PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grant Gooderich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Karamazov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Gooderich
vs
Karamazov

195 cm
22
213 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

189 cm
24
215 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grant Gooderich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Karamazov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karamazov throws a series of punches but Gooderich moves out of range.
Ivan Karamazov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Gooderich, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Karamazov misses with a combination

and Gooderich counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gooderich wanted to stand there but Karamazov had control of the position.
Gooderich trying to control but Karamazov is working from the bottom.
Gooderich stops Karamazov from standing up.
Gooderich trying to control but Karamazov is working from the bottom.

Gooderich stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Karamazov misses with a combination

and Gooderich moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gooderich lands a knee to the head.
Gooderich lands a left hand.
Karamazov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gooderich keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Karamazov's efforts to push away.
Gooderich lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Karamazov tries to break the clinch but Gooderich is controlling the position.
Karamazov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Karamazov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gooderich landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Gooderich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gooderich wants to clinch up but Karamazov keeps it at a distance.
Karamazov looks to land a combination but Gooderich avoids it well.
Gooderich slips a jab and a cross from Karamazov.
Karamazov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A head kick by Karamazov misses

and Gooderich counters by clinching up.
Gooderich lands a knee to the head.
Gooderich landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gooderich connects with a nasty looking knee right to Karamazov's face.
Gooderich lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gooderich scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gooderich connects with a knee to the head.
Gooderich connects with a knee to the head.
Karamazov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gooderich working Karamazov over with knees to the body.
Karamazov looks gassed!
Gooderich using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Karamazov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Karamazov can't break the clinch.

Gooderich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Karamazov looks to land a combination. Gooderich sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Karamazov swinging wildly here.
Karamazov throws a low kick, looking for Gooderich's leg but Gooderich calmly moves out of range.
Karamazov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Gooderich counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Karamazov wants to break free but Gooderich has control.
Karamazov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gooderich lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Gooderich tightens his grip and picks Karamazov up, before dumping him to the ground. Karamazov manages to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gooderich wanted to stand there but Karamazov had control of the position.
Gooderich prevents Karamazov from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gooderich stands up and waves to Karamazov to follow him.
Gooderich wants to clinch up but Karamazov keeps it at a distance.
Gooderich fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karamazov misses with a combination

and Gooderich counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gooderich.

Gooderich breaks the clinch.
Karamazov misses with a double jab

and Gooderich counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gooderich.
Gooderich changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Karamazov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Karamazov misses with a combination

and Gooderich counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gooderich gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Gooderich content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Karamazov is trying to stand back up but Gooderich is controlling him
Gooderich is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karamazov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Gooderich.
Gooderich misses with a head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Gooderich dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A head kick misses from Karamazov.
Grant Gooderich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karamazov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Karamazov throws a combination that misses

and Gooderich counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gooderich slows down the pace here.
Karamazov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gooderich has him pressed against the cage.
Karamazov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gooderich has him pressed against the cage.

Gooderich decides to pull guard.
Gooderich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Karamazov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gooderich tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gooderich on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gooderich tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karamazov is looking to work some ground and pound but Gooderich has wrist control.
Karamazov trying to control but Gooderich is working from the bottom.
Gooderich has his hands on Karamazov's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gooderich is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karamazov connects with a couple of short punches.
Karamazov throws a strike but Gooderich rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Karamazov wants to stand and escape but Gooderich is having none of it.
Gooderich wants to stand but Karamazov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gooderich thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gooderich wants to pass the guard but Karamazov is keeping the position.
Gooderich is working hard here to advance position.
Gooderich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gooderich would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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

Gooderich forces Karamazov back against the cage and clinches.
Gooderich lands with a right to the head.
Gooderich tries to land a knee to the head but Karamazov blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karamazov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Karamazov can't break the clinch.
Gooderich working Karamazov over with knees to the body.
Gooderich throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Karamazov blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gooderich with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gooderich keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Karamazov's efforts to push away.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Karamazov is trying to break the clinch but Gooderich is controlling him.
Gooderich lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Karamazov working hard to break the clinch.
Gooderich unloads a knee to the mid-section. Karamazov lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gooderich is leaning against Karamazov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Gooderich lands a hook that snaps the head of Karamazov backwards.

Gooderich breaks the clinch.
Karamazov looks to throw the jab but Gooderich is out of range.
Karamazov throws a sloppy head kick and Gooderich moves out of range easily.
Karamazov throws a lazy head kick

and Gooderich counters by moving into the clinch.
Karamazov wants to break free but Gooderich has control.
Gooderich tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karamazov can't break the clinch.
Gooderich lands a nice elbow.
Knees to the body from Gooderich.
Karamazov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Karamazov takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gooderich works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Gooderich manages to break the clinch.
Karamazov misses with a head kick.
No joy there for Gooderich, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Karamazov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Gooderich counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gooderich.
Gooderich is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Karamazov takes an elbow to the forehead.

Gooderich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Karamazov throws a right and a left that Gooderich avoids nicely.
Karamazov swats away the attempt to clinch by Gooderich.
Karamazov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Karamazov fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Gooderich dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Karamazov misses with a double jab

and Gooderich moves into the clinch.

Gooderich breaks the clinch.
Gooderich shoots in and drives through. Karamazov sprawls well.
Gooderich avoids a punch combination nicely.
Karamazov works over Gooderich's head and body with a nice combination.
Karamazov throws a sloppy head kick and Gooderich moves out of range easily.
Karamazov throws a sloppy head kick and Gooderich moves out of range easily.
Karamazov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Gooderich counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gooderich.
Gooderich prevents Karamazov from breaking the clinch.
Gooderich putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Karamazov in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gooderich lands a damaging elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karamazov stops a takedown attempt from Gooderich.

Gooderich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karamazov misses with a combination

and Gooderich counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karamazov has had enough of the clinch but Gooderich keeps him there for the moment.
Karamazov tries to circle away but Gooderich has him pinned against the cage.
Karamazov wants to break free but Gooderich has control.
Karamazov is looking to break free of the clinch but Gooderich has double underhooks.
Gooderich taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gooderich lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gooderich.
Karamazov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Gooderich lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Karamazov or not.
Karamazov tries to break the clinch but Gooderich is controlling the position.
Gooderich lands a hook to the side of the head.
A frustrated look appears on Karamazov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Karamazov tries to circle away but Gooderich has him pinned against the cage.

Gooderich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Karamazov scores with a three punch combo!
Gooderich fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karamazov misses with a few strikes there.
Karamazov throws a combination that misses
and Gooderich cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gooderich is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grant Gooderich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Gooderich.
Gooderich with a knee to the head.

Gooderich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Karamazov throws a combination that misses

and Gooderich counters by moving into the clinch.
Karamazov is trying to break the clinch but Gooderich is controlling him.
Karamazov tries to break free but Gooderich pushes him back against the cage.

Gooderich turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Gooderich manages to end up in side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gooderich creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Karamazov sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Gooderich stands up.
Karamazov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Karamazov misses with a jab, cross combination.

Gooderich gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gooderich tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Karamazov is trying to break the clinch but Gooderich has him pressed against the cage.
Karamazov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Karamazov takes a knee right on the jaw!
A frustrated look appears on Karamazov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gooderich tries a knee to the head but Karamazov blocks it.
Karamazov is trying to break the clinch but Gooderich is controlling him.
Gooderich has Karamazov pressed against the cage, preventing Karamazov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Gooderich manages to break the clinch.
Karamazov throws a nice looking combination but Gooderich bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Karamazov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Karamazov throws a looping overhand right but Gooderich ducks down to avoid it.

Gooderich closes the distance and pushes Karamazov back into the cage.
Karamazov tries to circle away but Gooderich has him pinned against the cage.
Karamazov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gooderich has him pressed against the cage.
Gooderich is trying to drag Karamazov to the mat but Karamazov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gooderich tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ivan Karamazov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Karamazov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gooderich.
Karamazov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Karamazov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gooderich blocks an uppercut.
Karamazov working hard to break the clinch.
Gooderich putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Karamazov in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gooderich prevents Karamazov from breaking the clinch.

Gooderich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Karamazov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Karamazov falls off balance throwing a combination

so Gooderich counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Grant Gooderich is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Karamazov keeping moving, preventing Gooderich from controlling successfully.
Gooderich slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grant Gooderich showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gooderich has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grant Gooderich!