PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Goldberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and christoph gale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Goldberg
vs
gale

195 cm
18
195 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

195 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Goldberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, christoph gale!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goldberg throws a right and a left that gale avoids nicely.
gale closes the distance and clinches up with Goldberg, looking for a takedown. gale pushes Goldberg against the cage but Goldberg circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
gale wants to clinch.
Crunch! Goldberg slams his shin into gale's torso.
gale fails with an attempt to clinch.
gale is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Goldberg throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
gale looks gassed!
Goldberg lands a high kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Goldberg drives through and clinches with gale against the cage.
gale tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Goldberg just stands there and leans against the cage.

Goldberg breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Goldberg tries a head kick but it misses.

gale closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Goldberg to the mat! Goldberg manages to get full guard.
Goldberg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Goldberg is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst gale is controlling him.
Goldberg can't keep his opponent in guard - gale advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
gale trying to advance position but Goldberg counters by regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
gale pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goldberg is keeping the position for now.
gale slips nicely into half guard.
gale thows a huge punch but Goldberg dodges it nicely.
gale is thwarting Goldberg's attempts to control the position.
gale missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Goldberg regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from gale.
Goldberg wants to sweep here but gale controlling him for the moment.
Goldberg is trying to keep gale in close.

gale drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and gale jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Goldberg wants to hit a switch here but gale passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Goldberg there!
gale throws some wild stikes that Goldberg manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
gale looking to ground and pound but Goldberg is blocking nicely.
Goldberg is desperately trying to improve his position but gale has a good base and remains in mount.

gale is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Goldberg has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Goldberg!
Goldberg slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Goldberg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four 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.

gale working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Goldberg has passed into half guard!
Goldberg seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Goldberg is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Goldberg trying to control from half guard but gale is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Goldberg 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.

gale throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

gale darts in and clinches Goldberg up against the cage.
gale misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Goldberg.
gale is looking to control Goldberg's arms but Goldberg gets an underhook and turns him. Now gale has his back to the cage.

Goldberg breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
gale shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Goldberg as he jumps to the side.
Goldberg clobbers gale with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Goldberg tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and gale counters with a nice body kick.
Goldberg throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fight stays on the outside here - gale looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A solid leg kick lands there for Goldberg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Goldberg misses with a combination
and gale finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
gale tries to clinch but Goldberg is having none of it.
gale shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Goldberg pinned against the cage. Goldberg gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
gale on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
gale fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Joe Goldberg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of christoph gale.
Goldberg misses the shot to the body.

gale shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than gale was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
gale throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

gale looking to secure an arm triangle but Goldberg defends it well.

gale looking for a guillotine from mount but Goldberg is having none of it.
Goldberg is looking to improve his position but gale isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg is trying to stand up.

gale with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Goldberg keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
gale throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Goldberg because gale loaded up on that one.
Goldberg really wants to buck gale off and get back to his feet.
gale prevents Goldberg from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg tries to hold on but gale postures up.
gale throwing strikes here but Goldberg is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

gale is standing up, even though he is in mount.
gale throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Goldberg counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Goldberg knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for gale on the ground.
Goldberg trying to control but gale is working from the bottom.

gale is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Goldberg looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

gale isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Goldberg stacks gale on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Goldberg!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
gale looks to move to half guard but instead Goldberg has passed into mount! Damn!

Goldberg is standing up, even though he is in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Goldberg dominated that second round.
That's time! Goldberg's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Goldberg wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Goldberg scores with a crisp jab that stopped gale in his tracks.
Goldberg thuds his shin into the meat of gale's side.
Goldberg scores with a spinning back kick!
Goldberg looks to land a combination but gale avoids it well.
gale scores with a leg kick.
Joe Goldberg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
gale moves out of range of the body kick.

Goldberg rushes gale and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Goldberg prevents a takedown attempt there.

gale jumps into guard, dragging Goldberg to the mat.
gale wants to sweep but no luck.
gale is trying to control the position but Goldberg postures up.
Goldberg stopping the sweep attempt from gale.
gale trying to keep a closed guard but Goldberg is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

gale had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Goldberg is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. gale Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Goldberg's back instead.

gale looking to break Goldberg's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Goldberg remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise gale will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

gale has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Goldberg is defending well but eventually gale manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Goldberg has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). christoph gale!