PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshiro Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Speed comes to the cage accompanied by The Ramones / Blitzkrieg Bop. 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.

Speed
vs
Gomi

192 cm
30
212 lbs
21 - 12 - 1

190 cm
33
205 lbs
21 - 20 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Perkele!

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 21 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nathan Speed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yoshiro Gomi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Speed tries to score with a low kick but Gomi moves his leg out of the way.
Gomi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gomi there as he acknowledges the shot.

Gomi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gomi looks up at the clock and then as Speed takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Gomi smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Gomi working the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gomi trying to control the position but Speed is working away.
Speed is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gomi lands with a punch from half guard.
Gomi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gomi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Speed is trying to control but can't.
Gomi is stalling here. Speed is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gomi seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Speed has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Gomi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Speed's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Speed trying to control the action but Gomi is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi is trying to maintain the position but Speed is very close to passing his half guard.
Gomi is pressing down on Speed's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Speed trying to control but Gomi is working from the bottom.
Gomi looking for a sweep. Not yet Gomi, not yet.

Gomi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Speed defends well.
Gomi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gomi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Speed preventing the sweep.
Speed trying to control the position from guard on top but Gomi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Speed preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Gomi is trying to control but can't.
Gomi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Speed content to stall in guard here.
Gomi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Speed is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Speed has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed trying to control the position from guard on top but Gomi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nathan Speed wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Speed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gomi sizes up Speed with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gomi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gomi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gomi throws a jab but it's blocked by Speed.
Gomi swings for the body but Speed moves out of range.
Gomi lands a nice shot to the body.
Gomi lands a nice hook to Speed's body. Speed takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Speed connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gomi. Gomi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Speed.
Speed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Speed throws a looping overhand right but Gomi ducks down to avoid it.
Speed moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gomi moves away from the strike by Speed.
Speed misses with a right hand

and Gomi counters with a shoot takedown. Speed fights it but they end up in guard.
Gomi postures up and lands a big shot to Speed's brow.
Gomi postures up and lands a big shot to Speed's brow.
Gomi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Speed is keeping the position for now.
Gomi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Speed working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gomi.
Gomi wants to control from the top but Speed keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Speed looking for a guillotine here but Gomi defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Speed throws a half hearted mid kick.
Speed misses with a lunging right hand
and Gomi counters with a left to the body.
Nathan Speed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Speed lands a leg kick that knocks Gomi off balance momentarily.
Gomi moves away from the strike by Speed.
Nice jab there from Gomi.
A slow jab from Gomi misses its intended target.
Gomi lands a really nice looking cross but Speed seems unphased.
Speed throws a jab but it's blocked by Gomi.
Gomi slips under a jab.
Speed misses the shot to the body.
Speed lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gomi's sensitive parts.
Speed throws a hook but Gomi blocks it.
Speed has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Speed there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Speed lands a jab to the head.
Gomi throws a poor cross that misses

and Speed counters by clinching up.
Gomi lands a left hand.
Gomi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Speed to keep the fight standing.
Speed lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gomi backwards.
Speed misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gomi is leaning against Speed and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gomi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Speed presses Gomi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Speed misses with a punch on the inside.
Gomi struggles to land a body shot inside as Speed controls his hands.
Gomi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gomi can't get the takedown.
A hook to the body from Speed.
Gomi throws a head punch that misses.
Gomi wants a takedown but no success here.
Nathan Speed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshiro Gomi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Speed blocking some punches.
Speed tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gomi's elbow.
Gomi tries to work over Speed's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Speed tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gomi's elbow.
Gomi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Speed to keep the fight standing.
A head punch on the inside from Speed fails to land.
Gomi swings wildly with an uppercut but Speed uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right handed body shot lands from Speed.
Gomi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Speed just stands there and leans against the cage.
Speed doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Speed lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Speed prevents a body shot from Gomi.
Nathan Speed has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A right hook to the body lands for Gomi.
Gomi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A shot in the inside from Speed.
Gomi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed tries a body shot but Gomi blocks it.
Speed lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gomi backwards.
Speed tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gomi has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Speed seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Gomi can turn it around.
Gomi lands a body shot.
Gomi blocking some punches.
Gomi misses with a punch on the inside.
A bit of stalling here from Speed.
Speed is looking to control Gomi's arms but Gomi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Speed has his back to the cage.
Speed misses with a punch to the body.
Speed misses with a hook from the clinch.
Speed is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Speed misses with a punch to the body.
Gomi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Speed scores with a shot to the side of Gomi's head.
Speed swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Speed misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gomi.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gomi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gomi lands with a right to the head.
Gomi gets through Speed's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gomi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A short right from Gomi.
Speed has a couple of punches blocked by Gomi.
Speed misses with a punch on the inside.
Gomi lands a left hand.
Gomi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Speed's elbow.
Speed content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Speed misses with a punch to the body.
Speed lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gomi misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Speed is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Speed lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Speed tries to work over Gomi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nathan Speed will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Speed lands with a kick to the ribs.
Speed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gomi moves out of range as Speed strikes.

Gomi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Speed to the ground. Gomi is now in Speed's guard.
Gomi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Speed is keeping the position for now.
Gomi trying to control the position from guard on top but Speed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Speed manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gomi regains half guard.
Gomi tries to roll over but Speed keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi wants to control but Speed is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gomi is trying to get back to full guard.
Speed controlling the action here.
Gomi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Speed's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Speed's back!

Gomi tightening his grip on Speed, looking for the choke.
Well, with Gomi on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Speed is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Gomi throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed staying busy and making it hard for Gomi to control.
Speed just trying to survive but Gomi is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Gomi trying to control momentarily.
Speed tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Speed is looking to get to half guard.
Gomi working the ground and pound effectively.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Speed taking shots to the head.
Gomi breaks from Speed's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Speed is bucking up trying to escape but Gomi cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gomi working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Gomi lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Speed hang on?
Speed taking shots to the head.

Speed is rocked!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Speed takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Oh Speed is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gomi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gomi postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Speed in real trouble here! The ref calls for Speed to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yoshiro Gomi!
Our winner, Yoshiro Gomi, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.