PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Goodridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smirnov comes to the cage accompanied by National Anthem Russia. Goodridge comes into a darkened arena with his song building. 50 Cent - Just A Lil Bit kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Gary Goodridge has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Vladimir Smirnov's chin.

Smirnov
vs
Gary Goodridge

196 cm
18
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
20
231 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gary Goodridge!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Goodridge but Goodridge pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Goodridge tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smirnov swivels and escapes.
Goodridge looks to land a combination but Smirnov avoids it well.

Goodridge has Smirnov up against the cage in a clinch.
Goodridge gets underhooks to prevent Smirnov's takedown attempt.
Goodridge is trying to break free.
Smirnov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Smirnov is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Smirnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smirnov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Smirnov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Goodridge is trying to keep an underhook but Smirnov manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Goodridge holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Goodridge is looking to escape.
Goodridge is looking to improve his position.
Smirnov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Goodridge is trying to control but can't.
Smirnov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gary Goodridge wasn't active enough on the ground.

Smirnov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smirnov prevents Goodridge from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smirnov 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.
Goodridge tries to get to full guard but Smirnov has control of the leg.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smirnov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Goodridge wants to get back to full guard.
Goodridge on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Smirnov lands with a punch from half guard.
Smirnov controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodridge wants to control but Smirnov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Goodridge is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Smirnov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Goodridge's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goodridge trying to keep a closed guard but Smirnov is proving a slippery customer.
Smirnov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Goodridge swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smirnov trying to control but Goodridge is working from the bottom.
Smirnov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Goodridge throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smirnov is looking to clinch but Goodridge is avoiding it.
Goodridge digs a good body shot into Smirnov's ribs.
Some wild striking there from Goodridge.
Goodridge misses with a two punch combination.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smirnov enables Goodridge to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smirnov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Smirnov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smirnov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Goodridge is trying to stand back up but Smirnov is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smirnov is nestled in close to Goodridge, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Goodridge gets back to full guard.
Goodridge is breathing heavily.
Smirnov forces his way into half guard.
Goodridge has hold of Smirnov's hands but Smirnov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smirnov trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Goodridge works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov tries to free his leg and advance position but Goodridge is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Vladimir Smirnov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Crunch! Goodridge slams his shin into Smirnov's torso.
Smirnov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Goodridge lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Smirnov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Smirnov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Smirnov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Goodridge manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Goodridge keeps the fight on the outside.
Goodridge lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smirnov circles away quickly and effectively.
Goodridge misses with a few strikes there.

Smirnov closes the distance and clinches.

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

Smirnov moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Goodridge breaks from the clinch.
Smirnov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Goodridge buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Goodridge looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice sprawl there from Smirnov as Goodridge shoots in.

Smirnov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Goodridge wants to control but Smirnov is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smirnov controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Smirnov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Goodridge takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Goodridge rushes Smirnov and presses him up against the cage.
Smirnov wants a takedown.
Goodridge can't break the clinch.
Smirnov pushes Goodridge back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Smirnov can't get the takedown.
Goodridge tries for a takedown but Smirnov manages to get underhooks.
Goodridge wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Smirnov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodridge is trying to break the clinch but Smirnov has him pressed against the cage.
Smirnov prevents the takedown attempt.
Goodridge misses with a knee strike.
Goodridge wants to get back to striking at distance but Smirnov won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Goodridge's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Goodridge takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Goodridge tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smirnov's elbow.
Goodridge misses with the head strike.
Goodridge prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Smirnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Goodridge trying to control the position but instead, Smirnov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Goodridge into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goodridge wants to take the fight to the mat but Smirnov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Smirnov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Goodridge prevents it.
Smirnov holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Goodridge breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Goodridge shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smirnov but Smirnov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Goodridge is looking to chop away at Smirnov's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodridge misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
An inside leg kick lands from Goodridge.
Gary Goodridge seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Goodridge fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smirnov, pushing him back against the cage.
Goodridge stops a takedown attempt from Smirnov.
Goodridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smirnov.
Goodridge has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Smirnov after a bit of a struggle.

Goodridge has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smirnov uses from the top position.
Smirnov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Vladimir Smirnov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smirnov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smirnov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smirnov tries to free his leg and advance position but Goodridge is retaining full guard.
Smirnov stays in close to Goodridge's body and controls the position.
Gary Goodridge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vladimir Smirnov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Vladimir Smirnov just wasn't active enough.
A punch combination from Goodridge misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gary Goodridge.
I think Smirnov 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Smirnov!