PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yukimura Gomi (ranked 2297 p4p, 282 weight class) and Rickson Zimmerman (ranked 4008 p4p, 436 weight class). Gomi's entrance music is Peak Times by Switch. A fine choice. Zimmerman has chosen Cosmic Sand - 9h00 as his entrance music. Yukimura Gomi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Rickson Zimmerman's chin.

Gomi
vs
Zimmerman

185 cm
27
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
28
190 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

KAGED
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yukimura Gomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rickson Zimmerman!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Reed Andrews and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Rickson Zimmerman has been cut.
Zimmerman checks a leg kick.
Gomi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zimmerman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zimmerman changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Zimmerman clinches up with Gomi and pushes him back against the cage.
Gomi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Zimmerman has Gomi pushed against the cage.
Gomi throws an elbow but it misses.
Gomi tries a knee to the head but Zimmerman blocks it.
I was talking to Gomi's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Zimmerman has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gomi after a bit of a struggle.
Zimmerman jumps guard but Gomi stands there with Zimmerman around his waist. Zimmerman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zimmerman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gomi lands an elbow inside.

Zimmerman manages to break the clinch.
Rickson Zimmerman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zimmerman shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gomi pushes Zimmerman off looking to stand but Zimmerman dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimmerman is trying to control. Gomi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gomi is trying to stand up here but Zimmerman is controlling him well.
Gomi won't allow Zimmerman to pass to mount.
Gomi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Zimmerman is nestled in close to Gomi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Zimmerman wants to take a breather but Gomi is having none of it.
Gomi is trying to stand back up but Zimmerman is controlling him

Zimmerman decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Gomi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Zimmerman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zimmerman.
Zimmerman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman wants to control from the top but Gomi keeps moving.
Zimmerman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gomi is looking to stand back up but Zimmerman counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Gomi.
Zimmerman wants to pass to mount but Gomi is defending the position.
Gomi pushes Zimmerman off looking to stand but Zimmerman dives back in and keeps control.
Gomi wants to stand back up but Zimmerman manages to pass into side control.
Zimmerman scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Gomi to see if he's OK.

Zimmerman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zimmerman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Zimmerman advances to full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman wants to control the pace but Gomi is squirming around nicely.
Zimmerman lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gomi has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.

Zimmerman has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Gomi is in real trouble here. Zimmerman gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Gomi is tapping out! Zimmerman wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rickson Zimmerman!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Rickson Zimmerman waved his t-shirt featuring Urban Fighter's logo in front of the cameras.