PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rich Gold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Borchensov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikolai Borchensov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gold
vs
Borchensov

150 cm
18
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

205 cm
18
295 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rich Gold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nikolai Borchensov!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gold keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Borchensov has managed to clinch.

Borchensov jumps guard and drags Gold to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Borchensov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gold won't allow Borchensov to sweep him here.
Borchensov trying to keep a closed guard but Gold is proving a slippery customer.
Borchensov trying to strike off his back.
Gold is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gold might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gold throwing strikes from guard but Borchensov blocks nicely.
Borchensov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gold.
Gold with a nice head shot there.
Gold has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gold throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gold loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Borchensov looking to control.
Gold really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gold lands a couple of digs.
Borchensov keeping moving, preventing Gold from controlling successfully.
Borchensov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gold.
Gold wants to control from the top but Borchensov keeps moving.
Gold looking to sit in guard and control but Borchensov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Borchensov wants to stand but Gold has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Borchensov passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Borchensov taking a breather here.

Borchensov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gold tries to buck Borchensov off but Borchensov is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gold is working hard here to advance position.
Borchensov moves into full mount!
Borchensov is looking to stand but Borchensov has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

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.
Gold bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gold working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gold loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Borchensov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gold postures up and lands a big shot to Borchensov's brow.
Gold scoring with some ground and pound.
Gold trying to control the position from guard on top but Borchensov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gold is breathing heavily.
Borchensov wants to stand but Gold is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Borchensov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gold looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gold scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Borchensov wants to improve his position but Gold is controlling well.
Still in half guard, Gold seems content to control.
Gold working Borchensov over with strikes.
Borchensov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gold winds up and cracks Borchensov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Borchensov trying to hold on to Gold's head to control him but Gold postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gold working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Borchensov is refusing to be controlled, as Gold sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borchensov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Borchensov.
Gold working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gold cracks Borchensov with a solid left hand.
Gold trying to control the position from guard on top but Borchensov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gold throws a big right hand that misses.
Borchensov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gold tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gold is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Borchensov looking to control but Gold is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Borchensov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Borchensov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gold is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gold has given up his back. Will we see Borchensov going for some submissions?
Borchensov is hanging on to Gold's back as he tries to escape.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Borchensov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gold kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Borchensov looking for the choke from the back.
Borchensov has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Gold.
Gold tries to roll but Borchensov sticks to his back.
Gold manages to reverse the position and now he's in Borchensov's guard. Nice work there by Gold.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gold throws a strike but Borchensov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rich Gold will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Borchensov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gold counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Borchensov!
Gold scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Borchensov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Borchensov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gold is landing with some decent strikes but Borchensov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gold landing strikes from the mount.
Gold punishing his opponent with strikes.
Borchensov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice elbow there by Gold.
Gold lands a big elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gold postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Borchensov looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Gold.
Gold lands a big elbow.
Gold landing shots from mount.
A nice elbow there by Gold.
Gold with good strikes from the mount here!
Gold with the ground and pound from mount.
Borchensov is working to get back to half guard.
Gold dominating with strikes here.
Borchensov wants to control but Gold is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borchensov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gold is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Borchensov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gold lands a big elbow.
Gold raining down shots from the mount!
Borchensov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gold working Borchensov over with strikes here.
Gold in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gold connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Gold postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Borchensov looks a forlorn figure.
Gold fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Gold scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Borchensov?
Gold scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Gold looking to ground and pound but Borchensov is blocking nicely.
Borchensov wants to hold on but Gold pushes him away.
Borchensov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gold with shots to the head and body - Borchensov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Gold working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Gold is landing with some decent strikes but Borchensov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gold scoring with strikes but Borchensov is staying in there.
Borchensov wants to hold on but Gold pushes him away.
Gold won't let Borchensov get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Gold looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Borchensov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gold landing strikes, looking to finish!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gold landing shots from mount.
Gold controlling the position easily from mount.
Nikolai Borchensov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rich Gold is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Gold showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gold, 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rich Gold!