shots to the head and body - Thomas looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Goddard has control of Thomas's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Thomas regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Goddard punishing his opponent with strikes.
Goddard is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Thomas can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Goddard with shots to the head and body - Thomas looks very uncomfortable down there.
Thomas in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Goddard scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Thomas regains half guard.
Goddard prevents Thomas from improving his position.
Goddard lands with a punch from half guard.
Goddard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Thomas is trying to stand back up but Goddard is controlling him
Goddard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet.

Goddard wants to work for an arm triangle but Thomas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Goddard stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thomas keeping full guard, as Goddard tries to pass.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Goddard from controlling successfully.
Thomas is trying to keep Goddard in close.
Thomas has momentary wrist control but Goddard slips an elbow through the middle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Goddard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Goddard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Goddard postures up in Thomas's guard and throws a big left but Thomas blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Goddard counters with a leg kick.
Thomas is breathing heavily.

Goddard gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Goddard gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.

Goddard is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thomas sees it coming and defends easily.
Goddard prevents Thomas from improving his position.
Ground and pound from Goddard.
Thomas is trying to get back to full guard.
Goddard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.
Goddard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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. Goddard connects with a nice short shot to Thomas's temple.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thomas stuffs the takedown.
Goddard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Goddard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thomas.
Jack Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goddard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thomas counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Goddard tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.
Goddard checks a low kick from Thomas.

Goddard scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Thomas is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Goddard looks up at the clock and then as Thomas takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Goddard smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
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!

Goddard has managed to clinch.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Goddard holds him up against the cage and eventually Thomas drops back down to his feet.
Thomas tries to work over Goddard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thomas is working for takedown but Goddard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Thomas has Goddard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Goddard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Goddard walks away with a smile on his face. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice shot by Thomas.

Goddard shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thomas manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Goddard throwing strikes from guard but Thomas blocks nicely.
Thomas can't keep his opponent in guard - Goddard advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Goddard scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Goddard looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas is trying to maintain the position but Goddard is very close to passing his half guard.

Goddard seems to be working for a kimura but Thomas defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Goddard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Thomas tries to get to full guard but Goddard has control of the leg.

Thomas manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Goddard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thomas manages to get himself to full guard.
Goddard wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Goddard landing some decent shots from guard.
Goddard throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goddard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Thomas looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Goddard has picked Thomas up and slammed him! Thomas can't keep hold of the triangle and Goddard manages to pass to side control!
Goddard trying to control the position but Thomas is working away.
Goddard working the head with strikes.
Thomas is looking to reverse the position.
Goddard creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Goddard lands a decent elbow from side control.
Goddard working the head and body with strikes.
Thomas taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas taking a bit of punishment here - Goddard scoring with strikes.
Goddard working the ground and pound.
Thomas tries to bench press Goddard off him but Goddard keeps the position.
Goddard grinds an elbow into Thomas's temple.
Goddard cracks Thomas with a big elbow.

Goddard thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Goddard is working to tighten is grip on Thomas's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Thomas has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Goddard is really squeezing tight and eventually Thomas passes out! Goddard breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Graham Goddard!