PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tatenda Ihejirika (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Goodman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Goodman will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ihejirika
vs
Goodman

165 cm
27
261 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

203 cm
27
274 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

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 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tatenda Ihejirika!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Goodman!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ihejirika misses with a few strikes there.
And Goodman tries to counter it with a takedown but Ihejirika pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ihejirika fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Goodman manages to avoid it.
Goodman takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like John Goodman has been cut.
Ihejirika misses with a two punch combination.
Ihejirika avoids the head kick by Goodman.
Goodman tries a head kick but it misses.
Ihejirika steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Goodman.
Goodman throws a series of punches but Ihejirika moves out of range.
Goodman fails to land with a series of punches.
Ihejirika blocks a head kick by Goodman.
Ihejirika attempts a counter takedown but Goodman avoids it well and moves away.
Ihejirika stuns Goodman with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ihejirika looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Goodman bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Goodman's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ihejirika under the eye.

It looks like Tatenda Ihejirika has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick misses from Goodman.
Ihejirika misses with a few strikes there.
Goodman shapes to counter with a head kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ihejirika looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ihejirika rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Goodman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ihejirika blocks a head kick by Goodman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ihejirika. Goodman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Goodman lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Goodman 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 Ihejirika has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ihejirika and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A little feinted left hand from Ihejirika on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Goodman misses with a head kick.
Goodman just misses with a punch to the body.
Ihejirika tries to bum rush Goodman with a series of wild strikes but Goodman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ihejirika throws a right hand that misses
and Goodman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
John Goodman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goodman tries to bum rush Ihejirika with a series of wild strikes but Ihejirika uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A punch combination from Goodman misses.
Goodman throws a head kick that Ihejirika semi-blocks.
Ihejirika tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Goodman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Goodman throws a head kick that misses.
Goodman avoids the head kick by Ihejirika.
Ihejirika blocks a head kick by Goodman.
Ihejirika looks to land a combination but Goodman avoids it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Goodman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Some wild striking there from Ihejirika.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ihejirika shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Goodman napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ihejirika works to advance to full mount. Goodman defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Ihejirika trying to control but Goodman is having none of it.
Goodman really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Goodman regains half guard.

Ihejirika seems to be working for a kimura but Goodman defends the submission attempt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ihejirika lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ihejirika is looking for a kimura here.
Goodman moves into full guard.
Ihejirika trying to control the position from guard on top but Goodman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ihejirika pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goodman is keeping the position for now.
Ihejirika controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four 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.
Ihejirika throwing strikes from guard but Goodman blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ihejirika trying to control the position from guard on top but Goodman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Goodman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ihejirika gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Goodman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ihejirika sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Goodman will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ihejirika avoids the body shot from Goodman.
Goodman throws a head kick that Ihejirika semi-blocks.

Ihejirika lands a left and a right that send Goodman crashing to the mat, dazed. Ihejirika thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Ihejirika looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ihejirika throws a hook to the side of Goodman's head but Goodman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Ihejirika closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Goodman to the mat! Goodman manages to get full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ihejirika content to stall in guard here.
Ihejirika looking to pass the guard.
Ihejirika passes Goodman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Goodman wants to improve his position but Ihejirika is controlling well.
Ihejirika trying to advance position but Goodman counters by regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihejirika connects with a couple of short punches.

Goodman working for submissions but it's allowed Ihejirika to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Goodman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ihejirika.
Ihejirika prevents Goodman from improving his position.
Ihejirika passes to side control.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Ihejirika tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ihejirika has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ihejirika throws an elbow but Goodman slips to the side and avoids it well.
Ihejirika grinds an elbow into Goodman's temple.
Goodman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ihejirika is looking to take a break and control but Goodman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ihejirika is looking to take a break and control but Goodman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ihejirika is trying to get an arm triangle but Goodman is defending well.

Ihejirika thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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.
Ihejirika tries to move to full mount but Goodman actually manages to regain half guard.
Goodman is looking for a sweep. Ihejirika is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Goodman works his way to full guard. Good work.

Goodman looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ihejirika passes into half guard.
Ihejirika wants to control but Goodman is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ihejirika looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Goodman wants to improve his position but Ihejirika is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatenda Ihejirika dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Goodman is looking to land body kicks.

Ihejirika gets the takedown into side control.
Ihejirika is looking to take a break and control but Goodman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Goodman is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ihejirika off and has taken his back!
Goodman scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

Goodman looking for the choke but no joy.

Ihejirika fending off the submission attempt from Goodman.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Goodman's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Goodman is looking for the choke from the back position but Ihejirika is controlling his hands well.
Goodman not allowing Ihejirika to control his hands.
Goodman trying to control momentarily.
Ihejirika might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ihejirika is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Goodman looking for the choke from the back.
Goodman throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Ihejirika is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Goodman is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Ihejirika is defending well though. Goodman let's go of the attempt for now.
Ihejirika is trying to break free.
Goodman doesn't have the hooks in and Ihejirika manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ihejirika postures up in Goodman's guard and throws a big left but Goodman blocks it.

Goodman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ihejirika gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ihejirika content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ihejirika throws a big right hand that misses.
Tatenda Ihejirika overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ihejirika is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Goodman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ihejirika is aware though and is defending well.
Ihejirika wants to control from the top but Goodman keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ihejirika advances to half guard.

Ihejirika is working for a submission of some sort.
Ihejirika slows the pace down in half guard.
Goodman tries to get to full guard but Ihejirika has control of the leg.
Ihejirika 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ihejirika throws a strike but Goodman avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Ihejirika is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Goodman can do to turn this around?

Ihejirika drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Goodman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ihejirika has Goodman in his guard.

Ihejirika looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ihejirika not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Goodman trying to control but Ihejirika is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Goodman stopping the sweep attempt from Ihejirika.
Ihejirika manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Goodman manages to get himself to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tatenda Ihejirika.
I think Ihejirika 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tatenda Ihejirika!
During a confident post fight interview, Tatenda Ihejirika thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.