PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xander Goldman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Aoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Goldman
vs
Aoshi

188 cm
22
280 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
225 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Xander Goldman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Aoshi!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goldman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Aoshi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Goldman swings for the body but Aoshi moves out of range.
Goldman misses with a hook. Aoshi ducked under it nicely.
Aoshi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Goldman's waist but Goldman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aoshi off to one side.
Goldman throws a leg kick but Aoshi sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Goldman is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Some wild striking there from Goldman.
Aoshi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Goldman as he jumps to the side.
Aoshi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Xander Goldman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aoshi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aoshi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Xander Goldman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinji Aoshi.
Goldman throws a leg kick which misses Aoshi's front leg but catches the back leg as Aoshi tries to avoid it.

Goldman gets a clinch.
Aoshi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A right hook to the body lands for Goldman.
Aoshi looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Goldman tries to land knees in the clinch but Aoshi avoids the damage to the body.
Aoshi takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Shinji Aoshi has been cut.
Goldman lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Aoshi.
Goldman lands a left hand that snaps the head of Aoshi backwards.
A shot in the inside from Goldman.
A short right from Goldman on the inside.
Goldman missing with knees to the body.

Goldman breaks from the clinch.
Goldman is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoshi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Goldman instigates a clinch.
Aoshi takes a knee to the side of the body.
Goldman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Aoshi avoids it.

Goldman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Goldman has managed to clinch.

Goldman manages to break the clinch.
Jab by Goldman.
Goldman lands a nice shot that snaps Aoshi's head back.
Goldman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Aoshi throws a series of strikes that have Goldman backpedaling.
Goldman connects with the punch.
Aoshi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Goldman defends it nicely.
Goldman tries a head kick but it misses.

Goldman pushes Aoshi up against the cage in a clinch.
Goldman putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Aoshi in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Goldman lands a body punch.
Goldman using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Goldman working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoshi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Aoshi fails to pull guard.
Goldman misses with a knee to the head.
Aoshi looking for a takedown.
Aoshi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Goldman prevents it.
Aoshi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Goldman gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Goldman looking to throw knees to the head but Aoshi is blocking nicely.
Goldman tries to circle away but Aoshi has him pinned against the cage.
Aoshi working hard to break the clinch.
Aoshi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Goldman wants to break the clinch but can't.
Aoshi tries to circle away but Goldman has him pinned against the cage.
Aoshi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Goldman lands with a light punch inside.
Aoshi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aoshi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Goldman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Aoshi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Goldman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Goldman scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Aoshi tries to score a body lock takedown but Goldman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Goldman lands a damaging elbow.
Goldman pushes off an throws an elbow but Aoshi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Aoshi tries for a takedown but Goldman manages to get underhooks.
Goldman scores with a knee to the head.

Goldman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoshi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Goldman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Aoshi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aoshi scores with a one two! Goldman had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Goldman throws a shot from downtown. Aoshi moves away and avoids it.
Aoshi lands a head kick. Goldman smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Goldman throws a lazy head kick
and Aoshi counters with a head kick. That will keep Goldman thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Goldman pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Goldman swats away the attempt to clinch by Aoshi.
Aoshi shoots in for a takedown but Goldman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Aoshi moves out of range of the body kick.
Aoshi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Goldman blocks a head kick by Aoshi.
Aoshi misses with the combination.

Goldman drives through and clinches with Aoshi against the cage.
Aoshi is trying to push Goldman away but Goldman has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Goldman unloads a knee to the mid-section. Aoshi lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoshi fails to pull guard.
Aoshi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Goldman keeps control of Aoshi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Goldman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Aoshi's efforts to push away.
Aoshi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Goldman breaks the clinch.
Aoshi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Goldman doesn't manage to clinch there - Aoshi circles away.
Goldman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aoshi moves away.
Aoshi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Goldman tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Aoshi is able to avoid easily.
Goldman throws a head kick but Aoshi moves out of range.
Aoshi scores with a head kick.
Goldman doesn't manage to clinch there - Aoshi circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Aoshi.
Goldman throws a low kick but Aoshi moves out of range easily.
Aoshi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Aoshi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Goldman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shinji Aoshi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Goldman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aoshi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Aoshi lands with a nice combination. Goldman backs away looking to recover.
Aoshi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Goldman defends it nicely.
Aoshi throws a sloppy head kick and Goldman moves out of range easily.
Goldman throws a sloppy head kick and Aoshi moves out of range easily.
Goldman throws the left hand but Aoshi avoids the punch easily.
Goldman slips a jab and a cross from Aoshi.
Goldman misses with a body shot.
Aoshi throws a head kick that Goldman semi-blocks.
Goldman throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aoshi lands a head kick!
Aoshi fails with a takedown attempt.
Goldman throws a head kick that misses
and Aoshi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Aoshi.
Xander Goldman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinji Aoshi.
Aoshi throws a leg kick which misses Goldman's front leg but catches the back leg as Goldman tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Aoshi.
Aoshi shoots in but Goldman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Goldman misses with a head kick.
A head kick from Aoshi lands but Goldman takes it in his stride.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Aoshi.
Aoshi swats away the attempt to clinch by Goldman.
Aoshi throws a head kick that half lands.
Goldman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Goldman falls off balance throwing a combination
and Aoshi counters with a good, hard body kick but Goldman shrugs it off.
Aoshi lands a high kick!
Goldman has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Goldman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Goldman wants it to stay on the feet.

Goldman clinches.
Goldman prevents Aoshi from breaking the clinch.
Aoshi can't break the clinch.
Goldman lands a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldman has Aoshi pressed against the cage, preventing Aoshi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Goldman lands a damaging elbow.
A hook to the body from Goldman.

Aoshi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Goldman throws a lazy head kick
and Aoshi counters with a head kick.
Goldman lands a lovely overhand right.
Aoshi swats away the attempt to clinch by Goldman.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aoshi is defended easily by Goldman.
Aoshi swats away the attempt to clinch by Goldman.
A head kick misses from Aoshi.
Aoshi wants to clinch.
Xander Goldman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aoshi misses with a series of wild punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goldman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoshi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Goldman tries to avoid it but Aoshi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Goldman to the ground. Goldman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Goldman throws a head kick that misses
and Aoshi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Aoshi swats away the attempt to clinch by Goldman.
Aoshi misses with a two punch combination.
A punch combination from Goldman misses.
Goldman misses with a looping right.
Aoshi tries to clinch up.
Goldman misses with the combination.
Aoshi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Goldman throws a head kick but Aoshi moves out of range.
Aoshi misses with a head kick.
Aoshi scoring well with a low kick there.
Goldman wants to clinch.
Xander Goldman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aoshi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

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.
Aoshi throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Good standup being displayed there by Goldman as he connects with a hook.
Goldman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aoshi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aoshi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Some wild striking there from Goldman.
Aoshi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Goldman pinned against the cage. Goldman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Goldman pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Goldman misses with a head kick.
Goldman loads up on a big right hand but Aoshi slips the punch.
Aoshi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A jab from Goldman misses.
Goldman moves in looking to clinch but Aoshi pushes him off.
Aoshi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Aoshi looks for a takedown but Goldman sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Aoshi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shinji Aoshi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Goldman moves into the clinch.
Goldman unloads a knee to the mid-section. Aoshi lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Goldman lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Goldman works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Goldman using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Goldman is leaning against Aoshi and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Aoshi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Goldman throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Goldman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Goldman throws a combination that misses
and Aoshi counters with a big head kick but Goldman shrugs it off.
Xander Goldman is winning the standup battle so far.
Goldman tries to clinch but Aoshi is having none of it.
Goldman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Goldman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Goldman takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sloppy strikes from Aoshi. Those never looked like landing.
Goldman misses with a low kick.
Goldman throws a left and a right that both miss
and Aoshi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Aoshi throws a nice looking combination but Goldman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Goldman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Aoshi finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Aoshi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goldman goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Aoshi moves in looking to clinch but Goldman pushes him off.
Aoshi tries a head kick but it misses.
Aoshi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Goldman misses with a double jab
and Aoshi counters with a solid body kick.
Aoshi lands a head kick!
Aoshi scores with a kick to the body.
Goldman throws a head kick that misses.
Aoshi misses with a takedown attempt - Goldman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Aoshi checks a leg kick.
Aoshi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Goldman. That did some damage!
Aoshi tries to move into range but Goldman moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Goldman throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Aoshi finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Aoshi lands with a kick to the temple. Goldman shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Aoshi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoshi scores with a jab. Goldman acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Aoshi throws a head kick that misses.
Goldman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aoshi moves away.
Aoshi throws a head kick but Goldman moves out of range.
Aoshi throws a head kick that misses.
Goldman tries to bum rush Aoshi with a series of wild strikes but Aoshi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Goldman throws a head kick but Aoshi moves out of range.
Goldman avoids the head kick by Aoshi.
Aoshi throws a head kick but Goldman moves out of range.
Goldman wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Aoshi tries to land a front kick but Goldman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Goldman misses with a two punch combination.
Goldman avoids the head kick by Aoshi.
Aoshi walks into a straight right hand from Goldman.
Aoshi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Goldman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aoshi shoots in looking for a takedown. Goldman tries to sprawl out of it but Aoshi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Goldman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Goldman misses with a double jab
and Aoshi counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoshi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Goldman gets a clinch.
Goldman makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Aoshi is trying to push Goldman away but Goldman has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Goldman working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Aoshi misses with a knee strike.
Goldman scores with a knee to the head.

Goldman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Goldman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aoshi.
A slapping leg kick lands for Goldman.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goldman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aoshi shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Goldman eats them both and turns towards Aoshi to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Goldman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Aoshi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Aoshi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Goldman keeps control of Aoshi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Aoshi blocks an elbow strike from Goldman.
A left hand lands to the body for Goldman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoshi wants to break free but Goldman has control.
Goldman working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Goldman lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Goldman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Aoshi is defending well for now.
Goldman throws a punch but it's blocked by Aoshi.
Aoshi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Aoshi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Aoshi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Goldman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Goldman will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Goldman pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Aoshi throws a head kick but Goldman moves out of range.
Aoshi tries a head kick but it misses.
Aoshi blocks a head kick by Goldman.
Goldman stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Aoshi.
Goldman blocks a head kick by Aoshi.
Goldman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Aoshi counters with a head kick.

Goldman drives through and clinches with Aoshi against the cage.
Goldman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Aoshi's efforts to push away.
A right handed body shot lands from Goldman.
Aoshi has had enough of the clinch but Goldman keeps him there for the moment.
Aoshi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xander Goldman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Goldman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xander Goldman!